Tech Tip: Setting Your Bass Level Correctly
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- Опубліковано 24 лип 2024
- Hit the link below to check out some of the gear I use:
sweetwater.sjv.io/9gyy6j
In this video I discuss the importance of sending the correct amount of signal from your bass to whatever you're plugging into. Whether it is you amp, a DI, a recording console, a Channel Strip, a snake to a mixing board, your best bet is to turn your basses volume all of the way up.
I am playing the bass through my Trickfish Bullhead 1k amp and a Form Factor 1B12L bass cabinet. The bass is my Marco TFL 4 string and it is strung up with DR Strings.
There are some specifics I did't cover, such as, EQ, active preamp, and other tone shaping devices that a bass can have on board, but this video is a very basic primer on why it is important to send the right amount of signal to whatever your bass is being plugging into.
Next time we will focus on setting the Gain correctly, from bass amps to recording interfaces.
Do what sounds best to you and whatever works. When using the kind of amps that vintage Fender basses were designed to work with turning down the volume knob on the bass a bit makes total sense.
as a veteran bass player there are some stage setups where the bass guitar sound so good on the stage, but when you hear it outside the stage, the bass sounds distorted, the solution i got is to lower the bass amp volume, decrease the mids, highs and lows and set the tone on the bass fully closed, just enough to get the bass be heard, and of course more clarity. but i completely agree that the volume on the bass should be full, and get the adjustments on the amp. if the amp on stage is crap, better not use the pedal board and wire the bass directly to avoid some distortion.
I take your point but I'm not sure you're completely right in the sense that it depends what bass you have. My 65 Fender Jazz buzzes with volumes full up. More importantly the position of the volume controls alters the tone; strangely I get the warmest tone with the front pick-up volume backed-off a little and the back pick-up about half way. When I had a 75 Jazz I used play it front pick-up full up (no buzz) and it sounded cool; doing that funky stuff with a pick. I suggest there are no rules. Just do what sounds best to you and your bass.
I completely agree, everything turned up. And for me personally, I have to hav my tone all the way up too to get a very clear, understandable sound (articulate, but yet full so every single freakin note is distinguishable) Couldn't have it any other way!! Another cool vid, thanks for being part of the (low population, small) crowd of Bassland here on youtube. Cool job, somebody's gotta do it, huh?
Carlos Hernández Thanks brother!! Much appreciated!!!
This is helpful Sir, thanks
Buh please is it applicable to active basses
Thanks man I'll try it when I get home
It’s been 2 years..... have you gotten home yet???
thanks very enjoyable
The basic principle is to send as loud a signal as possible into the amp, to reduce noise. I also play a jazz bass and setting both volume knobs to 10 is a pretty good rock setting. Both to 3/4 is also good. Uneven volume knobs is problematic because of 60 cycle hum and often sounds harsh.
The signal from the MFD pickups on my G&L SB-2 is too strong for my amp's input if they are turned all the way up. Even with the -15db input pad engaged (the bass has passive electronics) I have to back them off some to avoid aggressively overdriving the amp's input. the other option is to keep the pickups turned up fully but turn the gain almost down to zero on the amp but this doesn't sound as good.
Hi Caesar
I will record bass parts of my songs and i wanted to ask you something.i will record direct to apollo twin.
i will record bass around -18 rms but peak levels are changing.i can handle them with compressor after tracking.but do u think should i put compressor while recording.
İ am thinking to use just use twins unison pre 610 and record.Even not bass amp sim on track while recording.i will add bass amp sim later.it is wrong do u think?
Your other suggestions will make me happy so much
Hi, I would record without compressor if you are able to play somewhat evenly in terms of dynamics, try it without the compressor, first. If you're having too much trouble playing evenly the compressor will help. You have great gear!! Hope this helps!!
Thank you very much for your answer Ceaser..İ have good interface but my bass is not good.i didint want to use midi bass on my songs and i bought a cheap bass to play parts.
clyp.it/ndxp25l2 ...I recorded a sample..I put only 610 pre on apollo and recorded. Rms levels around -20..Peak levels around -8..-10 ... Do u think its too low or its good enough to start my bass records?
I somewhat disagree on having the bass output all the way up. I have a bongo 5 with 18v active electronics and if i send it with the volume all the way up it will clip super hard on some electronics (certain pedals/preamps). If i back it off and adjust the volume on the amp/preamp it sounds just fine but doesnt clip.
Hello! How do I set the pickups volume if I only have ONE knob for the pickups? If I turn that knob completely to the left I have the neck pickup selected, if I turn the knob to the right I have the bridge pickup selected. If I put the knob in the middle, then I have both.
Hi, you should have 1 master volume knob and a pickup panning knob. The master volume will set your volume level and the pickup pan knob with select which pickup you're using or both pickups.
If you've only got a pan knob then you are all the way up all the time!
Hey Steve, Were almost Cousins LOL My last name is Arguijo And I am a Bassist as well. Rock on brother..
anthony knows That’s awesome. Thanks my friend!!!
So what is your amp volume on? but your bass volume doesn't have to be all the way up , depends on the way you play and the type of song and it timing in the songs
Great job! Many thanks too.
Nice Vid. What kind of jazz bass is that?
Thanks!! And it's a Marco TFL Bass.
The Bass hang your bass looks like it was relict after James Hetfields Flying V
what about that buzzing u got going on..clean that up too?
He says always have the bass turned all the way up then says to back off a pickup depending on the tone you want, doesn't that contradict what he's trying to explain?
Not necessarily. Rolling back the bass know can help you get rid of some humming if you're having a passive bass. It's a pretty good option sometimes.
What he's basically saying is that it's much easier to "clean up" anything your signal send than to add something if you need it. There's no way to have too much volume or your tone to be too bright straight from the guitar. Those things can be adjusted in the amp, EQ, but it's impossible to add them if they aren't there to begin with.
Fix your tension rod and action. Lots of buzz.
Wow steve were so close to being related. my name is spelled ARGUIJO LOL
Little help here... My d string sound a little weaker than other. Any idea How to fix that?
green bass pluck it harder
I had the same issue with my low B on my 5 string, you may need to change the string, but if it continues with a fresh string on there it may be something else.
Try adjusting the pickup height.
Thanks, i messed around with them and ruined the sound
You see, most blokes, you know, will be playing at ten. You're on ten here, all the way up, all the way up, all the way up, you're on ten on your guitar. Where can you go from there? Where?
I disagree. Your theory might (and that is a big might) be correct if you are recording a virtuoso solo bass track. Other than that it depend on how the bass sits in the mix. It takes a few adjustments on the bass or DI volume to get it right. This has been my experience at least in the studio and playing live. I say start at 3/4 volume and work from there.
The writing is blocking what u teaching us..we can't see what u are doing with the volome knobs
Does this guy ever think about what he’s gonna say before he hits record? He’s all over the place…