BP Project files
I was gettin' tired of always having to scrol to the last post in the other thread and I also figure it might be nice to have a thread for just our versions and a place to comment.
With that said, here is one of my mixes. If you like bass and have a media player that can enhance the bass, go for it, it will rattle yer window prety good. There are a few "Oops!! That was sour." but overall it is good to go.
HAZ
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Well, since Haz posted his
Well, since Haz posted his mix of Carelessly Sophisticated, I'll post mine as well. I'm looking forward to hearing your comments both good and bad.
Carelessly Sophisticated-Pauls Mix
It was recorded with my Tune bass through a SansAmp BDDI, direct to my sound board. I tried to bring up the mids a bit even though it brings out some finger and fret noise.
It was done in two takes. The main bass line and the intro. You can hear I'm struggling with the intro a little. It's sort of at my speed limit. Still, I didn't think it was too bad.
I'm looking forward to hearing the other bass lines and comments. Thanks for participating guys. I've learned a lot already.
The difference between your
The difference between your version and mine (just my opinion), yours sounds as though it would suite a vocal track much better where mine seems to work better as an instrumental. Yours also has a more rockin' jazzy feel to it, especially the intro. The bridge on your mix sounds as if it would suite some lead geeter better as well.
Your tone is also a bit warmer, I like it and if I were to try and get the same tone from my bass I would loose all the high mids and treble.
As far as finger and fret noise, it is there but not as bad as you might think (we are are own worst critics), plus it give a more live feel to it.
I also like yer right hand technique a bit better then mine, you got more of that boooomwaap sound. I know there is another name for it but I seem to have some mental flatulance at the moment. ;p
A few more listens and I might have more to say.
HAZ
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Musicians Collabaration Studio / a place for musicians to get to gether and create music on-line
Re: The difference between your
The difference between your version and mine (just my opinion), yours sounds as though it would suite a vocal track much better where mine seems to work better as an instrumental. Yours also has a more rockin' jazzy feel to it, especially the intro. The bridge on your mix sounds as if it would suite some lead geeter better as well.
I didn't start with the intention of having it suitable for vocals although I agree it would work. I really wanted to have a funky main riff that complemented the melody. Luckily it came quite naturally after a couple of minutes jamming.
The bridge didn't come in the first session. I had to resort to the chord chart to get a line going there. I finally reallized the bridge worked well with mainly the root notes and a bit of rhythm. The bridge would work great if it was expanded in the second chorus and had some lead work over it.
I also like yer right hand technique a bit better then mine, you got more of that boooomwaap sound. I know there is another name for it but I seem to have some mental flatulance at the moment. ;p
Cool, I didn't reallize I had any technique. LOL Actually I use many different right hand techniques. On this one I was using a percussive cross between a pluck and a tap. I try to get my fingernails to strike the strings a little to increase the effect. The only trouble is I have the Tune bass' action so low that the strings hit the frets a little. Overall though I was happy enough with the sound.
I don't know if it was the
I don't know if it was the SansAmp or the bass itself, but I liked the crunchy tone you got. Something of a more subdued Chris Squire/Geddy Lee tone. Very nice.
Your harmonies were solid, as was your timing. I enjoyed yours a lot too.
BoH
Sorry to take so long to
Sorry to take so long to reply Bo, I've been really busy.
I think the tone came from both the SansAmp and the bass. The Tune bass is really modern sounding. It has an ash body that gives a bit of growl and the electronics can be customised using the trim pots. I was using 60% bridge pup and had the bass and treble flat.
I turned the mids up (bass and treble down) with the SansAmp and added a little drive.
That's basically it. I'm glad it worked, it's nice to get away from my previously bland tone.
Thanks for the comments Bo.
You're a lot more
You're a lot more adventurous than I am Haz. I really like your use of the higher register. It makes the song more interesting. I stay away from anything above the 12 fret. It's foreign territory to me. I also liked your playing on the bridge, the way you played a rhythm on the F with fast riffs highlighting the changes. Cool.
How did you record it? I'm guessing you mic'ed your cab, right? Which bass are you using?
Gear used;
Gear used;
Traben Pheonix 5 through a TonePort UX2 with no amp or cab models but it sounds like I should have turned up the treble a bit on the bass. The effects I just added in after I recorded the line.
