Serious question about recording electric bass.

Bub, 

Is it on the attack or release?

If it's on the attack (like I get from aggressive paying) I was turned on to the idea of external compression in the recording process. I use a UA LA-610 with on board compression. That compressor was not cutting it. I got a dbx 266xs and that did the trick.

If it's on the release then I'd say it may be a setup problem. Maybe replace those magnetic frets with the proper ones.

HTH.

dlogan

 the "norm". 

Where does one get a "norm"? Does it require a dongle?

I thought frets were non magnetic... "brass" ?

Round wound or flat wound strings?

I would think as long as the strings are not buzzing on the frets above the fretted note set up would be OK.
It's been a long time since I had a bass.... but if it's a squire, it's also at the lower end quality wise on the bass guitar tree... but still it should play OK without clicks. Could be , like you said, a playing technique issue as well if the set up is fine.  Fast release and see how it does.

On the tone, I would use some sort of amp/preamp that is designed for a bass and has tone controls or modeling built in. Sort of like a POD or similar gizmo.

bitflipper


Bub, the first problem is obvious: it's backwards!

DI is definitely the cheater's friend. Fewer complications and more options during the mix. You can throw on a little distortion, which helps midrange definition.

The buzzing is probably something you should have a good guitar tech look at. Do you hear it when you play unamplified? IOW, is it mechanical or electrical?

The backwards thing is a curse. :) I'm right handed but play left.

Buzzing isn't really a problem unless I get sloppy with my playing. The best way I can describe what I'm getting is a clicking/clacking sound when I lift my finger off the fret. Yes, it is there if I play unamplified. It doesn't do it if I fret very lightly or fret normally and use a pick. If I use my thumb and fret normally it's there. I can't imagine them raising the action anymore, it's really up there now, although I do get some buzzing up around the 8th fret on the A string.

How about different strings? Maybe a set of flat wounds?

Bub I think it's your pups.

Press down on each string at the last fret ( closest to pups) and make
sure you have clearance between the strings and magnets.

Generally you only get "fret noise" when the string hits a fret, either from your fretting hand (particularly if it's fretting from too far off the fretboard), or plucking more aggressively than your (possibly too low) action will allow.

Otherwise, what you may be hearing is not the frets, but your finger sliding a little bit against a roundwound string as you pull it off the fret or string.

But sometimes bass can be just be a little noisy, particularly if you're using roundwound strings, going for a fairly bright sound, and/or playing aggressively.

I would recommend practicing unamplified first and try to get as clean, even and close as possible to the sound you want. I think of bass as a "plucking-hand" instrument first - varying where and how you attack the stings is where you will get most of your sound. Of course the instrument, the PU's and strings also make a huge difference. If you want a bright sound, fairly new roundwound strings plucked closer to the bridge are a big part of that. But new roundwound strings are also noisier.


Outside of some rock styles, most modern bass tracks seem to be recorded direct. In terms of EQ, if you're getting too much bass vs. highs, I'd start by cutting somewhere between 100-300Hz before I boosted anything.

Even though I don't think it's an issue due to your statements there
is one more thing to check.

Your frets. Make sure you don't have one that is loose. You may be pressing
it in while you play and it is "springing" back up when you release.