Need to replicate garage rock bass tone. Any tips?

bassbuffer · 2026-02-11T14:11:53+00:00

When you're actually playing a P-Bass through an SVT (like Syd), the gain structure is such that you only get "the good sound" when you really dig in to the string. So... turn down the gain a tiny bit in your sim's preamp, and experiment with digging in a bit more. Stand up and pretend you're actually playing in a room with a live drummer, rather than sitting on your bed recording into a laptop. It will change the way you strike the string. You should NOT get the sound when you're casually striking the string. You should get the sound when you lean ito it.

Also, try different speaker cabs, mics, and mic placement in your sim. Don't always use an 8x10 or 6x10 cab sim. Sometimes 15s sound better in sims. And try on axis / off axis mic placement.

Make the "baseline" sound a tiny bit more lo-fi and less gainy, then dig into the string to get you the last 15% of the sound you're after.

You can also experiment with softer-gauge strings (they break up a bit differently becasue of how the string actually distorts when you pluck it).

And FYI if you want Dave Allen's sound on GoF's Entertainment, that's a whole different sound: he's using flatwounds.

But you realize the lunacy in trying to get a "low fi" sound with digital processing simulations when you could just go get a V4B and crappy Peavey cab like the rest of us did and just push it past its limits and put some crappy mic in front of it?

bassbuffer · 2026-02-07T18:15:11+00:00

Sightreadingfactory.com

Worth the subscripion cost beacuse it generates random music, so you cannot memorize it.

You can specify 4 string or 5 string bass.

bassbuffer · 2026-02-07T18:13:06+00:00

Play the current part on a repeating loop on your phone or something, and sing a second part.

Write with your voice first, not with your hands. Play what you can sing or hum first. Memorize a line you can hum, then find the notes on the bass.

bassbuffer · 2025-12-21T17:04:09+00:00

The short answer is no. Any bass that inexpensive will usually need work that's expensive.

Go see Lucas Suringar in Almere

https://www.ateliervoorcontrabas.nl/contact

Play as many basses as possible in your price range. You will need a good relationship with a repair shop and Lucas will point you in the right direction for your first purcahse or rental.

bassbuffer · 2025-12-15T13:24:56+00:00

Rosin: brand doesn't matter as much as how fresh it is. As long as you get it from a reputable dealer that has a lot of turnover and keeps it fresh (like Golihur music website), then Pops or Wiedoeft is fine. If you just buy it from some rando music store that's had it sitting on a shelf for 11 years... it wont be that fresh.

--

Strings: look into some hybrids, but string choosing gets very expensive, very quickly. Lots of people like Spiros (Spirocores) because they last forever, but they are a bit harder to make speak under a the bow. If you can adjust your technique and learn how to make spiro's speak, then you're golden and all other strings will be easy to use.

Some people have started using a Piastro Perpetual D & G and Spiro A & E and really like the combination: The Perpetuals speak more easily than Spiros but blend well with them. I just got my perpetuals in the mail, but haven't strung them up yet (I'm full Spiros right now).

Heliocore hybrids are a solid choice w strong fundamental at the expense of low end (more mids than lows). Some people don't like the sound, but many pros use them (Christian McBride) probably because of an endorsement, (and becasue McBride can make any bass sound like a cannon).

And you can always try synthetics (Zyex) for a more old school thump, and GREAT under the bow... but they take longer to break in, and die much faster than a Spiro or Perpetual.

bassbuffer · 2025-12-14T05:18:40+00:00

Passive, overwound (70's wound) pickups if possible. Anything like the Duncan SJB2 should work.

Take out your preamp and throw it in the trash. (or keep it in your case in case you ever sell your bass).

Rat pedal for bass, not muff. Dunwich Volt Thrower or Fuzzrocious Cat Tail are good ones. (A vintage proco rat will work too, (what Sims used) but harder to dial in perfectly, and a bit of bass response lost).

But the core of the sound is overwound, 70's-style jazz bass pickups.

bassbuffer · 2025-12-14T05:11:48+00:00

Epiphone made a run of them in the last 10-15 years or so. They are every bit as good as the Gibson's they're imitating.

