Playing With Myself

[Dinny Bossa Nova]

It's not what you think, you perverts, but thanks for caring.

My boss, (Kirk, for those of you that know us) bought a BOSS BR-1600 about 5 years ago and then bought a whole bunch of really cool microphones for recording various instruments. He crowed about having all the equipment necessary to record a CD, and not have to bend over and back in to a studio to record our stuff.

He said he needed some time to figure out how to use dafuggin thing because it was more complicated than your typical Shure Vocal Master.

Two years pass us by.

He proclaims himself ready to go, and we set up in a friend of mine's house. It's a big split-level A-Frame, and we all set up in different rooms in the house. (We can't see each other AT ALL!). Run a snake with all mics connected to a remote bedroom where the BR-1600 is. Hire a friend of the band who's packin' a low 140's IQ (borderline crazy) to run the board for us.

We record 38 or 39 songs in three days.There were no keepers due to bass track errors.

There were very good takes on most all songs, but no acceptable bass tracks.

Finally, 3 days ago, I got my hands on the machine to have my way with it. I sorted songs that needed a do-over, and songs that just needed bass tracks redone.

I recorded the bass tracks only on three do-overs. They will need new drum, guitar and vocal tracks.

I dug into the archives to replace the bass track on the songs that needed bass track only, and just finished playing with myself for the first time on a final recording. Slim Harpo's song titled "Scratch My Back." I'm playing the bass AND drums.

It is WAY better than that "other" first time I played with myself.

Dinny

P.S.

What are the best bass guitar strings to put on a early 70's Fender P that has an original stock pickup? I like low and wide tone, and don't care about ease of play.

[Jawshco]

Maybe flat roto wound strings? I don't use those myself. I use Ernie Ball super Slinkys for a balanced, yet punch-pop sound. Just stay away from Steel wound strings, and anything made by Dean Markley- they're very harsh and buzzy IMO.

[ClevelandBronco]

Figure out what "Thunder Thumbs" was using in the mid-to-late 70s and you have it licked.

So to speak.

[Demonpenz]

we have so many people on here who shred, but Dinny is the most advanced I have seen. I think he is asking a step down

[DaneMcCloud]

Fender Flats.

55-105.

[Dinny Bossa Nova]

Holy for cryin' out loud!!!!!

I haven't seriously played bass for over 25 years. Playing bass for 4 or 5 minutes without making a mistake is very difficult for me.

Thanks for your advice, everyone.

This is better than a barrel full of monkeys.

Dinny

[RufusRJones]

If you want it low and thuddy the LaBella flats are really, really nice. Both the steel and the tapewound are nice. I personally like the tapewound, but it's definitely a much more "dead" sound. It's definitely more of a 60s 70s sound. I believe that Jamerson used the LaBellas.

Personally, I love the flats, the kids today all use the roundwounds and I think they sound like crap. Most of 'em don't even know what flats are...but you can sure tell when someone records with them. The bass tracks just fit. None of the high end garbage to muddy things up with the guitars and vocals.

[Dinny Bossa Nova]

I'm not necessarilly looking for thud, I'm looking for a good to high quality bass (low end) response with a decent midrange and high end. Sustain is key.

I'm not slapping/popping. Wanting big, low bass for long notes that sound clean.

One of my favorite bass/drums combo albums is Freddie King's "My Feeling For The Blues". I don't know who the drummer and bass player were on that album, but they were tighter than nuts on a dog. The sound I'm looking for is the bass player's sound on that album. I only wish I could get the same groove he has. It's like buttah.

Dinny

[FAX]

It's funny. I found an old Peavey bass at a pawn shop a few months ago that was beaten to hell and gone. Paid 40 bucks. The back panel that covers the electronics was completely missing and somebody had spray painted the body. Best damn bass tone I've ever heard. Had the neck tweaked and it's completely awesome. You never know.

FAX

[Gonzo]

I caught a large mouth Bass a couple months ago. Sounded awesome. "Splash splash gurggle"
Posted via Mobile Device

[ArrowheadMagic]

1st in ...with.. you'll go blind.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Dinny Blues

I'm not necessarilly looking for thud, I'm looking for a good to high quality bass (low end) response with a decent midrange and high end. Sustain is key.

I'm not slapping/popping. Wanting big, low bass for long notes that sound clean.

One of my favorite bass/drums combo albums is Freddie King's "My Feeling For The Blues". I don't know who the drummer and bass player were on that album, but they were tighter than nuts on a dog. The sound I'm looking for is the bass player's sound on that album. I only wish I could get the same groove he has. It's like buttah.

Dinny

What kind of bass is it? The strings are not the end all, be all.

You need a good piece of ash. Add a nice pickup (I prefer Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounders - they sounds very much like early 70's Fenders - they growl) and a good bridge (preferably a Gotoh or Leo Quan Badass Bridge).

Then, add a great player.

Mix to taste.

[Gadzooks]

Originally Posted by FAX

It's funny. I found an old Peavey bass at a pawn shop a few months ago that was beaten to hell and gone. Paid 40 bucks. The back panel that covers the electronics was completely missing and somebody had spray painted the body. Best damn bass tone I've ever heard. Had the neck tweaked and it's completely awesome. You never know.

FAX

I once had a guy playing a "Series A" Bass (cheap Taiwan Fender rip-off), through a board, with the right EQ, it sounded great.
I hear the trick is to have good EQ and new strings that have been worked in for 2 to 3 weeks. But what do they know...

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Gadzooks

I once had a guy playing a "Series A" Bass (cheap Taiwan Fender rip-off), through a board, with the right EQ, it sounded great.
I hear the trick is to have good EQ and new strings that have been worked in for 2 to 3 weeks. But what do they know...

I know some very famous record producers that own countless basses from the 60's that are used regularly.

The strings have never been changed. Not once.

The key to a big, thick bass sound is the player. But flat wounds with years of oils can and do make difference in tone.

[Gadzooks]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I know some very famous record producers that own countless basses from the 60's that are used regularly.

The strings have never been changed. Not once.

The key to a big, thick bass sound is the player. But flat wounds with years of oils can and do make difference in tone.

I agree, to a point. It depends on the sound you're going for.
The fact it was a Series A meant there was a lot to make up for with the pickups.
For a dull sound, (in a good way), new strings aren't the best way to go. Good/ hyper sensitive pickups probably aren’t the way to go either.

An old shitty bass with greasy ‘ole strings, now you're talkin'.