Recording bass lines with a 6 string

GregPorter · December 2005

I am getting ready to purchase either a gnx4 or gnx3k. I am wondering if it's possible to record bass lines using a standard 6 string and shifting the pitch down an octave. I don't have a bass guitar, but I want to have bass lines in the stuff I record.

Has anyone else tried this?

I am not really worried about having great quality, I just play for fun. I am just looking to record some backing tracks that I can solo/lead over.

Tal Rules · December 2005

Hi Greg,

The GNX4 has a guitar to bass preset. I believe pre-set 22. I have used this preset on all my posts. Gives a pretty good bass sound.
For a sound sample with my only bass solo you might want to take a listen to this funk piece I recorded... Might give you an idea on the bass preset sound.

http://www.digitech.com/soundcomm/patches/GNX4/MothershipGreetings.mp3

I have also cut some more tunes without so much treble in the bass. You might want to check out \"Why not Romance?\" in the music review section or the \"Spartacus Variations\". for an attempt at getting a nice stand up bass from the GNX4..

Hope this helps..

See Ya,
Tal

GregPorter · December 2005

cool man. Thanks for the answer. I am guessing the gnx3k has the same setting somewhere.

I guess they have thought of everything in this unit!!!

BTW The songs sound good. Exactly the type of thing I want to do. I'll have to invest in a kit of drum triggers. So I can lay down my own drum tracks. I started my rock & roll as a drummer, so of course I can't let the computer have all the fun.

AlbertA · December 2005

All you have to do is use the Whammy or Pitch shifter. The Whammy is of higher quality so I recommend doing that.

Set it to 1 Octave Down, set the Whammy pedal parameter to 99 and there you go.

Tal Rules · December 2005

Thanks once again Mr. A... Very insightful as usual.. 8)

See Ya,
Tal

electguitarz · December 2005

Yes, the GNX 3k does have, i believe 5 bass presets

GregPorter · December 2005

kickin' chickin'!!!

I ordered my gnx3k yesterday. I set up one of my PCs in my music room last night. I can't wait to start messing with this thing. I currently own a guitar, amp and a cry baby. Same rig I have been playing with for over a decade. I have an old (really old) tascam 4 track that I have used once in awhile, but never anything in depth.

This purchase is going to change my approach to music completely!!!

Tal Rules · December 2005

Glad to have you on board..

Looking forward to your posts.. 8)

See Ya,
Tal

Slacker G · January 2006

Geeze,

Why not just get the real thing? Look up the Rondo guitars site. You can get a very adequate bass guitar for as little as $100.00 - $200.00. A lot of peeps out here have bought guitars from them and were quite happy that they did. Hardly worth faking it at that price. Besides, it just ain't the same...

GregPorter · January 2006

sure it's not the same, but I have a wife that I have to answer to... I can just hear the questions now, \"what the hell do you need THIS for?\" :evil:

I am just having fun with this whole unit. If I start to record stuff that I really want others to hear, I will probably buy a 4 string.

P.G.Shadow · January 2006

Just a coulpe of tips on getting gear when the wife is running interference;
get her to sing back up on a tune or two: or write her a tune.These tricks..opps.. :oops: I mean tips have been employed by a few of us to satisfy our A.M.G.S.(Acquire More Gear Syndrome)

tondog64 · January 2006

I just buy what I want. I didnt marry my wife! Ha!

P.G.Shadow · January 2006

:shock: :roll:

Johnny Jaded · January 2006

Did somebody aleady mention a cheap bass will sound way better through the GNX bass models, than any guitar pitch shifter scenario?

Nonetheless I've done it with satisfactory results, but I am much happier with bass tracks recorded with my way-inexpensive Yamaha bass rather than those made with my LP Custom and a pitch shifter.

The pitch shifted guitar is generally less responsive and gets muddy easily. The gnx pitch shifters lend themselves to single note passages much better than chords as far as replicating a tone, etc. Pitch shifting accidental or incidental double stop spells instant bass poop.

Playing bass through the GNX? It's great. I personally see myself with little need for another bass modeler.

So... I'm just blurting stuff out here. It in no way means no one can make a bass track that would be convincing. Everyone can, it just takes more messing about. Okay... so not everyone. There are at least a few of you without a clue. You know who your are. I'm not going to name names. :twisted:

Tal Rules · January 2006

Aw come on Johnny,

Enlighten us with your insights that we are all dying to hear..

