Seamy ALB Posted February 16, 2011 Posted February 16, 2011 We have been talking about recording some demo's for promoting our Foo Fighter tribute band for quite some time now and last night we gave it a rattle. Darren our drummer has severe Drummer OCD, he is a genius but he loves to pour over every little detail, he originally wanted to track 24 tracks of drums micing every tom, cymbal and multiple mics on the snare kick. I talked him out of this as I genuinely believed that we should start small and work up to more if it was needed. We decided to go with our live mic settings to see how it would be captured and then if he didn't like the drum sound he could retrack with the Guitar, Bass & vocal scratch tracks. He didn't want to use the originals cause the tempo varies too much for him, he always uses a click, OCD machine that he is. We ran the numbers like we normally rehearse and just let the recording flow. For the Foo's stuff we played I used my 50th Anniversary P Bass into my GK RB700II and played with a pick so as to match Nate Mendelson's approach. We used my DI straight into the pre amp. I got to hear some of the tracks today and I have to say I love the sound of the P Bass recorded its round, fat, cutting and just sits so well in the mix. I think I've found a whole new appreciation for this wee bass. When Darren is finished mixing the tracks I'll link some for your opinions, I hope the finished demo sounds as good!! http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Little-Bitter/185235472447
b5pilot Posted February 16, 2011 Posted February 16, 2011 Cool, I'd like to hear it! Lydian mode? The only mode I know has the words "pie ala" in front of it. http://www.myspace.com/theeldoradosband
fingertalkin Posted February 16, 2011 Posted February 16, 2011 Me too! How do you sign a computer screen?
SteveC Posted February 16, 2011 Posted February 16, 2011 Lots of "P" bass talk on the forums lately. Right when I'm trying to not buy a bass, but am liking the idea of a simple bass to contrast the active 5 string thing I've been doing for years.
picker Posted February 17, 2011 Posted February 17, 2011 P Basses are the essence of elegant and effective simplicity.Even cheap ones tend to sound pretty good, which I don't think is true of any other bass design. They are more versatile than folks give them credit for, with a really surprising number of usable tones if you take the time to look for them. And when it comes to laying down the bottom, they are just hard to beat. Always remember that you are unique. Just like everyone else.
Bottom End Posted February 17, 2011 Posted February 17, 2011 My first bass was a Pbass I bought in '83. Not a day goes by that I don't regret selling it. I'll have another P Bass one day. "Call me what instrument you will, though you can fret me, yet you cannot play upon me.'-Hamlet Guitar solos last 30 seconds, the bass line lasts for the whole song.
5 string Mike Posted February 17, 2011 Posted February 17, 2011 I really like my P bass. It's simple but effective. It gets the job done, sits well in the mix without a bunch of EQ work, it looks good, and it feels good. Glad you like the way it sounds. "Political language... is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind"- George Orwell
Chad Thorne Posted February 17, 2011 Posted February 17, 2011 P Basses are the essence of elegant and effective simplicity.Even cheap ones tend to sound pretty good, which I don't think is true of any other bass design. They are more versatile than folks give them credit for, with a really surprising number of usable tones if you take the time to look for them. And when it comes to laying down the bottom, they are just hard to beat. This. Though my Jazz is always my "go-to" bass, once in a while I get a hankering for the sound my friend Steve calls "wet bags of cement dropped onto a concrete floor."
thabottomend Posted February 17, 2011 Posted February 17, 2011 The only bass I play is a PBass. I've never really understood the fascination with active basses, or even Jazz basses. I get all the sounds I need out of the P. Maybe I'm just old-fashioned. Maybe I'm just old..... Do not be deceived by, nor take lightly, this particular bit of musicianship one simply describes as "bass". - Lowell George "The music moves me, it just moves me ugly." William H. Macy in "Wild Hogs"
jeremy c Posted February 17, 2011 Posted February 17, 2011 I was the studio bass player on this cd: Ella Mac on cd baby I used a precision with La Bella flats, 50-110, and recorded direct with no compression. We were all happy with the results and I'm pretty pleased that the cd starts with one note of solo bass! Free download of my cd!.
SteveC Posted February 17, 2011 Posted February 17, 2011 I'm losing my fascination with active basses, and my real "use/need" of a B string is minimal. When I play a P I like it, but I have a hard time as it is different from what has been "my sound" for a while now.
Seamy ALB Posted February 17, 2011 Author Posted February 17, 2011 I'm waiting on my OCD Drummer to hurry his compulsive ass up!! Steve don't you dare fall of the wagon cause of me!! http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Little-Bitter/185235472447
b5pilot Posted February 17, 2011 Posted February 17, 2011 I was the studio bass player on this cd: Ella Mac on cd baby I used a precision with La Bella flats, 50-110, and recorded direct with no compression. We were all happy with the results and I'm pretty pleased that the cd starts with one note of solo bass! Nice work Jeremy! I too am beginning to really like the sound of a P-bass with flats. I sold my one Squier p but I picked up another at a yard sale for $60. I'll fix it up when the weather gets warmer. Lydian mode? The only mode I know has the words "pie ala" in front of it. http://www.myspace.com/theeldoradosband
kenfxj Posted February 17, 2011 Posted February 17, 2011 Love to hear it Seamy! Push the button Frank.
plangentmusic Posted February 17, 2011 Posted February 17, 2011 I won't say a P bass suits me for everything. But there are some things that it fits better than anything else. I regained my love of the P after using it on some tracks on the CD in my sig below. It just fit that kind of music. However, after working on the album, going back to my regular active MusicMan, it sounded "false" to me. Lately, I've been sticking with passive pu's and I think I'm hooked. JAZZ UN-STANDARDS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vE4FoJ4Cr4&feature=related DON'T FEAR...THE REVERB! 60's Instrumentals with MORE BASS!