I tried mic'n the cabs but I could not get the tone I was lookin for. The cabs work better for the slap line I did but not playing any slap style in many years I need some more practice. I did the same line with some slap and could post it but it is horrendous(sp?)
It took me (well, it always takes me, unless we're trying to get the basic structure down of a new tune) about 10 or 11 takes because I keep changin' parts until I find something that I like. I also tried somethin' different at first. Instead of recording all the way through I would record the intro, then the verse, etc, etc etc, . That did not work for me so I had to play it all the way through. I also tried to keep it fairly simple and when I get a chance I may try something a bit more advanced.
The bridge was a killer, I just could not think of what I wanted to do over it and although the tempo does not slow it does give the feeling of a bit slower tempo because the length of the beats are different and that is where I keept changing it up. I did two beats of Eb and two of F and then jump up to the higher register where I would do simple little riffs starting on the which ever note was supposed to be on that beat. If I were to do this for a song I would most likely stay down low but this gave me an oppertunity to practice jumpin' around the fret board.
I will go have a listen to yer version now.
HAZ
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Musicians Collabaration Studio / a place for musicians to get to gether and create music on-line
Re: Gear used;
Traben Pheonix 5
I kind of thought you were using a 5 string. It gives you quite the range doesn't it? Too bad the necks are too wide for me. : (
I tried mic'n the cabs but I could not get the tone I was lookin for.
I would have sworn you were mic'ing the cabs. Your bass sounds very full and rich just as if it was coming from a good amp/ cab. The TonePort does a good job.
I also tried somethin' different at first. Instead of recording all the way through I would record the intro, then the verse, etc, etc etc, . That did not work for me so I had to play it all the way through.
I did mine in two takes and I was surprised that it worked first try. The tracks weren't lined up perfectly but I was able to time shift one and line it up right. I was going to add a chordal outro but that I couldn't get right, it wouldn't line up properly. Next time I'll try to record in audacity instead of BiaB. That way it'll be in sync.
The bridge was a killer, I just could not think of what I wanted to do over it and although the tempo does not slow it does give the feeling of a bit slower tempo because the length of the beats are different and that is where I keept changing it up. I did two beats of Eb and two of F and then jump up to the higher register where I would do simple little riffs starting on the which ever note was supposed to be on that beat. If I were to do this for a song I would most likely stay down low but this gave me an oppertunity to practice jumpin' around the fret board.
Funny how that happens. The part you have the most trouble with ends up with some of the best work on the track (IMHO). I really like the bridge part you do the best. There's something cool about the way you sit on the F, I think it's the F anyway, for a bar or two. It really works better than the more melodic approach I did. I've got to learn when to do that. I have a habit of playing more than I need to at times.
Question for you. How much did you use the chord chart? Did you do any jamming sort of blind first or go straight to the chords?
What I did was play the song without reference to the chords a couple of times and just randomly played notes until I felt I was in the right place. Then I fixed on the main riff by playing off the melody. When I had something I liked I looked at the chord chart and saw I was playing a riff off an F chord rather than the Eb. That surprised me but it worked so I left it. Just goes to show rules were made to be broken.
Re: Gear used;
I would have sworn you were mic'ing the cabs. Your bass sounds very full and rich just as if it was coming from a good amp/ cab. The TonePort does a good job.
The thing is, I use a guitar head so it really exagerates the mids, the highs and really brings the fret noise out even with a light touch and the fact that the mic I use picks up every little nuance I only mic 'em these days for some of the punk tunes or if I try some cough funky slappin'.
Question for you. How much did you use the chord chart? Did you do any jamming sort of blind first or go straight to the chords?
My process goes like this
1) Start the song and play along with out even knowing where it is going and during that first time through something clicks.
2) Look at the chart so I know what the roots are. I have gotten into the habit of not using charts (unless it is in standard notation but that has yet to happen) to decide when and where the changes take place because a lot of the tunes I do I get a different styles of chart so I just ask for the notes/chords and then listen for the changes.
3) Find the most difficult part of the song and figure out what I am going to do. Once I get that down then ...
4) Play the tune all the way through. Things just tend to fall into place once the difficult measures are worked out.
