amherst Posted June 26, 2003 Share Posted June 26, 2003 I was wondering if anyone here used distortion with the bass? If so, I want to know how you recorded it in the studio? Going DR with distortion just sounds to fuzzy. I would love to hear your thoughts. www.mp3.com/amherst Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Addix Metzatricity Posted June 26, 2003 Share Posted June 26, 2003 When I recorded my distorted bass, we always miked the cab. Run direct for the rest, if ya' want. But miking the cab sounds better with distortion. "Bass isn't just for breakfast anymore..." http://www.mp3.com/Addix_Metzatricity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
... Posted June 27, 2003 Share Posted June 27, 2003 I have done the following in a recording studio to get an overdriven/distorted bass sound: Bass plugged into a Summit TPA-200B through a compressor, then right into the board. Cranked the pre-gain to '11' and got a nice, warm, fuzzy, tasty overdriven tone. It's pure sex in a cup. These things are also extremely expensive, I believe in the $2500 US range. Bass into DI box, split the signal, one signal goes direct to the board, the other signal goes to an overdrive unit of some kind (which may or may not be sent through an amp). This takes up two tracks for the bass, but you can mix in whatever amount of distort-o-yuck you want into the direct clean tone. Lot's of options here after the fact. This is how we did all my bass tracks on the Yogi & Half Zaftig live studio stuff. Bass into whatever effects unit you are using, into an amp, then mic the amp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pumpcat Posted June 27, 2003 Share Posted June 27, 2003 I use distortion a lot, and I've found that a wet/dry blend and running through a speaker are almost essential to a good distorted bass sound. Blending in some of the clean signal with the distorted helps retain the low end punch and bite of the attack, the first things to get lost when using distortion. Using this method, you can go crazy with the distortion, cranking the gain all the way without losing the definition and articulation of each note. Running through a speaker softens the harsh high end. I prefer a combination of 15" and 12" speakers, but 10"s will definitely work. DO NOT use a speaker cabinet with a tweeter, or if you do, turn the tweeter all the way down. -Matt M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
... Posted June 27, 2003 Share Posted June 27, 2003 Oh, I totally neglected to mention one of the finer uses of distortion and bass ever recorded. Doug Pinnick's bass on most of the album 'Dog Man' was his bass into a splitter, one signal through a mighty Mesa/Boogie bass rig and the other signal through a Dual Rectifier guitar amp with the distortion channel set to "obliterate". Tasty!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clatteramy Posted June 27, 2003 Share Posted June 27, 2003 This is what I used -- sounded incredible! http://clatter.com/pages/studio/gallery%206/images/distortion.jpg www.clatter.com MySpace YouTube videos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenLoy Posted June 27, 2003 Share Posted June 27, 2003 I've used many different methods for getting distortion: overdriving the board channel, using a distortion pedal, overdriving the amp, or using a rackmount unit. Right now I use my SansAmp RBI for overdrive live. I put it in the effects loop of my preamp(I actually like the sound of it there), and switch it in and out with a footswitch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
66bassman Posted June 28, 2003 Share Posted June 28, 2003 Listen to almost any old Cream tune, Jack Bruce used to use a very simple device to get distortion out of his old Gibson. He put a small diode in line on one of the pots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexclaber Posted June 28, 2003 Share Posted June 28, 2003 Originally posted by 66bassman: Listen to almost any old Cream tune, Jack Bruce used to use a very simple device to get distortion out of his old Gibson. He put a small diode in line on one of the pots.He had that mod done once he got sick of carting a huge Marshall stack around with him. His distortion on all the Cream tracks comes from micing up his Marshall stacks with which I think he was getting preamp, poweramp and speaker distortion! Alex Barefaced Ltd - ultra lightweight, high ouput, toneful bass cabs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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