Need Help

[jcreasy]

The bassist in our '80's cover band has long been a Flakey Jake but finally went round the bend. Reluctantly, I am switching from rhythm guitar to bass for at least awhile. Relax, I will be playing a Rick 4001! A pretty rude one too. Checkerboard finish.

I have a decent working knowledge of guitars and guitar amps and tones that I like... Nothing about bass. I need to pick up a decent bass amp, will be mic'd or DI, and need any heads up on making the transition. Suggestions on which way to go there and why...

I am told that most sound guys DI straight from the bass or the head? Also told that "... tube" is not so much the gold standard with bass amps and solid states can be cleaner. I prefer tube, twin combo's with my guitars, but apparently, that is not the case with bass amplification. Do you mic the amp or DI? Advantages or disadvantages? What do you guys do with the muting function on the bridge? How about tone and volume controls? Some of us guitar geeks play with those alot but I never did. I am getting my bass set up now, but I am wondering if I can use the tone to get me the Beatle-Hofner/Sting sound, then roll into to the edgy'er Chris Squire Getty Lee sounds.

I would say my playing style will have to be midway between McCartney and Mike Anthony of VanHalen... If that makes sense... Some runs and fills, but not as much as McCartney, plenty of simple, hard driving rhythm like Anthony.

I know these are broad and subjective questions, but any feedback to help me get quickly in the zone would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

JKC

[jdogric12]

Check out this thread...

http://www.rickresource.com/phpBB3/view ... 9&t=385816

[qwezirider]

Do you mic the amp or DI? Advantages or disadvantages?

A lot of questions, but this is one I can answer about my preferences. I have been micing my cabs for the last year and like it better than DI. I have more control over "my sound" getting to the board. If I'm going to go the the effort to use a bass amp and a guitar amp to mold the sound I get, then that's what I want going to a board. Another advantage is that I can swap basses without thinking about what's going to the board and whether or not the mixer will mute me so I don't THUMP through the system.

The disadvantage is that you run the risk of picking up other stage noise if others are too loud and too close. But that can be controled and I've just grown to like the sound and flexability of micing better than DI.

Just my twisted preference.

[jps]

I recommend Markbass amps as they are great sounding and will get you a nice warm, tuby clean tone. The EQ on them is simple to use; I find myself barely using the EQ as my Ricks sound just fine with the amp set flat. I used to have a Little Mark II (LM II) but now have their F1 model.

As for speakers I highly recommend this speaker. Makes all my basses sound excellent.

[jcreasy]

Thanks guys. I may MIC it with a '57. Kenny Howes says Ampegs are decent. I'll probably invest in something nice, but not super nice... Just something to have around.

Tube? Solid State?

JKC

[cassius987]

Most likely you'll get a hybrid. All tube is not as big of a deal for bass.

[FretlessOnly]

Ampegs tend to sound great with Ricks. But I have a Gallien-Kreuger that scoops out the mids (if you want it to), which greatly compliments the natural pickup sound.

Whatever you do, be wary of DI. Typically noisy and tends to remove too many dynamics of the true sound, IMO. Mic your speakers instead, if you can.

[cassius987]

With regard to brand of rig I'd just take your bass to a store and play through several brands... I'm not a big fan of Ampeg or GK for the sound I want. I ultimately landed on Ashdown for its smoothness. But I know plenty of people dislike Ashdown. What I'm saying is, you'll have to experiment (perhaps a lot) to know.

[dog]

I agree with Joshua. Ten guys will have ten favorites. If possible, try to get to a music store that carries several brands. And while you're at it, maybe get a good instrument mike. If you go with the DI, then your speakers are not even an issue.

[jcreasy]

Thanks, guys. Right now, I am playing through a PA and mains until I get a rig. I'll keep everyone posted.

JKC

[2112]

Get two amps and run in stereo. Nothing like it!!

DI and MIC both of them. TOTAL tone control.

The result is the most badass sounding bass guitar you or your bandmates, and the audience have ever heard.

So what if you take up four channels on the board.
You will be killin'!

[peewee]

I agree with Joshua. Ten guys will have ten favorites. If possible, try to get to a music store that carries several brands. And while you're at it, maybe get a good instrument mike. If you go with the DI, then your speakers are not even an issue.

+1. When I owned a 4001C64, I couldn't get a tone I liked to save my soul through my usual bass rig - a G/K 800 RB and a Bag End S-15D. Took the bass to a local shop and tried a few different makes. Believe it or not, the best pairing for that bass was an SWR Workingman 400 head mated with a Goliath 4x10 cab. Sounded monsterous and I'm really not a fan of SWR gear. Trust your ears first.

[ram]

What Joshua said... try 'em out heads and cabs. Most of the major manufacturers have very nice products out there. See what you like best for the sound you want.

[gareth]

Both Trace Elliot, (which I use), and Ashdown have very nice EQ and an ability to dial in as much valve preamp as you want to get as much of a valve sound as you want. I used an Ashdown combo on The Shapes UK tour last year as I wasn't about to ship the Trace's across the pond. I was very impressed with the Ashdown. The nice thing about TE and Ashdown is that they make a lot of combos and rigs so you can choose the size that you nned, or build something the size of the Berlin Wall if you want to. That means you can expand your rig as circumstances dictate. Both the TE and Ashdwon have subsonic EQ, so you can really go for the sixties sound if you need to. No matter what size you go with, TE and Asdown tend to keep the same front panel EQ's so it makes it very easy to use.