Cheap bass for recording?

[cgibsong002]

Hey everyone. I'm looking into getting a really cheap guitar purely for recording purposes through my Eleven Rack. By cheap I mean $2-300, something I can find off craigslist. I've played bass before but have never owned one, so not really familiar with what to look for, compared to Electrics. Any suggestions for brands to look out for or specific things to look for in the guitar? Will be used for mostly metal type stuff, if that's relevant. Really have no idea between 4 or 5 string. Haha kinda clueless here. Thanks everyone.

[isaac42]

I'm confused. First you say you want a bass, then a guitar, then you say you're not familiar with what to look for, "compared to Electrics."

 

Assuming that what you're looking for is an electric bass guitar, you can't go wrong with a Precision Bass or one of its many, many clones. Last year I picked up an Ibanez Soundgear GSR200 for about $100. Looks good, feels good, sounds okay.

[cgibsong002]

Sorry.. rushed post. I have played electric/acoustic guitars for 20 years. I'm very familiar. Bass guitars, I'm not as familiar with, as far as what to look for in electronics, playability, different options, etc.

 

So yes, I'm looking for an electric bass. I will be recording direct through my Eleven rack.

[WRGKMC]

A good squire Precision or Jazz bass should do a fine job. They've been used on many thousands of recordings and produce that nice usable midrange bass tone. If you're normally a guitarist, having a neck that's not too fat can help with wrist fatigue. You may even want to try a short scale if you have smaller hands, but bass parts are generally slower and have longer sustained notes so speed isn't always a factor. Strings on a long scale are actually more forgiving when it comes to stopping and starting notes which is a big key to good bass playing.

 

If you're into more modern stuff, I'd also suggest at looking at the Ibanez basses. They are light and have a streamlined feel to the necks. Tone is very good too, plus many have 2 pickups which may make the bass more flexible recording.

 

If you're recording direct, I suggest you also plan on getting a good DI box that will emulate some bass amp tones. A DI alone leaves bass really flat and thin sounding and you have to use allot of EQ and compressor plugins to make it sound realistic. There are some very inexpensive options you can use to get the bass to sound like you're recording a miced bass amp.

 

These will do the job for the basics, and you cant beat the price. Very quiet and it's good enough to get the job done. http://www.zzounds.com/item--BEHBDI21

 

A limiter/compressor may be needed to even up the notes. Many new to playing bass have right hand issues producing even dynamics picking the strings. A normal guitar compressor winds up making the bass sound muffled and midrangy You want something that's voiced for bass.

This cheap box does an excellent job for the cost. It doesn't overdo the compression so you still have dynamics and its tone knob can be tweaked up for slap bass tones or darkened for a flat wound string tone. Saves a whole lot of time mixing. http://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/behringer-bass-limiter-enhancer-ble400-bass-effects-pedal?cntry=us&source=3WWRWXGP&gclid=CIL9m_DDvsICFapDMgodMG0AVA&kwid=productads-plaid^80558074107-sku^H85678000000000@ADL4MF-adType^PLA-device^c-adid^51870555867

 

Of course if you have the money you can go for a sans amp. http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/BassDriverPgm?adpos=1o5&creative=54989262241&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=COLnzPvEvsICFQoMaQodEDgARA

 

Of course Digitec and Korg make some pedals too. I picked up one of these for $20. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Digitech-BP50-Bass-Multi-processor-/171566136069?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item27f2237b05 I don't use the effects on bass. If I needed any of that stuff I'd add it when mixing. The pedal does have some amp modeling, Compression, EQ and preamp drive which is about all I ever use. Its got one setting that does a pretty job imitating an Ampeg SVT setup which is one of my favorite recording tones. Having that 8X10 cab tone is often what's needed in modern music especially if you tune down to D tunings.

 

There's allot of other options for direct recording including rack gear. You just have to look around a bit.

[cgibsong002]

Thanks man! The Eleven Rack actually is built for bass as well. I haven't used it yet for bass, so I don't know if it's as in depth as it is on the guitar settings. But I believe it has a full realm of amps, cabs, mic'ing options, and effects ready for me to use. I'm definitely not planning on going in dry. But I definitely get what you're saying that with certain things like compression I might need to try something bass specific. So I'll have to see how the 11R does for the bass.

 

I definitely have smaller hands. I am used to beefier guitar necks though, but I mean honestly I could probably make whatever work. I generally won't be writing anything crazy for the bass parts so I don't think I'll need to narrow my results to a certain scale length, but I do think smaller and shorter will be easier on me. Are there any specific types of pickups I should seek? Active/passive?

[cgibsong002]

This might be a stupid question.. but is a 5 string essentially the equivalent of a 7 string guitar? I.e. if I don't have any 7 strings then I have no need for a 5 bass?

[WRGKMC]

You can buy a 6 or 7 string bass if you wanted one. Everything is just an octave below in most cases, but you do have other tuning options.

 

A 5 string is handy if you play allot of songs in D and like that extra low note. I just tune down my low E on the4 string to get it. You have to alter your playing to use that string, but like I said bass parts are usually simper so its not too difficult. Bass does require more muscle to play and you have to build up your endurance. I play bass with two or three fingers and when I haven't played in awhile I wind up with blisters and have to switch to a pick.