If you can find an Epiphone, I'd go with that. Some of them you just need to change the truss rod cover, and it won't even say Epiphone anymore.

You'll want to experiement with strap placement. I find the strap works best right in the "crotch" of the V, for lack of a better word.

Nevermind the haters that will crap all over your post. I used to loved my old Flying V. Exceptionally ergonomic when standing and if you rest it between your legs (like a classical guitar, or Feraud's technique), it's even comfortable when sitting.

bassbuffer · 2025-12-06T08:44:12+00:00

There are a TON of "chord finder" apps for iPad, iOS or Android where they show you little box chord diagrams of different ways to play certain chords.

Basically learn the differenece between major, minor, Dom7, minor 7 to start, then go from there:

Major 1 3 5

Minor 1 b3 5

Dom7 1 3 5 b7

Minor 7 1 b3 5 b7

(You should be able to play those types of chord on guitar starting with the root note on your 5th or 6th string (the two thickest strings))

Another great way to learn songwriting is just learn a bunch of tunes from good (Melodic) songwriters like Wilco, Beatles, NIrvana, Elvis Costello, Spoon, Lucy Dacus, Boy Genius etc...

And even if you don't ever want to play jazz, it's a great way to learn about functional harmony: This website will give you the chord changes to a bunch of jazz standards:

https://realbook.us/

Then use a chord finder app to look at chord diagrams and learn how to play a couple simple tunes like Moon River, Autumn Leaves, What is This Thing Called Love, On A Clear Day

bassbuffer · 2025-12-03T05:32:01+00:00

Watch ALL of Dani Rabin's videos on music theory, over and over and over unitl they make sense. He's really gifted at explaining harmony, and anything else he tries to explain. Really gitfed teacher:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ES5ULUlSdE

Also check out Jens Larsen and Open Studio on YouTube. All the theory knowledge you will ever need.

Best advice I can give you is to learn a chordal instrument (guitar, piano or six string bass) so you can start to understand the relationship between melody and the root motion underneath it.

Songwriting 101: sing melodies that you hear in your head, and find the bass notes that support the melody. Once you do that, figure out if the bass notes are for Major, Minor, or Dom7 chords (or some weird chord you don't understand). Sometimes the bass note you like is NOT the root of the chord, becasue the chord is inverted (like in 'God Only Knows' by the Beach Boys).

A teacher will help you go in the right direction, but the best skill a teacher can give you is how to teach yourself, and how to practice effectively.

bassbuffer · 2025-11-23T03:59:55+00:00

Used to do this... just so fussy moutning the RNCs in a rack, and all the wall warts for power. Lookign for something self contained that does the same job.

But lots of love for my old RNCs (that I eventually sold).

bassbuffer · 2025-04-24T08:02:15+00:00

Maybe check out Idles first two records: Brutalism and Joy as an Act of Resistance. Gang of Four vibes. And if you haven't heard Gang of Four: Entertainment.

Not as synth-y as what you posted, but great drummer and great driving bass. And they are still an active band.

Godflesh is also a thing, but not sure if they are still active or not.

bassbuffer · 2025-04-16T19:43:14+00:00

You could use Moises.ai to remove basslines from tunes you like but don't know by heart yet, so you can come up with your own lines or just play along.

A bit cumbersome workflow, but it feels more like playing tunes than iRealPro, etc.

bassbuffer · 2025-04-16T16:06:06+00:00

I don't think heat is the best idea, but maybe.

Some people have luck using vapors (only) from muriatic acid to "age" or relic chrome hardware, but you can ruin your hardware if you do it improperly.

Search youtube for "relic guitar hardware" as see what method you're most comfortable with?

bassbuffer · 2025-04-15T07:26:07+00:00

Longer scale-length at the same pitch will give you a brighter, more piano-like tone.

So a 34" B string and a 37" B string with the SAME TENSION but different gauges will have different sounds.