Davo-London Posted February 18, 2011 Posted February 18, 2011 I think the main point is how the P-bass sits in the mix. This has to be pure luck on Leo's part, but you hear it so often said. For me, I'm always unhappy about the E string on all the Ps I've played. I still own my '76, but never play it. Davo "We will make you bob your head whether you want to or not". - David Sisk
SteveC Posted February 18, 2011 Posted February 18, 2011 Steve don't you dare fall of the wagon cause of me!! So far so good. I had a jazz gig last night and used my EUB and Yamaha. The Yamaha sounded fine. I'm tempted by a P sometimes because it has a similar kind of sound as the upright so when I switch it would be to a similar tone. However, I have been playing a jazz for so long, it's hard for me to accept anything else as "my sound" these days.
The Bear Jew Posted February 18, 2011 Posted February 18, 2011 There's a reason why the P bass is pretty much the most recorded bass tone ever. You can take one of those critters into almost any studio or onto any stage, and if the engineer is worth half a crap, they'll know how to make it work in the mix. They're not considered classics for nothing, you know? In fact, one of my older friends (he's in his 70s now) told me that when he started playing electric bass, people referred to all non-upright basses as "Fenders." \m/ Erik "To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting." --Sun Tzu
Michele C. Posted February 18, 2011 Posted February 18, 2011 It's like a dark gray suit, it will serve you for years and never feel out of place. -- Michele Costabile (http://proxybar.net)
Imogene Posted February 18, 2011 Posted February 18, 2011 They are more versatile than folks give them credit for, with a really surprising number of usable tones if you take the time to look for them. Really?
thabottomend Posted February 18, 2011 Posted February 18, 2011 They are more versatile than folks give them credit for, with a really surprising number of usable tones if you take the time to look for them. Really? Yes. Really. I play mine in church, where we go from Israel Houghton to Hillsong to African to Reggae to power praise to..... and I only use a chorus and a flanger. I can alter my attack on the strings and my hand position to change the tone. Gets all the sounds I needs from my Precious. Does equally well in the classic rock/arena rock cover band too. Do not be deceived by, nor take lightly, this particular bit of musicianship one simply describes as "bass". - Lowell George "The music moves me, it just moves me ugly." William H. Macy in "Wild Hogs"
Chad Thorne Posted February 19, 2011 Posted February 19, 2011 You got me started, Seamy. Though, as I said, I usually prefer my J, I broke out my P for my gig last night. Sounded awfully good.
Seamy ALB Posted February 19, 2011 Author Posted February 19, 2011 Here are some sample tracks Gimme some lovin and Superstition. A friend of ours, Aidan called in and we played these just for the craic so please forgive the randomness. The Foo's stuff has to get vocals done. http://soundcloud.com/alittlebitter_sets/sets/the-coalisland-chronicles http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Little-Bitter/185235472447
JBFLA Posted February 19, 2011 Posted February 19, 2011 I liked "Superstition" best, but both were good. ...You might want to think about changing your avatar tho'. Jim Confirmed RoscoeHead
Bottom End Posted February 19, 2011 Posted February 19, 2011 Pretty good, though I think the g*******d is a bit too loud in the mix. Catching a Living Colour vibe off of these versions, and that's not a bad thing "Call me what instrument you will, though you can fret me, yet you cannot play upon me.'-Hamlet Guitar solos last 30 seconds, the bass line lasts for the whole song.
b5pilot Posted February 19, 2011 Posted February 19, 2011 Nice! Yeah I liked Superstition best too but both were good. Bass did need to come up in the mix though on both. The tone sounded killer! Lydian mode? The only mode I know has the words "pie ala" in front of it. http://www.myspace.com/theeldoradosband
Chad Thorne Posted February 19, 2011 Posted February 19, 2011 Here are some sample tracks Gimme some lovin and Superstition. A friend of ours, Aidan called in and we played these just for the craic so please forgive the randomness. The Foo's stuff has to get vocals done. http://soundcloud.com/alittlebitter_sets/sets/the-coalisland-chronicles Yeah, that'll work.
Groove Mama Posted February 20, 2011 Posted February 20, 2011 Queen of the Quarter Note "Think like a drummer, not like a singer, and play much less." -- Michele C.
thabottomend Posted February 20, 2011 Posted February 20, 2011 Tasty! Do not be deceived by, nor take lightly, this particular bit of musicianship one simply describes as "bass". - Lowell George "The music moves me, it just moves me ugly." William H. Macy in "Wild Hogs"
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