The Song Fight Bulletin Board

I just bought a new bass, and it's supposedly similar to the one used by Phantom Planet's bassist. I kind of have a boner for his sound, and I can almost get it sounding right, except the high note in this riff sounds a little "horny"*. The main riff is comprised of two patterns, and I'm talking about the second pattern.



I think he's got overdrive on it or it's the particular amp, but I just can't get it right with my Pod. Any ideas? I'm not a bass person.

*Yes, BLT, come on in and shit up the thread.

Damn, I love that song. Why don't I listen to Phantom Planet? That singer sounds SO much like the singer in LCD Sound System.

That bass just sounds plugged straight in to the board/interface with a ton of compression and narrow gate with a touch of chorus.

Do you ever play your bass with a bit of distortion?

To me it sounds like the amp/speaker combo. The amp is turned up most of the way and the speakers are are smaller punchy speakers rather than really deep sounding speakers. I could be wrong but I don't think he is playing direct in unless it is through a tube preamp that gives it the warm fuzzy driven sound. I once had an Eden head that sounded a bit like that but I am pretty sure that isn't what he is using. He also may EQ his sound a bit to give it that punchy tone with out the brittle highs.

Pretty sure it is not a distortion box. It is a bit too smooth. Sounds more like natural distortion. I expect it is a combo of the EQ with natural amp/speaker distortion. Try rolling off some of the highs but boosting the upper mid range a bit. Can't tell you specific frequencies though.

Nice sounding tune. I see why you like them. Let us know if you get the sound.

If I follow you, you want to get that sound.

I'm hearing the string buzzing off a fret. If I were trying to make that noise, I would pull the string hard and somewhat away from the neck -- not directly out, which would give you a slap sound, but at a 45 or shallower, so that its initial vibrations strike the next fret up. It sounds like the ends of the spectrum are getting boosted, but the speakers are smallish (10"?) and they are choking and flattening the deep end.

Cool. I have some stuff to try - I spent all day today trying to get that goddamn sound because I bought that bass to get that sound!

canonicalman wrote:the speakers are are smaller punchy speakers rather than really deep sounding speakers.

AJOwens wrote:the speakers are smallish (10"?) and they are choking and flattening the deep end.

That's an interesting take on it. I never thought of that - I hope my amp simulator can do it correctly.

Billy's Little Trip wrote:Damn, I love that song. Why don't I listen to Phantom Planet?

I covered the song before, but with my shitty bass. Maybe I should share it. I <3 Phantom Planet - especially their bass lines and sound.

Dangit, I'm still having trouble dialing it in. I think the smaller cab makes it closer, but then I lose some of the bassy goodness. Why's bass gotta be so complicated?

Another thing to try. After you lay down your bass tack, copy and paste it as a second track. Not played twice, just copy the original. Then treat the original track completely low and dry up the center. Then treat the copied track with no lows and focus on the highs and FX, such as stereo widening, reverb, etc etc. Then mix to taste.

I used to do this a lot, but sort of found my sound I like and stuck with it. Mixing can make you crazy, as you well know. So it's nice to land on something you like for an instrument and move on to perfecting something else.

first, drop the action on your bass. I agree with AJ. I too was looking for that "mean" bass sound, and lowering the action on my fretless got it. Sorry I can't post examples at the moment.
Second, the perfect bass tone is *all about* tweaking the midrange. That's what makes you hear it, not just feel it.
third, are you using a bass pod, or a guitar pod? I use a yamaha guitar head for bass all the time, but I found the pod (which is still for sale, shameless promotion), sucked at bass tones. Better off to run the bass through clean just to get the impedance matching effect of a DI box, then tweak it in the daw.
fourth, if you're going to use some kind of distortion pedal/plugin, don't. use tube based/emulating overdrive. distortion will make your bass quit Phantom Planet, and join Ministry.

I'm using a Pod XT, which does both. Like I said, I got pretty close, but not as close as I'd like. That warm, smooth distortion is hard to get - I keep getting fuzz when I try things.

signboy wrote:Second, the perfect bass tone is *all about* tweaking the midrange. That's what makes you hear it, not just feel it.

If I didn't mention it before, I always bring my mid-range up on my bass track. I don't have a preset amount because it depends on the song. But I like to hear the strings a bit and this does it.

Not to get off MG's search, but there is a bass sound I like that I never quite get and settled with what I have now. I can't think of any bands off the top of my head, mostly rock/metal, but the notes are deep and nice with a hint of a piano'ish sound. Almost like they are hitting a piano in the same note and slightly mixing it in. Anyone familiar with what I'm saying?

Something I forgot to mention. Are you running the same strings as the dude in Phantom Planet? You know how you notice slight differences with guitar strings? A bass is 10 fold.

Which also gets me thinking. You said you just bought the bass, which means the strings are new or hardly played. Bass strings are bright and twangy until they build up with oils and grunge.

A couple things to consider. Which makes me think, I may have just answered my own question above, lol.

The Pod XT is exactly the device I could never get the perfect bass tone out of. I'd suggest experimenting with other ways to distort it: heavy compression, "tube warmifier" plugins, etc

I've gotten some great tones out of the XT (powerpop preset works great). I'm just not getting the one I want! If I have to "get it in post", it's too much hassle.

that's what I'm saying. The pod XT seems awesome, until you try to get the perfect bass tone. I actually had better luck with this:


it's a freaking guitwang amp. It still beats the Pod for bass tone.

I will not give up!!!

Pls can help me bass experts

Oooh! I'm getting close. Switched to tube amp and playing muted strings.

when you get it, you should post an audio link. just so we can ooh, ahh, and revel in your persistence. Also, if it's the perfect tone to me too, I may take my Pod off the sale shelf.

signboy wrote: pod XT

Sorry, I have Pod X3 Pro. Not the Bass Pod XT. I am mistaken.

Your bass test sounds good. Now just get some mid/highs in it. Remember, don't use distortion on the low end or it sounds farty. Use a second track with a low pass to add your distortion and other FX. Then mix to taste.

Billy's Little Trip wrote:Remember, don't use distortion on the low end or it sounds farty.

I can actually do blended tones on the pod... but I think I've almost got it here. Actually, it's the highs that are coming out too cracklydistorted now.

I'm intoxicated and want to hear your latest revision to your bass challenge. Anything?

Also, I've been listening to Phantom Planet ever since this thread. I'm trying very hard not to let it influence me on this weeks song.

The funny thing is, PP is no dif than half the bands here on the mighty SF. But they have a talented engineer/producer and financial support. The writing isn't anything amazing. Yet, they are awesome!

By the way, I did an LCD Sound System song a while back and I can sound like this guy.

MG: try compressing it more.