What are you monitoring on? It might be a limitation of the speaker. This would be my first guess and is the most likely.

I assume, since it doesn't happen with an amp, that it isn't a problem with the bass itself. However, if it happens all up and down the e string it could be a pickup pronblem.

Or, if it happens on just one note (i.e. low G or F# but not E, F and g#) then you might be sitting in a null of a room mode. Dose changing your position in the room change this behavior?

HI John,

my 1st guess was also the monitors, im monitoring on a set of USA series KRK V6's, they seem to reproduce very low freq's well, but maybe this time its out of their range. Since it doesnt happen when the bass gtr is into an amp I find it hard to believe that its the gtr. I did move around while listening back to the recording and yes certain spots in the room had slightly different bass sounds but overall it sounded the same. I'll just have to start from scratch and go through the process of elimination to sort it out. Before I do im gonna burn the track to cd and play it on my hifi to see what the result is, if it sounds the same on my hifi as on the V6's then it aint the monitors.

Thanks,

Sammyg

Flat spots in the neck.....small imperfections in the frets.....It sounds mechanical in nature. Maybe hand pressure in the player.

I played the same bass thru an amp and the problem wasnt there, the notes were consistant in tone and character.

Sounds like a good excuse for putting a microphone in front of said amp, if you ask me. I always record both amp and D.I. simultaneously and combine the two in some way later.

Bass guitars always have rampant "wolftones" on certain fret/string combinations - I often use eq & compression on bass to flatten dynamics and articulate notes a little on tracking, then another eq/comp combo on mixdown to help bring out every note as evenly as required. I also look for the note which is booming through most clearly and cut it's fundamental frequency a little, then boost the prominent frequency of the weakest note, etc. and compress. Usually works for me...

Squash it!

Down at the bridge you could try raising the E string so that it's farther away from the pickup.

How about a dead string?

Try replacing it, or I've known lots of bass players who boil their strings to give 'em temporary new life.

pmolsonmus wrote: How about a dead string?

Try replacing it, or I've known lots of bass players who boil their strings to give 'em temporary new life.

He he...

I've known bassoon players who soak their reeds in bong water...

Is this the same principle??

Thanks for all the suggestions guys,

I used a different bass this time around, and different comp settings. Came
out a lot better, had consistancy and balls in the bottom string. I have a funny feeling the problem may have been the other bass gtr.

I have another question about recording bass gtr but perhaps I'll start another topic.

Thank you again,

Sammyg