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Old 12-09-2008, 07:16 PM   #59
yep
Human being with feelings
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,019
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Before we go much further, let's double back for a second. Notice that the whole post above is about dealing with one little aspect of the sound. And recall that where this element falls in the frequency spectrum and what proportion of the overall sound it comprises is entirely dependent upon factors such as: how the player holds the pick (or certainly whether she even uses a pick), how close to the bridge she picks the strings, the type of wood on the fretboard, and a ton of other stuff.

If the same player were playing a P-bass with the same technique, then the whole sound would be completely different. The chunk and growl would be much increased, and the clickly, stringy highs would be almost non-existant. Turning up the highs that help the Jazz bass cut through the SG might merely turn up hiss and fizz on a P-bass with a rosewood fingerboard. If she were fingerpicking or playing slap-style, the whole world would be different.

Now think for a moment about presets and "recipes." Even if they come from a world-class producer/engineer recording your absolute favorite bass player, what are the chances that every variable is going to line up exactly the same so that YOUR bass player, playing HER bass, with HER technique, in YOUR mix, of YOUR band, with all of the specific instruments and sounds, so that the settings and practices that worked best for one recording are going to be ideal for another? Is "rock bass" really a useful preset?

And just in case you think I've "gamed the system" by starting with the hardest part, think again. Life is about to get worse for bass presets. Read on...
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