Troubleshooting my bass tone

E

Eddy123

Commercial User
Feb 20, 2024
5
2
31
#1
Hello, I recently purchased a dark glass b3k to get a prog metal bass tone and have not been able to recreate both the tone I’ve seen online and the tone I made using the pedal at guitar center. I am wondering if my bass is the problem/any other suggestions to try to get the classic prog tone that darkglass is known for

My thought is that my bass is overly muddy, as I cannot even recreate a clean bass tone well with it.

my equipment:
Jackson Js1m
Darkglass b3k
B25c combo amp
 
#2
I forgot to add a recording of my bass, first one is clean with the eq balanced out, second is the b3k with tone at 100% drive at 75% level at 90% and blend at 50%
 

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#8
It would be great if you mention the reference tone (YouTube link?).

My reference is Nolly's bass tone, which requires fresh new strings, pick attack, Dingwall bass. These recorded tones are usually processed and compressed. The distortion requires cabIR to make it pleasant.
 
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#10
Pick up adjustment is personal preference unless it starts to magnetically draw your strings and create overtones not conducive to the note you are playing. And it really depends on the pickup.

I have a guitar with a very high output pickups that I bought used several years ago, I needed to activate it for a quick gig and the pickups were adjusted correctly to factory spec but I was not used to the over responsiveness of the high output.

I ended up adjusting those pickups down, even to/with the mounting rings and it sounded great!

It kind of had a bit of a single coil response to it but not overly so. I started reading about pick up adjustments and at some point it becomes a personal preference... but if you go higher than the factory spec you're going to run into adverse magnetic pulling effects on the string vibration.
 
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#11
Chris Chong said:
It would be great if you mention the reference tone (YouTube link?).

My reference is Nolly's bass tone, which requires fresh new strings, pick attack, Dingwall bass. These recorded tones are usually processed and compressed. The distortion requires cabIR to make it pleasant.
Click to expand...


Yeah, if this is what OP is going for then some compression and noise suppression is needed. Definitely more than just a dirt pedal.
 
#12
The b3k seems to be very hit-or-miss. I also purchased one based on great sounding demos online but all I got from it was an scooped, ultra-bright, thin, clanky tone that didn't work for me at all. I tried it with different basses and different amps. It just wasn't for me. I suspect many of the great sounding online clips are highly processed. Or maybe they just use VERY different types of basses/amps than me.

Lots of people love the b3k but opinions seem to be very divided. Maybe it's just not the right tone for your setup and playing style. I ended up selling mine, which is something I rarely do. I like to have a nice collection of tools for different kinds of tones but I could never see myself using the b3k for anything, ever.
 
#14
I think the Jackson bass is not the problem. The pre (even tho I hate these) I think is competent to get what you want. I suspect that amp may not be fitting the role. If you are talking about acoustic bass amp, start there. Its a great little amp for what it is, but maybe not gonna get Nolly tones.
 
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#15
Not sure about your GC experience, but if you want the exact tone you heard at GC, then you need to be using the exact same gear.

All of the suggestions are good here, if you are inexperienced in the tech, watch some explainer vids or find a great tech to have your bass set up.

Put on new strings

Add a compressor before the Bk3 ( this one weird little trick to improve your overall bass tone)

Listen to your sound in good headphones. The BK25c is an 8 inch speaker with a 25watt power source. It's not going to sound like anything other than just making a sound so you can hear your notes. It's a practice amp, not a thumpin-grind-o-nator cabinet.

Once I looked at your amp I can imagine you were playing thru a more powerful amp with a larger speaker, or speakers, at guitar center. And I can imagine, your tone thru the Acoustic practice amp it thin, so when you try to make more bass feel, it becomes very very muddy, but still thin.
 
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#16
Other than you…. Your strings should be new I’d say as the start. Any seasoned player I’ll call them will use new strings live and for recording I’d guess . I’d start with rounds. Maybe pay a FOH engineer from a local club to help you. A good one night take a 1/2 hour to dial in a sound, if you have the gear. An amp with a high and low mid range and a “mid point” dial can only help ??
A simple compressor to start and maybe a pre-amp or….. for some grit.
Pick or fingers ? Learn to use both can only help you. I think you will find a topic that always seems to come up with bass players….. tone I’m looking for is….. have fun looking. You can talk to players at local gigs if you like what their sound is, what they use and…. Some gear is returnable at GC, try out some at home. Look for used stuff, make sure ya can return tho. Just some ideas, hope helps
 
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#20
S.F.Sorrow said:
I suspect many of the great sounding online clips are highly processed. Or maybe they just use VERY different types of basses/amps than me.
Click to expand...

THIS. I can't stand this about demos online. They use kick drum mics like Audix D6s and AKG D112s which are both scooped to ****. They are the furthest thing from honest.

If you're looking for honest reviews, I personally like Bass Bonedo. Just throwing that out there. They more than likely have a DG demo.
 
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