As I said, once the diffcult parts are decided on, the rest of the tune falls into place. What I mean, I do not even think about what I am playing for the rest of the song and thanks to the simplicity of todays home studios, I record every time I play. So if I here a few measure I like, I then go back and listen to them and then recreate it over the rest of the song.
Basically I improvise until I hear something I like.
One thing I have had to work on is getting a more melodic structure (like yours) to the tunes I work on because most of the time (although it has gotten better) my bass lines will compeat with either the lead guitar or vocals.
HAZ
That's not too different
That's not too different from the way I work out a line. I start the same way you do, play along and see where it leads. I place my major emphasis on rhythm at first. I want a sense of the beat and especially where to use space. That's important to me for some reason.
After that I play with arpeggios until some type of riff presents itself. I usually leave the hardest spots for later. It's the main riff I search for.
I really try to hear something in the music, melody or other instrument, to play off.
After I have a main riff I just play it a few times and listen for 'mistakes' that sound good and incorporate these. I just wish I had more innate fretboard ability. I'd love to do more sophisticated work.
Ok, I Finished
For the most part, I think this NOT the best I could do (I'm kind of hard on myself), but I'm putting it up anyway. Please forgive the miscues and the mix, it's the best I could come up with. I hope you enjoy it.
Carelessly Sophisticated--Bo's Mix
I hosted it on MySpace with Paul's permission.
I used my Spector five string through the MXR Bass DI+ and from there I used the Lightsnake into the computer. I also used one of the many preset EQ's available on my version of Audacity and I thought it gave the bass a very fat, yet defined tone in the final mix. However, due to the conversion to mp3, some of that tone was lost and it sounds a little too fat. I hope you all enjoy it.
As far as the line itself is concerned, I was going for a dance feel. I wanted something people could shake their booties to. I hope that this piece of work reflects that. I tried to avoid overplaying, but probably failed (Haha!). Anyway, here it is. All opinions are welcome.
BoH
Hey Bo, we now have three
Hey Bo, we now have three version. I will give yers a listen in a bit.
HAZ
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Musicians Collabaration Studio / a place for musicians to get to gether and create music on-line
That's a fresh new take on
That's a fresh new take on the song Bo, very nice. First off, I wouldn't have thought of a dance like bass line to this song. What made you think of that? It's very effective IMO.
I really liked the way you stayed down on the low notes during the 'A' parts in the first and last chorus. Both as a listener and as a bassist I didn't expect that. The surprise coupled with the solid beat really make me want to move.
The other part that stands out is the 'B' parts where you pedal over the other instruments. That really works for me.
I also noticed some remarkably fast fills in there. Considering the speed I'd say you've mastered your timing pretty thoroughly.
Thanks for being part of this project Bo. It's really helping me with some of the creative aspects of bass playing as well as inspiring me to try new things. BTW, I'm looking forward to any comments you may have regarding the other tracks. Also, I think wheat is close to posting too and that'll be cool, can't wait to hear his take on the song.
The dance feel I was going
The dance feel I was going for comes from my secret fascination with dance beat type stuff and my love for funk/rock stylists like Flea and Tim Commerford. And the straight funk cats like Bootsy and Verdine White really tourqe my screws as well. I like bass lines that have a bouncy feel to them.
The fills come from my days when I was a baby bass player, that's the Steve Harris influence creeping in. Steve Harris of Iron Maiden was my first real influence because he's the first bassist that really caught my attention. He's known for those lighting fast galloping lines that have defined a lot of metal music for ages and he used to do some fast fills as well.
So really, the mix I came up with, first off, is just my interpretation of how the tune should be played. When I first heard it, the dance beat thing was my first impression. I thought this tune would do well in a danceable context and my playing naturally followed suit.
One thing I did early was ignore the chart in favor of my ear. I've always leaned towards trusting my ear to guide me because playing the root is NEVER wrong, in my opinion. I look for the central tonality of a chord before I concern myself with embellishing the quality (i.e. major, minor, etc). Once I determine the central tonality, I might add a fifth, major, or minor depending on how I feel the chord.
I'll have some comments on yours and Haz's versions shortly.
Thank you for your comments on mine and yes, I too am looking forward to Wheat's finished product.
BoH
Nice one Bo. I only have had
Nice one Bo. I only have had time to give it a quick listen but I can hear/feel the "dance" in it. When I get a chance to listen closer I will comment more on it.
