Death From Above 1979 Bass Sound

Discussion in 'how to make "that" sound' started by tori, Apr 6, 2026.

  1. tori

    tori Platinum Record

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    Hi Leute!

    Do you have any idea how to get a similar bass guitar sound, like......



    I want to use amp sim vsts on my computer. I thought I should use a bass sim vst and a fuzz. But I think this sound isn't just a fuzz theres much more going on. I think I need more distortion plugins who can shape the sound in the right direction. I just don't know that much about distortion so I thought you can help me thanks!

    I think the original band just used broken or shitty amps.

    I just love how that band just uses bass as a lead instrument, and I want so make experiments in that direction.... But my bass skills are even more questionable than my guitar skills xD
     
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  3. xorome

    xorome Audiosexual

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    I think bridge pickup => Ram's Head Big Muff => Valvestate 8100 with cranked reverb knob => EQ bump at ~2200hz should get you close. I tried with the Scarbee Rickenbacker in Kontakt, audiority VS8100 (default cab, default gain channel) and that sounded reasonable to me.
     
  4. mk_96

    mk_96 Audiosexual

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    Bridge pickup, new strings, play with pick. Scoop the mids or just give it more highs so it sounds clanky as fuck, then add some sort of distorion to taste, i don't think this is fuzz though, it's too bright and not buzzy enough, i'd pick something more like a traditional distortion or a crancked amp. There's also some stereo thing going on, the signal is probably split into different amps or EQ's.

    For actual examples just search for "clanky" or "modern" metal bass and you'll find what you need, or at least something in the ballpark.
     
  5. tori

    tori Platinum Record

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    Thank you! I think it should be easy to replicate your tips in my DAW. I have a Precision Bass and a Thunderbird (both affordable copys of the real thing), do you know which bass might suit better? I have no idea, to be honest. The Thunderbird should handle distortion better, but the Precision has a much brighter sound.
     
  6. mk_96

    mk_96 Audiosexual

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    The one with less noise, probably the thunderbird.
     
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  7. tori

    tori Platinum Record

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    @mk_96 Do you think I can get a similar tone for guitar with my amp, a RAT and an overdrive pedal?
     
  8. mk_96

    mk_96 Audiosexual

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    Sure. As long as you have a way of boosting the highs or scooping the mids you should get a decent result, which you'll probably be doing in the amp itself anyway (and in the mix).

    I wouldn't use both at the same time because noise and because too much distortion does weird things to the attack. Try one at a time and see what works best.
     
  9. Lois Lane

    Lois Lane Audiosexual

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    Definately capture going through the Rat to the amp as well as any in the box choice that you try, it could add thrill when it comes time to mixing for creative reasons, ie, doubling while panning. You can always reamp from the clean signal to record the amp and you could also send to your amp chain the distorted in the box sound to see what madness might come from that!
     
  10. sparkyfw

    sparkyfw Newbie

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    Eric Valentine covered the DFA 1979 bass sound he recorded for Nomad in great detail in one of his old YT vids. It's now been moved to his paywall site but it's only $1: https://audionautinstitute.com/videos?video_id=86

    The setup is pretty crazy with two massive bass speaker boxes pointed directly at one another and mic'ed. IIRC there are 4-5 different bass channels and a complex pedal chain.
     
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  11. tori

    tori Platinum Record

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    Oof sounds a little too expensive and complex for me right now.

    Oh thanks for the mixing tips @Lois Lane and @mk_96 ! But I think my amp sound will not be recorded, because I guess plugins work better for recording (I just have no mics to take up amps hahahaha). I mostly asked for amp or pedal settings for playing live.

    yeah my amp is a modeling amp, so I should have many options to edit the sounds. I have a Line 6 Catalyst 100 btw. But if I play live and don't want to use the smartphone editing app. Should I maybe get an EQ-Pedal? Sorry I'm just really clueless with guitar FX haha. I'm more of a keys guy and mostly played acoustic guitar for the last years. I only started to play electric guitar again since august last year haha, because a friend of mine wants to build an indie/punk band xD Hmmm maybe I should make a new thread for the most essential guitar FX.... Right now I have a Behringer Superfuzz, a Moer compressor (because somehow a compressor wasn't included in the modeling app for the amp), a Harley Benton Rat clone and a Harley Benton overdrive (MiniStomp Dr. D), and I want to get a Wah pedal, a metal distortion pedal (joyo dark flame) and a Zoom MS70-CDR+ (because I love reverse reverb and this pedal is really common in Shoegaze music). I guess I don't really need more pedals right now, because of the modeling stuff in my amp.
     
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