Any ideas on getting hollow body bass sound from a solid body- An expander?

[zionstrat]

I need hollow body bass sounds more often than I used to and the obvious answer is to buy a hollow body bass- But that isn't an option right now and it made me think about using my solid bodys to get a similar sound-

I'm looking for the classic 60s, fast attack, heavy transients up front followed by rapid decay- early Beatles is close enough for this conversation, although I like the option of a brighter attack than Sir Mcartneys sound.

With that said, it seems like there are 2 approaches-

1. Physical- Some kind of pad under the strings near the bridge
2. Electronics- Some from of expander circuit?

I'm not interested in the padding approach because it will reduce brightness, but open to any other physical ideas.

However, the expander idea seems obvious and perhaps easy- Can you point me to anyone who has anyone tried this before?

The circuit would have to ignore the transient and then rapidly roll off sustain at the end of each note- Of course a big challenge is that the next transient would reopen the gate and you would hear the tail of the previous note if it is still sounding, so it seems like technique might be too difficult.

Guessing that modeling systems might have this functionality- I have an old GT10 and will look it over.

Interested in any and all ideas!

 

[Artie]

Re: Any ideas on getting hollow body bass sound from a solid body- An expander?

Guessing that modeling systems might have this functionality . . .

DSP would be my first thought. In either hardware or software.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Any ideas on getting hollow body bass sound from a solid body- An expander?

You need a mute. Foam under the bass strings, like a Gretch or Rickenbacker bass has.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Any ideas on getting hollow body bass sound from a solid body- An expander?

I've been able to get a pretty good faux acoustic guitar sound out of my Helix by using an IR of a Taylor acoustic and a combination of EQ's on top of it. When I get home tonight I can post a more detailed explanation. You may be able to start with that, but you're definitely gonna need a pedal or a modeling system that can load IR's into it. Otherwise your best bet may be to sell whatever bass you have and pickup a Line 6 Variax bass.

 

[zionstrat]

Re: Any ideas on getting hollow body bass sound from a solid body- An expander?

You need a mute. Foam under the bass strings, like a Gretch or Rickenbacker bass has.

Thanks Beau, but mutes I have used in the past seemed to kill the attack- Gives a decent double bass imitation, but I'm looking for something else-

 

[zionstrat]

Re: Any ideas on getting hollow body bass sound from a solid body- An expander?

Johnny, I seriously considered a vari-axe- may be the way to go-
Great input- Thanks!

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Any ideas on getting hollow body bass sound from a solid body- An expander?

Nylon tape-wound strings.

Bill

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Any ideas on getting hollow body bass sound from a solid body- An expander?

Didn't the chrome piece over the strings on a PBASS have some sort of deadening foam originally?

 

[zionstrat]

Re: Any ideas on getting hollow body bass sound from a solid body- An expander?

Didn't the chrome piece over the strings on a PBASS have some sort of deadening foam originally?

Yep, till mid or late 60s-

Many of the bassists of that era primarily played the double bass, so they had no palm muting experience and often used their Ebass to fill in the double bass role in jazz ensembles-

So the mute was a crutch to get some players into electric land and with judicious EQ it really can provide a reasonable double bass simulation.

However, the foam kills the timbre in the attack- Fine for a double bass that is more of a thump than a fundamental with complex overtones- But not much like the sound of the early Gibson, Gretch (and yes Horner) hollow bodies.

 

[zionstrat]

Re: Any ideas on getting hollow body bass sound from a solid body- An expander?

Nylon tape-wound strings.

Bill

There you go- Think I'm gonna try that one

 

[Adieu]

Re: Any ideas on getting hollow body bass sound from a solid body- An expander?

Wow

To each his own I guess...

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Any ideas on getting hollow body bass sound from a solid body- An expander?

Hollow body bass is a great sound. Lot of attack and thump, and mixes well with a lot of guitars/drums. Stays in its own pocket in the mix and easy to manage the low frequencies.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Any ideas on getting hollow body bass sound from a solid body- An expander?

You can also play it through an IR (impulse response) of a hollowbody bass. There are a few pedals that let you load IRs, and most guitar software allows it.

 

[Securb]

Re: Any ideas on getting hollow body bass sound from a solid body- An expander?

I would go piezo there are options out there if you look around.

 

[Obsessive Compulsive]

Re: Any ideas on getting hollow body bass sound from a solid body- An expander?

Definitely an octave pedal, hollow-body bass, synth bass, upright bass, it's all there.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Any ideas on getting hollow body bass sound from a solid body- An expander?

You can also play it through an IR (impulse response) of a hollowbody bass. There are a few pedals that let you load IRs, and most guitar software allows it.

That alone won't quite get you there. You'll need to add some EQ in specific ways. I know this because I've modeled an acoustic on my Line 6 Helix and using an IR alone wasn't enough. I had to use two different EQ's and even then it's not 100% but close enough that in a mix you don't really notice.

 

[zionstrat]

Re: Any ideas on getting hollow body bass sound from a solid body- An expander?

You can also play it through an IR (impulse response) of a hollowbody bass. There are a few pedals that let you load IRs, and most guitar software allows it.

Missed this reply and glad I revisited the thread...great idea!