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Dubby Bass


Shockwave
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hey guys.

I want to start playing some modern Dub Style bass.

Much in this sort of vein of Dub trio. Which is a mixture of Dub Rock and metal.

[url="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=dqHV3UroHYs&feature=related"]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=dqHV3UroHYs&...feature=related[/url]

(skip to 30 odd second mark)

Or Matisyahu.

[url="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=hip2i9yHZ38&feature=related"]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=hip2i9yHZ38&...feature=related[/url]

Anyway, I find jazz basses not my cup of tea. And i dont want to have to get this dubby effect with alot of bass pedals.

So what basses would be suited to this task? Thinking along the lines of, G&L L 1000, Telecaster mudbucker bass. Etc. I need something for around 300-500. Preferably non pointy or ridiculous.

I have a bunch of Musicmans but the bridge bucker just is not dubby enough on its own. Also i am not a fan of Jazz basses.

Also Flats or Rounds? (Considering i play VERY light Rounds and have never played flats)

Rob.

PS, I am not looking for an old school sound. very much hifi/dub.

Edited by Shockwave
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The clip isn't what I'd call dub particularly - possible with most setups I'd have thought, certainly a precision or jazz but perhaps not quite Musicman.

Filters are the key to most dub bass sounds I reckon (not necessarily a pedal - every bass amp I've seen has high cut and low boost controls)...

Of course, lots of 18" speakers in cabs the size of large wardrobes helps :)

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[quote name='Shockwave' post='317777' date='Oct 29 2008, 05:22 PM']hey guys.

I want to start playing some modern Dub Style bass.

Much in this sort of vein of Dub trio. Which is a mixture of Dub Rock and metal.

[url="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=dqHV3UroHYs&feature=related"]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=dqHV3UroHYs&...feature=related[/url]

(skip to 30 odd second mark)

Or Matisyahu.

[url="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=hip2i9yHZ38&feature=related"]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=hip2i9yHZ38&...feature=related[/url]

Anyway, I find jazz basses not my cup of tea. And i dont want to have to get this dubby effect with alot of bass pedals.

So what basses would be suited to this task? Thinking along the lines of, G&L L 1000, Telecaster mudbucker bass. Etc. I need something for around 300-500. Preferably non pointy or ridiculous.

I have a bunch of Musicmans but the bridge bucker just is not dubby enough on its own. Also i am not a fan of Jazz basses.

Also Flats or Rounds? (Considering i play VERY light Rounds and have never played flats)

Rob.

PS, I am not looking for an old school sound. very much hifi/dub.[/quote]

Hey, good stuff! I'd not heard them before.

I'd say the sound was mostly in the fingers; played lightly, over the neck. Right enough the pickup on a Ray is too close to the bridge for that warm heavy sound. I have a 5 string with 2 Ray pickups and I use the neck pickup for that sound...you probably don't want to mutilate your bass though.

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Thomastik flats - feel wimpy but sound big and old. Bass wise, anything with a humbucker near the end of the neck, or a Pbass pickup (DiMarzios are good and warm).

The old Ovation Magnums are a good bet...but really ugly. Somebody will correct me, I know....

BB

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[quote name='BassBod' post='317830' date='Oct 29 2008, 06:43 PM']The old Ovation Magnums are a good bet...but really ugly. Somebody will correct me, I know....

BB[/quote]

Oooh you heartless swine! She’s all offended now…… :)
Jah Wobble famously gets his dub sound on these, and me and Alison Goldfrapp think they’re bloomin gorgeous!
Gibson EB's too, but I reckon you can't beat a P with flats and the tone rolled off.

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[quote name='BassBod' post='318318' date='Oct 30 2008, 12:55 PM']I knew I'd offend someone......hope you're looking after that old Pbass, and not putting it too close to the Magnum.....


BB[/quote]
Why - what sort of mutant offspring would they produce? :)

NB; The P is still my main squeeze - now got a Badass II back on it, definitely improved sustain.

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I play mainly reggae/dub bass, well with a name like Rasta i'm sure it's no surprise :) Anyhow, for a bass i can recommend the small headless Hohners (B2A?) or Steinbergers - light as a feather and something very irie about their phat sounds! I used to have one and am considering getting one again but probably a 4 string as i found the 'B' a little flappy on the 5.
Experimenting with an envelope filter can also generate some low dubby tones if the filter is not fully opened, i personally don't use effects but i have tried it out in the studio and was quite impressed.

As for big speakers, well i got a 6x10...i generally prefer this over 15" & 18" as it shifts more air efficiently and if you hunt around you can pick up the odd 6x10 or 8x10 pretty cheap. Most reggae bassists favour the fridge, Ampeg 8x10...but i have to say the Warwick i use is pretty close to that sound and at 900W is rarely ticking over. Having said all this i use a Jazz bass or P bass and lately have just started using a 15" cab for another band where i play reggae, ska and funk and i am loving the sound of the 15" again...but the good thing about the rig in my aviator (Eden WT800 & Warwick 6x10 900W) is that it just ticks over at a phat sound and the engine is never screaming....so smooth n phat and you can feel it in your belly!

General rule of thumb from what i have seen, if you want dub...you want big (simple fizix) - and back ache for life :huh:

PS diggin the Dub Trio, never heard of em' before but reminding me a bit like Ozrics ish

Edited by Rasta
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Hmm, I am pretty sure my rig is a nice mix.

Its one biamped cab, 1X15 600 Watt eminence speaker and 2X8's for a little high end definition.

My marshall is pretty clean sounding, Maybe i want to go tube again.

I'd need a pretty small amp head though, I dont drive and dont intend to.


Bass wise, I love the look of the ovations, Not a fan of SG basses at all. How much dub is truly played on fretless? I can see why it would be good, But what artists use fretlesses for dub? Youtube examples maybe?

Cheers. Rob.

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Robbie Shakespeare is one of my heroes:

[url="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=RdAa2ktmWFc"]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=RdAa2ktmWFc[/url]

Fender Jazz and TI flats would be my choice, with the top end rolled off. Otherwise, as metioned by Rasta, the Steinberger bat bass has been a popular choice by many, and the Hohner B2a is meant to be a good compromise.

This lad plays plenty off vids on youtube via a Precision in the reggae style:

[url="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=mpLrdYYooLI"]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=mpLrdYYooLI[/url]

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