danlea

Just give yourself more leeway - if it's a half-decent preamp you should be able to do this without worrying about your signal-to-noise ratio. If you have a compressor on the preamp then feel free to apply some very mild compression straight off, but this is more often used for vocals than for bass guitar.

Was pleased to pick up a Line 6 Bass XT Pro in perfect condition for £130 the other day (then £100 for an FBV shortboard [MkI] with case). I'm certainly not going to suggest that they have the whole simulation chain nailed, in particular the physical sound section (cabinet/air), but as a Trace Elliot user, the amp and effect modelling seems really useful for providing diversity (for say jazzy tones), which can then go straight to power amp section of my TE head and on to my cabinets. I'm hoping to select a cabinet model that'll sound similar (at least in frequency response) to my cab setup, and that can feed the sound man (better than him just cutting the highs to smooth out the sound). The great thing about getting this cheap is that it's really well made - a high quality unit - cheap purely because the modelling technology has been superseded, twice in fact. I think the main issues with Line 6 gear, even more with the six-string stuff, is the ease with which one can dial in something extreme and nasty, sometimes without realising it. I also think the focus on guitar gear with the HD range is due to the extra complexity of [i]typical[/i] guitar tones over [i]typical[/i] bass ones (there's no denying bass is usually kept moderately clean). Finally, HD is simply a buzz word, but I'm sure there'll have been some significant improvements.

[quote name='alhbass' post='819084' date='Apr 26 2010, 11:23 AM']Serious consideration duly given. That's pretty much my ideal bass. But not at that price. I think I'd be able to get a very good, recent US P and have a bridge pickup supplied and fitted for considerably less. [/quote] Agreed on all points. £50 to get my MIJ [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=28270"]routed and the pickup installed[/url] by the guys at The Gallery in Camden.

Please don't read anything into the comparison of your results with others'. [quote]Although the sound files have been carefully prepared, the actual sound level and spectral purity depend on the frequency response of your sound card and headphones. They may, however, be helpful [i]for comparison, such as left vs right ear, or for changes in hearing over time,[/i] assuming that you use the same hardware.[/quote] I can't stress this enough. The results relate to the combined effect of your hearing [i]and your playback system[/i]. Don't underestimate the variation across the latter.

It's definitely a good option for slap. The dual compressor is partly motivated by the specific need of slap bass, and the preamp can do the clean and scooped sound with ease. The single preamp valve is just for a touch of warmth - it does reign in the harsher transients for example.

I'm taking for granted that by "bow sound" you do mean that it sounds like a bowed bass - perhaps somewhat fuzzy sounding. I don't know anything about your amp, but I have a couple of suggestions. One is simply to take your gain down. The low frequency content of the lower strings is more likely to overdrive your preamp (or clip at any stage in it), and certainly mess with your headphones. As velvetkevorkian mentioned, the resulting overtones will be more noticeable on hifi reproduction equipment such as headphones. Bass is highly conditioned in consumer recordings, and headphones (even very expensive ones) really don't do well with 'raw' bass guitar signals. For that reason, I would advise against practising with them unless absolutely necessary, and the signal is similarly conditioned (i.e. suitably EQ'd, compressed and limited).

[quote name='fatback' post='656867' date='Nov 17 2009, 12:12 PM']If you want punch, you need a compressor. You shouldn't really hear a limiter most of the time. I keep singing the praises of the Trace elliot SMX dual compressor. It's a gem and can be as subtle or as effecty as you want. Also has an amazingly useful tone control, mixing the two channels. You should easily get one for £80-100 on the bay. Got mine for £80 a few months ago. Watever compressor you get, get a dual band one though. You really need that control. fatback[/quote] I really like the TE SMX compressor (the preamp one, rather than the pedal), but I'd say it's designed to be 'seamless' rather than 'punchy' (depending on your definition of 'punchy' - it can vary a lot!). I'd also refute the necessity of using a [i]dual band[/i] compressor, having once been convinced of that by the TE manual myself. If you want to use compression as an effect rather than for levelling and sustain, you might like to try something with more options, like the dbx 266XL - a model that frequents the for sale section at quite reasonable prices. Having never tried one, I can't actually recommend it as a unit, but I'm guessing it's the kind of thing you want to go for. As an aside, do make sure you're not actually trying to achieve the 'punchy' sound that is a kick drum and bass guitar played together on record/over a PA when you're playing the bass by yourself - you'll be searching for the right compressor forever!

[quote name='bassophile' post='656811' date='Nov 17 2009, 11:29 AM']I think that passive pot configuration with pickups is very crucial even if you don't use it. 250 K (and maybe 500K) pots are pretty standard and it colors pickup's initial sound to warmer, more familiar sound. Most passive pickups are designed having in mind addition of pots in signal chain.[/quote] You can of course just use the components (resistor(s)/capacitor) without needing a potentiometer if you don't want the control.