HAZ
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Musicians Collabaration Studio / a place for musicians to get to gether and create music on-line
Not the best you could
Not the best you could do??Thats fer dang sure!! Just messin' with ya Bo.
Actually, I like the tone and the "bumpedy bump" feel it has. May be it is just me but the "C" in the verses does not seem to fit. You have this killer deep groove goin and then the C kinda jumps in yer face. What if ya tried goin' down to the C on the B-string?
The verses definitly have that "disco-ish" rhythm and the chourus' seem to be a bit more Jazzy with that lil' rif at the end of it.
I know I am missin' somethin' so I will get back to ya.
HAZ
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Musicians Collabaration Studio / a place for musicians to get to gether and create music on-line
Nice work! I just gave it a
Nice work! I just gave it a second listen and singled out a few passages for comment:
First, I like the space you create in the verses and the nice use of slides there (beginning to 00:41). And I love the feel and the tasty fills over the B part (00:42--00:57). I like, in particular, how you shift in and out of the straight-eights. I think that brings attention to the line and makes for a nice shift in feel. For me, the verse part really solidifies in the second verse (00:58--01:12). There, you have the same vibe as in the other verses but your line has a nice repeating hook to it that makes it memorable. Finally, I love that you went down low and added still more nice fills in the section that runs from 01:12 to 01:44 (is that what we're calling the bridge? Somebody map this thing out).
I could comment on other things as well, but these were the parts struck me during the second listen. Good work!
Wheat
My Comments for You, Haz
First of all, I liked your tone. It was a unique sound with sort of a fretless nuance. Very well done there. What effects, if any, did you use? Also, did you pan as well?
Also, the use of the higher registers was creative. Your timing was well done too.
Overall, not a bad piece of work.
Bo
I recorded it dry and then
I recorded it dry and then added some reverb into the mix. Yes I did pan it to the left just a tad. What I actually did, I split the bed track in two, panned one part hard right and the other about 60% left then panned the bass to the left about 20%. The reverb I used is just a plug-in and I just picked one of the presets it has.
I was playin' around with the tune yesterday to try and get a more "rock" oriented line with some reverb, delay and chorus (doin' this through the cabs and POD) and I think I did but I will have to wait until I can record it just to be sure.
HAZ
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Musicians Collabaration Studio / a place for musicians to get to gether and create music on-line
Ya had to mention fretless.
Ya had to mention fretless. I have got some serious G.A.S. for a fretless right now. I am thinking about ordering a neck for the Phoenix and defreting it but leaving the flame inlay. I am just waiting to hear back if Traben will sell me just the neck.
HAZ
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Musicians Collabaration Studio / a place for musicians to get to gether and create music on-line
I really don't think they
I really don't think they would sell you a neck, but you might be able to find an authorized Traben dealer who could get one for you. I doubt you could get one direct.
Bo
I have a friend who works at
I have a friend who works at a shop and she is going to see if she can get a neck for me.
HAZ
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Musicians Collabaration Studio / a place for musicians to get to gether and create music on-line
Here's mine! Finally!
wheat's CS mix.
Calling it a mix isn't really fair, since it's pretty much a rough draft with no mixing or effects. But I did get a line together that I was happy with. Now I'm going to go listen to all of yours before commenting further.
Wheat
Gear rundown
Okay, gearheads. Here's what I used for this track:
Bass: 80s Fender Jazz Bass Special (fretted)
Strings: Hartke HSB 440
Cables: George L's
Amp: Peavey Microbass
FX: Zoom 506 (touch of compression and noise reduction), Boomerang (didn't actually use it, but it was in the signal chain).
I placed a mic on the amp and ran it through my MidiMan (now M-Audio) AudioBuddy mic preamp and into my laptop. I used the ASIO4ALL drivers to reduce latency (down to 2.7ms). This much is the same setup I've used for a while now. I have a bigger/nicer amp (Yorkville 400B) but the Peavey is so damned handy and records really well.
DAW: Ableton Live 6.0.3.
I'm brand new to Ableton Live. I actually worked my way through the tutorial before I recorded this track. I've only done some very minor things with it previously. I didn't add any effects in Live, though it has a nice selection.
I converted the WAV to mp3 with iTunes.
