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In this case I'm referring to bright/rubbery/slap/80s RnB kind of bass. Sometimes it's bad gross, and sometimes it's really good gross.

I've been working on some weirdo RnB type songs and have always wondered what it takes to get some of those tones. I have a '71 P-Bass that definitely doesn't cut it for this, so I was thinking of looking around for something to borrow from a friend, or something not too expensive. For recording, I really wouldn't mind having a second bass that really excels at some of the sounds the P-Bass doesn't do so well. The thing is that I've never purchased anything at all for that realm of music, so I know little to nothing about what might be cool to check out. Active pickups? I don't know why, but I keep thinking of one of those Ibanez Soundgear basses that I habitually avoided for years. Music Man? Halp.

Examples (the songs aren't necessarily the sound I'm going for, but definitely the bass):

2nd verse, about 1:15
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdGLsMfJMy0[/youtube]

And pretty much all of this. Eagerly awaiting the praise and/or pure disdain.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqf6S4aScFs[/youtube]

I know all you doom dudes are total secret slappers.

Compressor and high action, my friend.

^Don't you mean low action, strings close to the fretboard?
Active electronics are a key component so I think a Musicman will definitely get that classic 80's bass tone, and slap players love them. Music man basses can almost do anything so..

At 3:17 is when great bass comes out and slaps.

I accidentally everything. That was a brain fart, sorry.

I have a soft spot for the hideous Music Man Bongo, I want a Bongo 5, man.

I have an Ibanez Talman TMB-300 bass and it can cop those over-the-top slap bass toanz. Active electronics and extremely aggressive slap/pop technique is key I think.

P.S. Boost your mids.

Oh MAN the Bongo 5! That's like in the Steinberger realm or beyond. Intriguing ickiness...I bet some insane Seinfeld bass can come out of that thing.

So yeah, active pickups and low action... also scooped mids, compressor, tone knob on the bass not rolled off. Basically the opposite of everything I normally do with bass. Fun nonetheless.

Stingray 5 would be pretty cool if I could find one for a decent price on Clist.

theshoegazer wrote:P.S. Boost your mids.

That's surprising! Will tweak...

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfOCzqIjd_M[/youtube]

Also don't overlook the GK bass head and metal-domed period speakers.

Jazz Bass is another one of the go-to's for these.

You're a monster for thinking this is a good idea, though. A Monster.

WayToHip wrote:^Don't you mean low action, strings close to the fretboard?

You see.. yeah if you want the chopsmagler type sound all thin and bright but.. if you what that old school sound you have to hit the bass harder, and use more normal strings and a more normal action..
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iK5IFyo0k0Q[/youtube]
So.. mids,miss,mids, boost the basses output if you need to [active bass, booster, low gain OD whatever] beat the shit out of your bass

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAh2bKbNw_Y[/youtube]

D.o.S. wrote:Jazz Bass is another one of the go-to's for these.

You're a monster for thinking this is a good idea, though. A Monster.

Hahahaha