Nord Electro 4 SW73 bass question

[whurly]

Hi, this is my first post here although I'm a long time Electro user having had the original model since new.

I've just updated to the NE4 and I'm finding it inspiring, particular the organs. I used it live for the first time last night and did a few songs with organ left hand bass as our bass player was running late. I was using a split and had the upper drawbars at about half and the lower on full 808000000 with the lowest octave setting. I couldn't get enough volume out of the bass although the upper came through OK.

I'm relatively new to left hand bass and really only tried it because of the new Electro. Am I doing the right thing and maybe have to live with not doing LH bass or are there tricks to tweaking a usable bass sound.

I would be grateful for any advice.

[whurly]

Hi Whurly,

It's a little ambitious to try to pull off two parts on an Electro. A Stage will handle that much more nicely. It's an extra piece of change, but when you figure that a Stage actually packs more than 6x the power of an Electro, it begins to look like a real bargain...

Bless,

Pablo

[whurly]

Thanks for the reply Pablo. I had a feeling that was the case.

I wouldn't be using the LH bass much but I figure I could use the lower manual midi out to control something else for the bass sound. I'd be interested to know if anyone else is doing this and what they're using.

[Ignatius]

Next time add an upper partial to give the bass some presence. Not pulled all the way out, but just enough so it is pretty much subliminal. Try different drawbars, and see which one works for you.

Also, adding the percussion could give you an initial bite that would help with definition, kind of like playing a bass guitar with a pick. Again, experiment with the variables you have to play with, see which one helps cut through.

We sometimes forget that even the lowest tones in any of our instruments usually have overtones and elements of higher pitches in them that will vary from attack through sustain and fade.

[JoeCool]

What amp do you use? I'm playing the NE3 with LH bass at rehearsals through a bass amp (2 x 10), an there is plenty of bass. Registration is 838000000. No perc in the bass. On a real hammond you would play bass on the lower manual (or pedals) and there is no percussion available. But an organ bass does sound a bit muddy compared to bass guitar or upright bass, at least in the lower octave.

[whurly]

Thanks for both those new replies. I was DIed directly into the PA. I will experiment with different drawbar settings and try percussion, although I thought the lower manual didn't have perc. available. I could just use the upper manual only but then volume differences would be an issue. I appreciate that the sound is not like a bass guitar but it's really the 'oomph' that I'm missing at the moment. I will try it with a bass amp.

[JoeCool]

Hi Whurly, one more point: don't play too low, the organ bass is better in the upper of the two octaves because of the foldback. the lower octave needs the pedal register to sound fat, but the Electro doesn't have it. (at least NE3)

[whurly]

Thanks JoeCool. Yes, I've noticed that before about the organ bass. I think I may have a workaround.

I tried out a Korg 05R/W module on an organ setting and it seems to have a nice big bass. It also has quite a nice double bass sound. I'll try it via midi from the lower manual and see how I go.

[whurly]

I've finally got round to trying this out and have hit a snag. I was confusing my in and outs and just assuming that I could send midi from the lower split only but I can't see how to do this. I'd be grateful if anyone can give me a definitive answer on whether this is possible or not.

[anotherscott]

AFAIK, the Nord cannot send the MIDI for the upper and lower parts of an organ split on separate channels, so it's all or nothing. However, you shoule be able to program the Korg module so that the bass sound is only triggered over the desired key range. The easiest way to do this is probably to create a Combi on the Korg with the desired split point, and assign the bass sound below the split, and some sound with volume zero above the split. Then on the Nord itself, you can program the desired drawbar setting above its split (set at the same note as on the Korg) and, assuming you don't want the bass part doubled with an organ sound, set the lower manual to 000 000 000.