Wheat
Dang, you sure you did not
Dang, you sure you did not use my bass? ;) If I take out the effects I added yer Fender and my Traben have almost an identical tone with yours being a tad brighter. To be sure I had to play the versions side by side..
Caaaaan Youuuuuuu Diiiig Iiiiiiiiiiit?!! (forgot where that line came from. Ahhh, just remembered, tis from the Movie "Warriors"). Maybe it is just me and my messed up head but I hear a kind of '70 dance meets classic rock.
I like that little run you do at I believe 00:03 and then the groove ya got goin' between 01:15 and 02:17 are kickin'. Those are also the same parts that seem to need a tad of cleaning but you could probably get it down prety good with some mixing done.
I am listing to all the mixes right now and it is cool how they all are the same but different. I will say this, it seems you and Paul seem to be closer in style and Bo and I are a bit closer in style. Now that might just be this tune but that is what I am hearing.
By the way, if ya see this Bo, that "C" that I thought stood out in yer mix, I do not notice it as pronounced now and works well. Man, I need to stay with the same media player 'cause they all have diferent stting. ;^/
HAZ
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Musicians Collabaration Studio / a place for musicians to get to gether and create music on-line
Re: Dang, you sure you did not
I am listing to all the mixes right now and it is cool how they all are the same but different. I will say this, it seems you and Paul seem to be closer in style and Bo and I are a bit closer in style. Now that might just be this tune but that is what I am hearing.
I agree with this completely. Wheat's mix and mine have a very similar feel while yours and Bo's have a similar feel. I don't for a moment think I have wheats chops though, or anyone elses for that matter. Best I can hope for is not to ruin the song. : (
Re: Dang, you sure you did not
If I take out the effects I added yer Fender and my Traben have almost an identical tone with yours being a tad brighter.
That's funny, because I was going to tell you how much I liked the sound of your Traben. I've never heard/played one before. As for the brightness, I'd chalk that up to new (and very light) strings. I do like a bright tone.
. . . I hear a kind of '70 dance meets classic rock.
I think that middle section (the part where I'm playing in the middle of the neck) certainly has a classic rock vibe. I used to play in a 70s rock cover band, so it gets into your blood. :) In the part that starts off on B chord, I was going for something sort of gospel or Al Green-ish. That's a stretch for me, but it seemed to fit with the organ that's going on there.
I like that little run you do at I believe 00:03 and then the groove ya got goin' between 01:15 and 02:17 are kickin'.
Thanks, man. I'm proudest of that part 1:15-2:17 part. That's the sort of thing I like to play and the part of the neck I most like to use.
Those are also the same parts that seem to need a tad of cleaning but you could probably get it down prety good with some mixing done.
Yeah, it's a very rough recording. I banged it out in a few hours. I really just wanted to capture the idea. There's one point where I set my punch-in/punch-out points wrong (about 02:01-02:02) and it clipped off the beginning of my run! Oh well, live and learn. I'm loving the new DAW, but I don't understand it very well yet.
I will say this, it seems you and Paul seem to be closer in style and Bo and I are a bit closer in style.
Funny, I thought that mine was closer to BoH's! I thought yours and Paul's each had their own vibe. But I'll comment on those directly.
Thanks for the comments. And big thanks to Paul for making all this happen! I think it's been a real success and really shows how different bassists can come up with different working lines for the same track. It has given us a good excuse to compare notes on composition and recording practices. Very groovy.
Wheat
Nice, really nice. I'm busy
Nice, really nice. I'm busy at work today but I'll listen again and comment further later today. Still, first impression, NICE.
First of all, did I say
First of all, did I say NICE. That's the way I imagined this song to sound. That's a lot like what I was trying for. Too bad I don't have the talent....
Your intro is really cool, very jazzy. I'm guessing you have some jazz background right?
Your riff in the first and last chorus, are you playing Eb down to F? I don't have my bass here at work so I'm going strictly by ear. Anyway, it sounds good. The second chorus sounds great. I love the fills and the rhythm. I'm going to try playing along with this at home when I get a chance. There's a lot of stuff I can learn here.
Thanks for the contribution Wheat. I'll e-mail you in the next couple of days with some ideas for doing this on a regular basis.
paul wrote:First of all, did
First of all, did I say NICE. That's the way I imagined this song to sound.
