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PowerTracks Pro Audio
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 587
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 587 |
I want to get a bass for recording purposes (just my own - not gigging) - I am a guitar player who pays bass on most of his own music. Something relatively inexpensive would be great. Suggestions appreciated!
Thanks - Bernier
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PowerTracks Pro Audio
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 75
Enthusiast
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Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 75 |
I would suggest a short scale bass (30") would probably feel most familiar to you as a guitar player but with cheap basses, short or long scale, beware that some of them are not very accurately fretted and go out of tune as you go up the finger board, even some from a manufacturing pedigree you might think you can trust. If you can try before you buy I would recommend you do so and check the intonation, rather that just buy something online and hope it's OK. An out of tune bass on your recordings will sound just awful. I've had students who have fallen into this trap, who would have done better to have got some advice and paid a bit more in the first place rather than end up with some worthless junk and still have to spend the money.
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PowerTracks Pro Audio
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,913
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,913 |
I can wholeheartedly recommend inexpensive SX basses from www.rondomusic.netAs GodfreyY pointed out, the guitar was not set up very well by the factory. However, for the $119 that I spent, the build quality is outstanding. I spent perhaps 1/2 hour doing a fairly proper setup of the neck angle and saddles, and once that was done, it was definitely a player! I have several recordings where I've featured this rather pedestrian piece of gear and it has not disappointed. I don't gig, I'm not a 'real' bass player, but this piece of gear helped me to progress my home recordings from programmed or pre-played bass lines, to those that were in my imagination. My favorite recent recording that I made this month one evening is called 'Rest Ye, Orion', featuring simply a single bass-guitar track with this bass through the freebie Guitar Rig 3 LE, and two electric guitar tracks. Here's the track: http://rockstarnot.rekkerd.org/fawm2011/...0Export%201.mp3The specific bass that I bought a few years ago was very similar to this model, though mine was sunburst: http://www.rondomusic.com/spj62vwh.html
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PowerTracks Pro Audio
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
Rondomusic does sell some good deals, check 'em out.
Until you get a real bass, there is a method that I've used in the past that has fooled everybody, even bass players.
I simply record the guitar, playing bass with pick or thumb/fingers, using only the lower four strings on the guitar - E.A.D.G.
I play the bass part and record it, knowing that what I'm hearing at the time of the recording is one octave higher than it is supposed to be.
After recording the track and getting it all to my liking, performance-wise, I pitch-shift the track down one octave.
Application of an amp/cabinet simulator plugin set for some target bass amp sound, almost aloways an application of Audio Compressor and there's a Bass Track.
Strat or Tele with single coils can sound amazingly like the Fender P or J basses.
Use of guitar with humbuckers, you can get the Ric sound or a fat bass sound if the guitar is solidbody (I once used a Les Paul to create a picked Ric track that made the real Ric owners drool) or use of a hollowbody w/humbucker up by the neck can even be used to roll your own pseudo-ac. bass track when picking with fingers.
--Mac
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PowerTracks Pro Audio
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,021
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,021 |
I bought a bass from Rondo. It's an SX P bass. Did a fair amount of setup work. Didn't cost anything except a set of LaBella flats.For $109 this thing is as good as a $500 Fender. Like I said though you need to be skilled in bass setup.
BTW I'm a bass player. Have been for 45 years.I also have a Carvin BB75.
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
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