Bass Expansion Packs?

[solone1]

Do you need these to get authentic sounding tones on a bass? I just got a used Fender MB5 five string and want to take er for a spin. So far, none of the amp/cab models i've tried are very good. Using guitarport if that makes a diff?

Any suggestions for a noob basssssssssssss playa?

thanks,
-Chris

[fooks]

i use the j-bass preset on the gp. the new presets on the gb 3.5 are pretty good. i found i had to up the volume and gain on the 3.5 presets to get a good sound.

[GuitarSlinger]

Do you need these to get authentic sounding tones on a bass? I just got a used Fender MB5 five string and want to take er for a spin. So far, none of the amp/cab models i've tried are very good. Using guitarport if that makes a diff?

Any suggestions for a noob basssssssssssss playa?

thanks,
-Chris

Before spending money on the bass pack, try getting a bass tone with the bass itself. Use no amp option and record the bass direct using only the controls on the bass to make the sound. This is the way alot of albums are recorded. Even at alot of cncerts, the bass goes direct to pa, or a blend of both, and the amp is just for the player to monitor.

You can also try the tube instrument preamp with no cabinet, or use riffworks to add post eq and compression if needed.

[ThrobbyRobby]

Before I added the bass pack, I used the tube pre-amp with a 410 or a 115 cab and got pretty decent sounds. This was before they added some bass rigs to gearbox. I like the bass pack, but the presets all need some tweaking to bring out the best. Like fooks said, volumes are low to begin with. I found you can gain volume with the compressor by raising the threshold and gain, just watch for clipping.

[epauley]

I too own the Bass Expansion Pack. Initially, I didn’t like it but, as time pasted, I grew to like it and depend on it a lot. Although a bit pricey, the variety of amps is excellent.

Like ThrobbyRobby, I recommend starting with the presets and tweaking them to taste. For some reason, Line 6’s presets (guitar and bass) are always slightly off. Of course, musicians play on a variety of guitars and through a variety of out devices so a "one sound - fits all, is impossible.

I should add that I was a very experienced bass player before taking up guitar (note Rick in avatar).

[pbbobkanobi]

The bass models in the PODX3L are mighty nice to my ears. I did not have the bass expansion pack on my XTL so I can't compare those tones but most of the guitar tones sound more "open" to me. I think it has to do with the more poweful processor. I just use a cheap Ibanez 4 string active bass but am pretty happy with the results.

[pooterpatty]

I have the bass amp models, but I still use the gool ol Tube Instrument Preamp for my "go-to" bass patches. Of course, you gotta tweak to get the sound you're after, but it's there. With the update it looks like they also gave me some vocal preamps, and a few of them look promising for bass use as well. Let me know and I can send you a few of the patches I use.

[pbbobkanobi]

Let me know and I can send you a few of the patches I use.

Please snd them all...your tones are bad ass..

[pooterpatty]

Please snd them all...your tones are bad ass..

Check your mail Bob. I just sent a zip with the tone files I use most often.

[gatorjj]

I don't think the levels themselves are coming in too low, but bass has a lot more energy vs. how loud you hear it as compared to the guitars. Some speakers or headphones might add to this problem as well.

I think it's more of a "mix" thing, you want to hear that bass louder than the rest when recording it so you can actually hear what you are doing An easy thing to do is turn the "riff gain" knob down a bit while you are recording the bass, so you can hear it better compared to everything else.