Hi all

I'm having problems getting a decent bass guitar sound. I'm using a pretty cheap Yamaha bass but its reasonable quality. Space and neighbours prohibit me from using an amp so I'm looking either for a good DI sound or a plugin (preferably free).

Any thoughts or recommendations? My Behringer v-amp has given up the ghost - hence my question!

Thanks

Dave

Define "good"...Rock? Jazz? Country? Acoustic? Dance? Metal? Punk? Retro? Finnish death-metal whaling songs? Give me an idea of what you want and I'll try to help.

TH3 has some bass amps.

Bass POD stadium preset.
 
Nothing gianter and fatter if that's what you're after.
Use Anderton's melodyne octave down trick with it and it borders on obscene.

I have a basic model Yamaha Bass. RBX 360. It was OK but now its excellent. I did one simple upgrade and added new Pups. 
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/dimarzio-dp126-pj-neck-and-bridge-bass-pickup-set
 
I can plug directly into my interface and be happy with the results but I have found I really want something better. 
Bottom line is, a great Bass and a good pre amp..  Anything done after the fact is IMHO turd polishing and will not give you the same reward.  I absolutely have to and strongly believe in a compressor in front of the interface for bass. 
 Those DSP compressors are useless because they are after the A/D.  
 
Out of all systems I have used I like the Fender Rumble with the speaker on low because I can hear exactly what will be going to tape. I wear headphones so there is absolutely no latency ( distance from you monitors does matter) and the amp is under my desk at my feet. I can feel it. The Rumble has an amazing pre amp and a nice light touch compressor.  
 
 
I also have used a TC electronics BH250 that is my sons. You can add a tone print compressor. Awsome sound in the studio and on stage and weighs 5 lbs. 
http://www.tcelectronic.com/bh250/
 
and my Joe Meek 3Q which I use mostly for vocals is also a great bass pre amp. 
http://www.joemeek.com/threeq.html
 
 

I wish I could offer a free option, but short of that - the SansAmp Bass driver is well regarded, works with any bass, and is a very good DI (no amp).
 

 
It's a great way to get bass guitar into a DAW.  About $200.

Thanks for your suggestions guys. I must admit I think much of the problem is the bass itself. I too have a Yamaha RBX bass but it's the bottom of the range and is pretty weedy. I may try and breathe some life into the Behringer V-amp; although even when it was working I wasn't overly impressed with it. 
 
Craig its' hard to define the style of music but I definitely prefer bass guitars to synth generated sounds. I guess rock/pop would cover it. Solid, punchy bottom end but also clear, bright upper frequencies. 
 
Dave  

Hi. I would record, using your Tascam US-4x4 as DI. Use that track to sculpt the sound, using TH3, some of Craig's FX chains, saturation, Eq, compressor etc. I did this for many years (with good enough results for me).
Leave plenty of headroom for processing after recording.
All the best.

Zargg
Hi. I would record, using your Tascam US-4x4 as DI. Use that track to sculpt the sound, using TH3, some of Craig's FX chains, saturation, Eq, compressor etc. I did this for many years (with good enough results for me).
Leave plenty of headroom for processing after recording.
All the best.

I too have did this with a cheap bass for quite a while with perfectly acceptable results.  Use the DI track for your punchy high end (and maybe some dirt), and use another cloned track with a bass amp sim for solid low end.  I actually would eq all the low end out of the DI track, and eq all the high end out of the amp sim, then just blend to taste.

The best quality - but the most expensive - are plugins from Universal Audio.
You can play the Bass direct into the audiointerface.
An virtual UAD Ampeg Bass Amplifier, for example, sounds so good, you will never get from any other plugin or V-Amp. And the advantage is, you can change the sound after the recording and during the mix.