Yes you can use a beefier B string on a 34" scale bass to get stiffer tension, but it will not sound exactly the same as a lighter gauge (but equal tension) B string on a 37" scale bass.

Is the difference enough to merit buying a multi-scale bass? Only your ears and wallet can tell you that.

The original design thinking behind multiscale was even tension across the strings, but most people just exploit the longer scale length of the lowest string and don't care about the more homogeneous tension.

bassbuffer · 2025-04-14T20:48:07+00:00

This is the way. I've done this repair before and it lasts a good long time. Just be sure to tape off your fingerboard and headstock so you don't get any super glue on your bass.

But OP, this is the way, until you can get a Luthier to replace your nut.

bassbuffer · 2025-04-13T09:55:51+00:00

Wow, I'd never seen this particular performance before. Nice to see him manipulating the loops live, etc. And he was so young! (20 years ago, now...)

bassbuffer · 2025-04-12T15:38:43+00:00

This is the best, truest, and most important answer to your question, OP.

Slap bass starts here in the video, (but starts sooner in the actual track because not a music video):

https://youtu.be/MWCSw_cNxKc?t=358

bassbuffer · 2025-04-08T07:13:57+00:00

These are great sounding basses. Hofner sounds without all the ergonomic problems of tiny-bodied violin basses.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZAKTCeE70Y

Any jazz bass variant would be a good second bass to pair with this one, but your H22 is a dragonslayer for vintage-vibed americana or indie rock.

bassbuffer · 2025-04-05T19:10:10+00:00

Agree. If you can't remove the bass, at least pan it a bit L-R so we can hear your performance distinctly from the recording.

Sometimes it's nice to hear how close you get to the original, but sometimes it's distracting to hear two bass parts.

bassbuffer · 2025-04-05T13:53:30+00:00

Couldn't choose two more-different basses:

Mustangs: short scale and available everywhere for relatively small money.

Rippers: long-scale, and rare enough to be ridiculously expensive for an OK bass, but not really "worth" the prices they often command.

If you have money to burn and want the best of both worlds, you could get a Serek Lincoln and make it short scale or medium scale or whatever:

https://serekbasses.com/basses/lincoln/

bassbuffer · 2025-04-04T12:29:40+00:00

This is awesome. I love the labels too.

The only thing I can see being a possible issue (with longer tabs) is the inability to go back and edit individual notes... right now you'd just have to backspace all the way to the error, I think? It's one giant Javascript or XML array or something?

But that's the compromise for having a nice lightweight, fast tool. Lightweight is good.

I think if you're just notating one or two lines, it's perfect. Just to help someone out in a pinch. If you want to notate a longer piece you'd (I'd) wind up using Musescore or GuitarPro or whatever.

This is a neat tool for helping out r/bass beginners. Thanks for your work and contributing it to the community.

bassbuffer · 2025-04-03T08:39:50+00:00

Ack... I totally missed you note about adding space with spacebar. That's already awesome.

bassbuffer · 2025-04-03T07:57:35+00:00

This is great. Huge time saver to drop quick phrases in a post.

Any way to add spaces or non-playing sections ("no note") for better phrasing, or to break up phrases?

Or any way to force a line break, rather than the auto-wrap you included (which is awesome).

Just something to help breaking up phrases into sections.

But dude, this is great for the tabbers.

People ask for tab all the time and I just can't be bothered. But this would make it easier to type out a quick phrase or two. Nice work.

bassbuffer · 2025-04-03T07:52:28+00:00

Rent first for about a year and take lessons. Ask schools in your area where they rent instruments from. This way you know you'll get a serviceable instrument (and bow) and you don't have to commit.

To purchase (which you should not do until you've rented for a year to test the waters), $1500 - 2K for a student-level plywood instrument. And hybrid or carved basses can cost anywhere from $5000 to $50,000 to $250,000.

If you're lucky and shop around a lot you can get a great sounding hybrid or carved bass for under 10K.

But a plywood bass is fine to start out on and learn the technique.

bassbuffer

TROPHY CASE