Bass sounds like piano??? Log Out | Topics | Search
Moderators | Register | Edit Profile

Alembic Club » Alembic Basses & Guitars » Archive: 2003 » Archive through March 15, 2003 » Bass sounds like piano??? « Previous Next »

Author Message
Oil (erroneus_jones)
Junior
Username: erroneus_jones

Post Number: 13
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Tuesday, November 19, 2002 - 8:41 am:   Edit Post

I would like to know if it would be possible to make a bass sound like the low notes on a piano...

Other words : If a piano has strings, would it be possible to get those rich lows with that natural equal sound?

Scale, strings, other stuff I don't know about bass making... WHAT could give this sound?

After all, both instruments have strings...

Hope to finally get some answers, cause it would be great to have a piano sounding bass for slap and chords.

Thx Alembiciens, I hope to be one some day too.

Olivier
Wade Handy (oujeebass)
New
Username: oujeebass

Post Number: 10
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Tuesday, November 19, 2002 - 11:32 am:   Edit Post

I used to use a "piano string design" string by Rotosound. I don't think they make them anymore. I believe they did provide the overtones similar to a piano for about a week. It will be hard to replicate the sound with the physics involved.
Oil (erroneus_jones)
Junior
Username: erroneus_jones

Post Number: 14
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Tuesday, November 19, 2002 - 1:12 pm:   Edit Post

Thx for that answer, but what exactly would those physics be? (I know that strings get fret burns, but I have used the same strings for about 6 months now, no wash, and that sound fuller then new strings on a demo in a store)

Mica, could you tell me what would bring the future europa to a similay sound then piano?

Olivier
Oil (erroneus_jones)
Junior
Username: erroneus_jones

Post Number: 15
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Tuesday, November 19, 2002 - 2:56 pm:   Edit Post

I looked at those Rotosound strings, you are right, they use the core end consept like the piano.

Alembic says theye electronic give a greater natural sound.

The thing is, I hear that Stanley C. uses those same strings, but I do no want that sound (I really want lots of tones, and a vibrating sound)

I was going for a medium or a long scale, but if 36 inches could help me get a rich, bright, sustained sound, with no buzz, BUT STILL HAVE A EXTREME LOW ACTION... (I like the action to be unbelivably low, but hate what big string nazal sound.)

Hope I finaly found that dream sound...

Still hope to get a Pro's opinion. After all, YOU will make that bass.
Paul Ellsworth (elzie)
Junior
Username: elzie

Post Number: 38
Registered: 8-2002
Posted on Tuesday, November 19, 2002 - 3:06 pm:   Edit Post

I think first you should look at how a piano strikes the strings and a bass plucks/picks the strings.

I have tried this in years past. I would flick my finger to strike the string with the nail side of my finger, as in a piano striking the string. It does sound similar, but I can gaarauntee your fingers won't like you much :-)
Mark DuFresne (markus)
Junior
Username: markus

Post Number: 13
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Tuesday, November 19, 2002 - 7:01 pm:   Edit Post

Or, you could try Tony Levin's Funk Fingers and hammer on the strings to your heart's content.
Wade Handy (oujeebass)
Junior
Username: oujeebass

Post Number: 12
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Wednesday, November 20, 2002 - 10:55 am:   Edit Post

It will be impossible to get the sound of a piano string on a bass string. You'll have better luck with a harp. Thats something that has been overlooked by popular music.
Oil (erroneus_jones)
Junior
Username: erroneus_jones

Post Number: 16
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Wednesday, November 20, 2002 - 1:22 pm:   Edit Post

Ya... after all, a bass isn't a piano. But still, it would be great to sound like a left hand on piano, specially with chords and slap.

I hope alembic has a sound rich enough to make piano players "envy" my bass sound ;)
Wade Handy (oujeebass)
Junior
Username: oujeebass

Post Number: 13
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Wednesday, November 20, 2002 - 1:50 pm:   Edit Post

Absolutely. I have had the idea of that for a while.. You can get close but never will you have a sound that rivials a 5 foot bass string vibrating freely.
Joey Wilson (bigredbass)
Junior
Username: bigredbass

Post Number: 26
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Monday, November 25, 2002 - 9:27 am:   Edit Post

Having been a piano player all of my life, and a bass guitarist for the last 25, I can tell you this:

With the right gear and NEW strings, a bass can approach the sound of a piano. But, NO BASS will ever sound like the deep end of a 7' Steinway or Yamaha. I guess you could MIDI with a bass/synth rig to sampled grands, but that's a LOT of aggravation.

The physics of the two instruments are just too different. But I understand wanting that sound. I remember playing a Bosendorfer grand years ago like it was yesterday. I remember great grand pianos I've played vividly.
Michael DeVincenzo (jlpicard)
Junior
Username: jlpicard

Post Number: 49
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Monday, November 25, 2002 - 9:36 pm:   Edit Post

Hey Oil, If your looking for a piano sound from a bass you might look at Neuser basses. They actually make a bass with piano hammers built in to the body between the pickups that you activate by pressing some sort of levers in the body just below the G string.To quote Frank Z....Bizzare!!!! but it just might get the sound your looking for. Look on Harmony Central for their web address. Mike
Olivier Jaar (erroneus_jones)
Junior
Username: erroneus_jones

Post Number: 23
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Tuesday, November 26, 2002 - 4:24 am:   Edit Post

Thx for that... looks pretty kool, but there is no way I can get my hands on one to try it... ;)

Topics | Last Day | Last Week | Tree View | Search | Help/Instructions | Program Credits Administration