Please don't keep us in suspense anymore..

It means SO much......

archon · January 2006

ooo jonny! am i the lucky guy?!?!? (damn there's no emoticon for 'hopefully anticipating attention in a somewhat disturbing and desperate way')

i'll bet you £1.50 my guitar to bass mp3 is much worse than mr Tals!

P.G.Shadow · January 2006

:oops: show of hands if you think you got \"bass poop\"

Tal Rules · January 2006

Oh no,

Archon, say it aint so..

I was so hoping to be crowned worst bass player by Mr. Jaded's one man poll...

And there you go trying to steal my crown...

I am so anxiously awaiting his reply.. :?:

Oh Jaded one, in case I'm the lucky recepient of your obviously esteemed poll..

I'll give you part of my acceptance speech now...

1st
I'd like to thank Mrs. Traylor, my first grade teacher for inspiring me to greatness with the story of \"The Little Engine that Could\"...

I could go on but I'll just wait to see if I'm the lucky guy to be crowned by a such an esteemed individual as Johnny Jaded, with his plethora of awards that he has achieved througout the years in the music industry, It'll mean so much...

Mom and Dad will be so proud...

Johnny Jaded · January 2006

All I can say is... I am very close to the top of my most clueless list... top 5 maybe.

Has Tal Rules changed identities in since... the corporate take-over of the old forum... by the man.

:idea: Will I fit in better if I buy a new GNX? :?

Dude... buy. steal or borrow a bass. Start with the GNX preset called GTR>BASS. Compress that bass signal brother! You eq that baby to the bottom end! Thump and pluck, thump and pluck! If not for that little bit of advice... I mighta hijacked this thread. Whew.

Tal Rules · January 2006

Oh Thank you Johnny,

I just knew it must have been me.. :oops:

What an honor to be crowned worst bass player by the esteemed Johnny Jaded. The most famous musician in St. Helen's Oregon...

St. Helens = Music capitol of the world...

And yes, :twisted:
It is a conspiracy by the \"MAN\" . :twisted:

How on earth did you catch on.. :?

Oh,
I know how you did it,,,

I forgot I was talking about secret agent \"Johnny Jaded\" of somewhere in Oregon....

P.S.
I am sending an email to mom and dad now proclaiming my achievment..
They'll be so proud...

See Ya,
Tal

Johnny Jaded · January 2006

Oh my lord... I gotta catch my breath.

You guys were all over this while I was still typing.

I am in no way picking anyone in particular... accept... no not even him... or that other guy. :twisted: That acceptance speech was real good though.

Now... because this is a serious thread and someone asked a serious question... I feel obligated to elaborate upon my own experiences. Whether they were drug induced or not. The more I understand about compression and eq, the better my bass tracks are. Check out \"The Book of Dar\" Try this link http://codekinesis.mine.nu/articles/BookOfDar.pdf

Johnny Jaded · January 2006

Hey! What's wrong with St.Helens? Don't you not know \"The Weiners\" are from St.Helens?

It's an upper-lower class suburb outside of Portland.

Most of the time I am the most famous musician here, but Ozzfest, Warp Tour, Lallapallooza, all kinds a outdoor stuff plays not 5 minutes from here. Anyway... there are a few off days. :oops: 8)

I live in what was a gated community, but I been buying it up and so now it's more of a compound.

Actually... I live next door to Art Alexakis. He bought me this new house way up here in the west hills.

How did it go from \"most clueless\" to \"worst bassist\"? Are we to assume bassists are clueless?

:P

Informational tidbit? Hmmm... I use a noise gate too. Mess with that a bit.

Tal Rules · January 2006

I stand corrected old Jaded one.... :oops:

I thought you lived on the side of the mountain that blew up..

That would make it roasted weiners, would it not...

And if you're taking it back that I'm not the worst bassist you ever heard..... :twisted:
Now I'm really offended... :twisted: :twisted:

Have sent emails to all my aquaintances to proclaim my achievment and now you are hinting that I'm not...

They'll all be so disappointed as well as I.....

Hmmmm should I have used me instead of I at the end of the last sentence???? :?
See,
Clueless....

Of course I'm a gutarist doing my best at bass for my back up tracks.. :twisted:

Not all bassists are though..

I believe Jaco Pastorious, Ray Brown, Stanley Clarke and a host of others probably have a clue how to play it... 8) 8) 8)

See Ya,
Tal

Recording bass lines with a 6 string

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