Thanks a lot, Paul. This was a challenge for me. I didn't really know where to go with the verses. But I finally came up with something I liked. I noticed most of us played heavy on the "one" through that part. I think the most similarity in all four lines can be found in the verses.
Your intro is really cool, very jazzy. I'm guessing you have some jazz background right?
Jazz: I try. But my real background is rock. But I love jazz and blues and I try to emulate some things I hear in those genres. It's often been true that I've been a rocker who aspires to being a jazzer. But I'm trying to be comfortable with myself as a rock musician. I know it's only rock and roll, but I like it (like it, yes I do).
Your riff in the first and last chorus, are you playing Eb down to F?
I'm not sure which part is the chorus. If you give me a time reference, I'll be happy to comment.
'm going to try playing along with this at home when I get a chance. There's a lot of stuff I can learn here.
I think I'll do the same with the lines you, BoH, and Haz submitted. I like them all and they're all very different ways of going about it--and ways I wouldn't necessarily think of.
Thanks for the feedback, Paul. I gotta run right now. But I'll give the other lines another listen and comment on them later.
Cheers,
Wheat
Chorus in Band in a Box
Chorus in Band in a Box speak is once through the chord chart. So CS is three choruses. They also refer to the chorus structure as AABA, that is, an A part repeated twice, a B part (bridge) and a final A part. I find their terminology resonably useful for discussing songs.
BiaB claim the terminology originates in jazz for what it's worth. : )
Using the times from the playback is more exact though. I'll try to use that more.
Quote:BiaB claim the
BiaB claim the terminology originates in jazz for what it's worth. : )
That's jazz terminology. In jazz, on time through the entire progression is "a chorus." Sorry, I was thinking in terms of pop songs with intro, verse, chorus, bridge, etc.
Wheat
Having said I'd try to use
Having said I'd try to use the times.... here goes. Is that Eb down to F on the riffs from 0:11 to 0:20? Still haven't had a chance to pull out my bass and try it yet.
The reason I ask is 'cause I found an F chord worked well over the Eb and following changes. I'm not quite sure why. F is the 2nd (or 9th) of Eb but that's not a strong degree, certainly not strong enough to work in place of the root. So it's a mystery to me why it works.
I had the same experience as
I had the same experience as you, Paul. I read the chart and saw two beats of Eb before the F. And I tried that, but it didn't work for me. I didn't heard it that way. So, after a few times trying to fit my ear to the chart, I decided to let my ear make the call. And I felt the verse fit better in F. So I stuck with that and fit in Eb as an accent note leading to F. And I did a similar accent on the Ab. Then I walked up to C for the last bit of the verse. (I think those were Am on the chart, but they were C to my ears. And both notes are in the key of C anyway.)
F ought not to work as well as it does there, but it worked for me (and you!).
Wheat
I'm glad to see I'm not the
I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who played non-chordal leading notes. At least that shows I'm not nuts. My two previous teachers, both guitarists teaching bass on the side, say you must lead with the chord root. I never completely agreed with them.
My most recent teacher, a bassist, is the only one who said you can lead with a non-chordal, non-root note when it fits the song. He said it's not common but it is permissible. In this case I found the song sounded better with an F instead of the Eb.
I wish I knew enough theory to explain why it works here. It does prove one thing though, you have to trust your ear, that's the ultimate judge whether a line works or not.
Re: I'm glad to see I'm not the
I wish I knew enough theory to explain why it works here. It does prove one thing though, you have to trust your ear, that's the ultimate judge whether a line works or not.
Word!
Wheat
Re: I'm glad to see I'm not the
...you have to trust your ear, that's the ultimate judge whether a line works or not.
Thank you! You are absolutely correct, sir!
Bo
Flippin' sweet, Wheat! I
Flippin' sweet, Wheat!
I loved your tone and the note selection was fantastic. I especially loved the leading tones going into some of the changes.
It is so funny how I NEVER imagined that bass line in my head, but you brought it out nicely. Well done. You've made me want to take up needlepoint! Haha!
BoH
Thanks, BoH. I really liked
Thanks, BoH. I really liked your work on this track, too. I will give everyone another listen and then try to provide some substantive feedback. Thanks for the comments. And don't ever take up needlepoint!
