[Axel]

My band is getting ready to record bass but right now our bassist is using a cheap rig that I got (I think it was an ampeg b-2r with a backline cab). Anyways although we haven't sat down and tried micing it we have tried recording with the direct out and the results weren't that great.
I've been thinking about getting a POD X3 since they seem like pretty handy direct recording devices. I figure I could use it to record ideas and for scratch guitar recording in the future.
Do you think the bass presets might give us better results? Any other amp or preamp come to mind for us to try? Or maybe a cab?
We're not rich but if it's affordable and will yield much better results we're open to ideas.

[eleven59]

That amp and cab should sound plenty good enough with some tweaking.

Whatever level of gain you think you want, set it slightly dirtier than you think you need.

Choose a good mic, and mic up the cab, then sit there and twiddle those knobs until you're happy, but do so while playing along to the track so you can choose a tone that blends with the guitars to make the overall sound even bigger.

If possible, try running a clean direct signal at the same time, and EQ everything but the low end out of it to give the low end of the overall sound some clarity, while letting the growl of the dirty tone cut through.

I could give more specific advice if I heard what you've got so far.

[Axel]

Thanks for the feedback. I'll see about sending you some tracks once we start fiddling with the sound and mics. Sometime next week.

[eleven59]

Originally Posted by Axel

Thanks for the feedback. I'll see about sending you some tracks once we start fiddling with the sound and mics. Sometime next week.

If you need a site to upload mp3s that you can link here, check out Free File Hosting - Image Hosting - FileNanny.com (once it's uploaded, click "Share" and copy the URL here, and put [ media ] and [ /media ] around it, without the spaces)

[JBroll]

With most distortion units, the massive bass will be a problem, so you'll need to find a good way of having the low end pulled away from the mids and highs so that you can have a clean (probably compressed, to match the distorted signal) low end and a gritty, crunchy top. Some pedals, like the ProCo RAT, don't need this - the RAT circuit is set up to distort lower end much less, so it can be used on its own.

Whether you like the sound or not, keep a DI handy for reamping.

Jeff

[eleven59]

Originally Posted by JBroll

With most distortion units, the massive bass will be a problem, so you'll need to find a good way of having the low end pulled away from the mids and highs so that you can have a clean (probably compressed, to match the distorted signal) low end and a gritty, crunchy top. Some pedals, like the ProCo RAT, don't need this - the RAT circuit is set up to distort lower end much less, so it can be used on its own.

Whether you like the sound or not, keep a DI handy for reamping.

Jeff

The secret to Justin Chancellor's bass sound is running two amp rigs, one completely clean, and one distorted with a RAT.

That and his use of delay and whammy of course.