EQ Magazine - September 2007 - (Page 52)

BASS MANAGEMENT 5 BASS AMP CHOICES FOR SUCCESSFUL STUDIO SESSIONS by Scott Rottler In a time when it seems as if every kid has an earth-rattling car stereo system emanating deep and low bass sounds on every street in every town, those of us who record have been forced to change the way we approach the bass in our mixes to compensate for the overly compressed, blown-out bass sounds demanded by many modern hip-hop and rock styles. Thankfully, there’s a way to get a nice, clean, punchy bass tone that will make the mix go boom without sounding clunky by foregoing the direct approach (i.e., recording bass through a direct box) and miking up a damn good amp. Our bass sounds are first determined by three variables (what I call The Three As) before the red record light illuminates: the Artist, the Axe, and the Amp. We’ll assume we’ve settled on the artist (you) and probably the axe (that great old Fender Jazz Bass you missed many a meal buying), so what amp should you choose when recording your instrument to make sure your low end is tight and clean? In my experience, these four amps are perfect go-to choices for making sure your low end isn’t weak before it hits the mix. current times, the B-15R comes with a 100 watt head outfitted with four 6L6 Groove Tubes (the B-15N has two 6L6s, and a lesser wattage) and a custom 15" speaker — which gives it a respectable volume and a pleasing, rich, smooth tone that’s great for recording purposes, whether you are looking for that classic rock, modern rock, hiphop, or country sound. and cab combo will get you great sounds in the studio every single time. AMPEG B-15R PORTAFLEX COMBO The B-15N combo was one of the leaders of the pack when it came to those great ’60s bass tones of old. Retooled a bit for AMPEG CLASSIC SERIES SVT-CL HEAD + B-410 HLF CABINET The original Ampeg SVT is a true classic, a total tone monster, and the SVT-CL is a more than worthy reissue. Match this up with a B-410HLF (also one of the big dogs from the golden years), and you’re looking at a timeless bass sound. Delivering 300 watts RMS, based around its preamp tubes (two 12AX7s and one 12AU7), its driver tubes (two 12AU7s and one 12AX7), and its power amp (six 6550s), the SVT-CL is huge in every sense of the word. With the B-410 HLF and its 4x10" array of 4Ω drivers as its companion, and you’re looking at devastating low end with a superb top that cuts through even the busiest mixes. From contemporary metal to classic sweetness, a punchy blues or a smooth jazz, this amp EDEN WT800B HEAD + D410XLT CABINET The powerhouse Eden WT800 World Tour head (billed as one of the greatest live amps, but also a personal favorite for the studio) consists of a tube hybrid stereo amplifier with a “conservative” 400 watts per side into 4Ω. If you’re looking to move some serious air, this is the head for you. Match it up with the D410XLT 4x10" dual port enclosure, and you’re left with an incredibly aggressive sound that amply translates the sound you’ve chosen for your live performance into the mix. This is an incredibly versatile combination that works particularly well for slapping/popping funk style bass, and killer hip-hop tones. FENDER BASSMAN 50 HEAD + BASSMAN 410 CABINET The world renowned king of the “British Invasion” bass sound, the original Fender 52 EQ SEPTEMBER 2007 www.eqmag.com http://www.eqmag.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of EQ Magazine - September 2007

Contents Talk Box Sounding Board Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly Ben and Vesper Kaiser Chiefs Toolbox Ozma Porcupine Tree Rush The Software Power User Guide Guitar Trax Bass Management Key Issues Drumheads Vocal Cords Mix Bus Cheat Sheet Chameleon Labs TS1 and TS2 Primera Bravo Se Disc Publisher Roland MC-808 Magix Samplitude Professional 9.1 Massey Tape-Head Big Fish Audio Revolucion Reggaeton Sonivox World Beats Sony Pocket Diva Adobe Audition 2.0 Cakewalk Sonar 6 Room with a VU: J Street Recorders, Sacramento, CA

EQ Magazine - September 2007

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.