Wheat
Haz, you get points in my
Haz, you get points in my book for the most original line of the batch. You get some really interesting counter melodies going in several spots, especially 00:42--00:57, where you take to the upper register. Your note choices are odd, but you make them work, partly by the sheer confidence and steady rhythm with which you play them. I love the tone of your bass. It's the sort of sound I shoot for, but I think you achieve it. And you put the low notes on that Traben to good use here.
You also get a great mix here. The bass is loud enough to be heard but, due to its tone, doesn't overpower the rest of the mix.
Cheers,
Wheat
Glad ya liked it. One thing
Just got back from DC, worst trip ever but that is another story.
Glad ya liked it. One thing I have always done from the first time I stated playing instruments are counter melodies. It is not something I do on purpose, it just comes out that way when I improve.
The note choices, well, that is on purpose, I like them to be be "slightly" off (always have) for just about any tune I work on so I have been working on trying to get them to fit. As I have said in the past, I have a very different taste in musical tones then a lot of players/people. Just for example, if a piece of music is in say the key of "A", then I might play a portion of it in "A" and then some in "F" and I will also add one or two or three notes from different scales. I may turn a V into a IV or a III into a IX. For the next few weeks though I will be sticking strictly to the "rules" of theory. Todd has me doin' a sort of "boot camp" on theory to improve my sight reading and theory. I tell ya this, he is the first instructor that makes it interesting. Especially with his enjoyment for teaching and knowledge of theory.
Glad the mix sat well with ya. I am very new to that aspect but one of the on-line collabs sites I am part of had a "Mix Clinic" in which I learned a lot. I even have an orchestral version of "Can't You See" that I did.
As for the tone of the Traben, their basses tend to get a bad rep because a lot of players do not like to mess with the eq on it. The slightest turn of a knob and the tone changes a lot. So if you do not have the patience to sit and play around with it until you find what you are looking for AND then remember where to set the knob you would get frustrated. The bass also has a very bright tone "out of the box" so to speak so most of the time, before I put the flats on it, I would just have everything as flat as could be and then mess with the setting on the amp. Now with the flats on it I can get a nice warm growl or a super bright punch.
HAZ
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Musicians Collabaration Studio / a place for musicians to get to gether and create music on-line
I forgot that you play
I forgot that you play flats! That explains the tone a lot. But, for flats, you still get a lot of high end, which is cool.
Wheat
Now imagine that high end
Now imagine that high end with stainless rounds? ;D
Hazz
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Musicians Collabaration Studio / a place for musicians to get to gether and create music on-line
With rounds? It would
With rounds? It would probably sound like a dentist's drill! Haha!
Of course, I'm using stainless rounds on my Spector, which I thought was bright sounding bass, but I suppose it is not near as bright as your Traben.
On the other hand, I've got stainless rounds on my Franken-P and it sounds soooo lovely!
Sorry, a little too much drink tonight...I don't feel bad at all:)
BoH
I'm a nickel guy, myself.
I'm a nickel guy, myself. Maybe I'm just cheap! But they feel softer to me, easier to bend. Probably all in my head.
Wheat
No Wheat, it is not in yer
No Wheat, it is not in yer head. It's them spindly little arms of yers. ;^P
Hazz
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Musicians Collabaration Studio / a place for musicians to get to gether and create music on-line
I guess I'll have to do some
I guess I'll have to do some more of those 12 oz. curls to build 'em up. :)
Wheat
That wont do it. I'd say go
That wont do it. I'd say go for the 40oz at a minimum.
Hazz
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Musicians Collabaration Studio / a place for musicians to get to gether and create music on-line
Oh, yeah! Now we're
Oh, yeah! Now we're talking.
Wheat
I think one of the problems
I think one of the problems or reasons that most players say they do not like the Traben tone (other then the touchy electronics) is the fact they come standard with stainless rounds so they sound extreamly bright. Before I switched strings, if I played anything above the 9th fret you would think I was playing a geeter, even on the B string.
Have a beer for me as well, we're out 'til mornin' ;^D
Hazz
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Musicians Collabaration Studio / a place for musicians to get to gether and create music on-line
Sounds good to me. I like
Sounds good to me. I like the look of them and the sound you get out of yours. I like a bright bass tone, so I might dig 'em even with the stainless rounds on 'em.
Wheat