 

Its good you have that 11 rack. If its got bass settings you should be good to go. If it was only guitar settings, bass doesn't sound right because all the notes are an octave below a normal guitar and so are its overtones. Guitar boxes, even with EQ completely re-tweaked rarely provide good bass tones. Most of the settings deliberately block the bass frequencies you want to produce on bass so a guitar doesn't mask the bass in a recording. I have about a dozen different rack effects/preamp units I use for direct recording and the ones designed for guitar pretty much suck for bass. They just aren't voiced for those frequencies and even with a ton or tweaking they just don't cut it.

 

One thing I have been using lately is my Ampeg Portaflex head. The new ones are class D heads that are ultra light and small. You can safely run them without a cab connected by turning off the mains, then just run the direct out to your interface. The tone quality is massive and it really does sound like a miced bass amp. I dig those sub lows on bass. Allot of people roll them all off, but I like some thump in my recordings. A good bass head DI out can give you those tomes in many cases.

 

Good luck.

[DeepEnd]

IMHO, "cheap 5-string bass" is a recipe for poor sound. I'd stick with a 4-string. Look for a used US-made Peavey. Nice basses and cheap to boot. An older Yamaha if you can find one. As WRGKMC mentioned, if you want a modern sound, check out Ibanez but aviod the low-end models. My personal preference is for a passive bass as well.

[cgibsong002]

Thanks again guys! I kind of figured as well that I'm not going to get as good of a 5 string for the same price as 4, that's a good point.

 

A bit of local poking around, these look nice to me, what do you guys think?

 

http://houston.craigslist.org/msg/4798049905.html

http://houston.craigslist.org/msg/4796770331.html

http://houston.craigslist.org/msd/4790640247.html

http://houston.craigslist.org/msg/4732841061.html

 

As you can tell I'm interested in gear that's less traditional. Think these are too much on the low end, or can I actually get a respectable bass for these prices?

[DeepEnd]

The Peavey Fury would be my choice but that price seems high without a case (http://houston.craigslist.org/msg/4798049905.html). If your budget can stretch, this is a nice bass: http://houston.craigslist.org/msg/4763596053.html. That price is about half of what they go for new.

[isaac42]

Thanks again guys! I kind of figured as well that I'm not going to get as good of a 5 string for the same price as 4, that's a good point.

 

A bit of local poking around, these look nice to me, what do you guys think?

 

http://houston.craigslist.org/msg/4798049905.html

http://houston.craigslist.org/msg/4796770331.html

http://houston.craigslist.org/msd/4790640247.html

http://houston.craigslist.org/msg/4732841061.html

 

As you can tell I'm interested in gear that's less traditional. Think these are too much on the low end, or can I actually get a respectable bass for these prices?

 

In my experience, the single pickup EB will give you little other than mud. The two pickup model isn't much better.

The Thunderbird may sound good, but they tend to ride to the left, such that it's difficult to reach the low notes unless you have quite long arms. Neck dive is a problem, too. I'd expect much the same from the Blackbird. That leaves the Peavey, which is a Precision clone. Can't go far wrong there.

[WRGKMC]

The SG is a darker sounding bass, but they have a very comfortable neck shape and length on them for a guitarist. It is a set neck so you'll get better sustain and stability, important items recording. The bridge pup on the two pickup models were horrible. If I had a single pickup version I'd add a really good bridge pickup and you'd have a great bass.

 

The thunderbird would be OK standing up performing but sitting down recording its may be less comfortable due to its shape. They are bolt on necks so they wont be nearly as good as a Gibson, but the dual pickups would provide tonal flexibility recording.

 

I'm not real impressed with the Peavey. They sell on EBay in good condition fro around $150. The higher end models are good but the budget ones aren't anything that's going to send a thrill up your leg. I usually steer away from modified instruments in any case because you wind up spending even more getting them back to specs.

 

My advice overall is keep looking.

[mildbill]

Consider this one: http://houston.craigslist.org/msg/4797298472.html

 

I've got one of those and it's good value for the money.

Know that it's a short scale though. Light and easy to play.

 

I also had an EB0, like one of your links, but got rid of it.

It was OK, but there were a few things I didn't care for about it.

[cgibsong002]

Yeah I'm in no rush so I can keep looking. I did contact the guy about the Peavey, and I didn't notice through all his caps lock that it had upgraded Seymour's in it, and he would be willing to come down a bit. I'm not sure if that's enough to make it worth it though, it certainly doesn't seem to be a steal to me.

[DeepEnd]

Peavey USA Fury 4-strings are selling for $130-180+shipping with a case on eBay. Figure $160-200 total. In this instance, there's no case mentioned but it has the upgraded pickups. If you can work out a price, it would be a nice bass. You can always start with a gig bag and get a proper case later.

[WRGKMC]

Consider this one: http://houston.craigslist.org/msg/4797298472.html

 

I've got one of those and it's good value for the money.

Know that it's a short scale though. Light and easy to play.

 

I also had an EB0, like one of your links, but got rid of it.

It was OK, but there were a few things I didn't care for about it.

 

Those jags are fun to play.