Cringe-worthy isolated tone that's great in the mix

[Reedt2000]

Inspired by this track:





In the @Bart Funk Bass thread about Flea's basses:

FLEA - ALL BASSES

I thought it would be cool to share examples of isolated tracks that don't sound great, but sit well in the mix. This can be personal recordings or well-known tunes. I think a lot of us go through the struggle of trying to get a perfect isolated tone and it's always interesting (to me at least ) to hear how bass really sounds in ensemble.

So.... discuss

 

[Bart Funk Bass]

Most of them don't sound great isolated

 

[Nebadon2000]

Not many want to know this truth.

I wanted to start a thread about all those great tones you've heard in recordings and trying to reproduce in the bedroom or 3-10ft from your amp are the making of good mix or FOH engineers. But didn't have the courage

I had Band members complain about my stage sound until I got them to listen out front.

At rehearsal my tone was more pleasing for myself and others; it is just us.

I remember recording with an Original Band 20 years ago and getting an isolated tone that pleased me BEFORE RECORDING; then when mixing Song Bass sounded awful when you could hear it. After much EQ to get it acceptable in song mix
Isolated track sounded much like above.

PS; Let me clarify I would never subject myself or fellow band members to something like that isolated track. Just a little more 'Middy/Bright' tone than I might personally prefer and only with no FOH.

For just stage sound with FOH or Small club I would dial in tone that sounded best on stage and mixed/blended well with rest of Band.

I am not a Masochist

 

[foal30]

I take it Flea was playing a fretless on thag track. I only listened for 1:35 and didn't think it was hideous. Cool tune, it was something different on the Radio back then.

My isolated Bass track mix is:
Apparently Oasis "Wonderwalk" which is a nice ballad...the Bass Track is a well fuzzed out heavy line.