Getting a good bass sound with a REAL bass

[64Guitars]

on bass i 've been using a br600 which has some nice useful patches, right out of box

Yes, the BR-600 is probably a better choice than the Micro BR for serious bass players. Not that you can't get a half decent bass sound with a Micro BR. But all of its amp models are based on guitar amps (Fender Twin Reverb, VOX AC-30TB, Marshall Plexi, etc.), whereas the BR-600 includes two amp models based on classic bass amps (Acoustic solid-state and Ampeg tube). The BR-600 also has a defretter effect (to simulate the sound of a fretless bass), and an octave effect. And there are 14 preset patches for bass guitar that use these effects and bass amp models. So, right out of the box (as you said), there are lots of great effects for bass players to use. And they can tweak all the settings in the bass amp models, defretter, octave, enhancer, compressors, etc. to get an even better bass sound.

For those bass players who've already got a Micro BR and aren't ready to upgrade, I'd suggest looking at the settings of the three "bass" patches included in the Micro BR's presets and tweaking the settings to suit your needs.

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Patch: GT78:Bass Cln

Song: C-ACFG1
Folder: SONG0006.BR0
Algorithm: VOCAL MULTI

Compressor: On
  Sustain: 5
  Attack: 60
  Level: 100

Enhancer: Off

4-band Equalizer:On
  LowGain: 0 dB
  LowMidGain: -2 dB
  LowMidFreq: 160 Hz
  LowMidQ: 2
  HiMidGain: +3 dB
  HiMidFreq: 1.0 kHz
  HiMidQ: 2
  HiGain: 0 dB
  Level: +1 dB

Noise Suppressor: Off

Delay: Off

==============================

Patch: GT79:BassCrnc

Song: C-ACFG1
Folder: SONG0006.BR0
Algorithm: COSM GTR AMP

Preamp: CRUNCH
  Volume: 40
  Bass: 60
  Middle: 50
  Treble: 40
  Presence: 0
  Master: 80
  Bright: Off

Speaker Sim: Off

Noise Suppressor: On
  Threshold: 10
  Release: 30

FX: Compressor
  Sustain: 5
  Attack: 100
  Level: 80

Delay: Off

==============================

Patch: GT80:BassSolo

Song: C-ACFG1
Folder: SONG0006.BR0
Algorithm: COSM GTR AMP

Preamp: Off

Speaker Sim: Off

Noise Suppressor: On
  Threshold: 10
  Release: 30

FX: Chorus
  Rate: 35
  Depth: 50
  Effect Level: 90

Delay: Single
  Delay Time: 500 ms
  Feedback: 20
  Effect Level: 27

==============================

Notice that GT78:Bass Cln actually uses an algorithm from the MIC patch bank (VOCAL MULTI), so there's no amp modeling at all. And GT80:BassSolo uses a GTR bank algorithm but turns the amp modeling off. Only the GT79:BassCrnc patch makes use of guitar amp modeling to add a bit of distortion ("crunch").

[Greeny]

I've been using 'BassCrnc' with my Fender Jazz Copy and I thought it sounded okay. But I'm just a guitarist dabbling in a bit of bass embellishment, so any old bass-line is fine with me (as long as it adds something to the song).

I have a feeling that BOSS weren't really thinking about bass players when they decided on the effects list for the BR. It's very guitar-biased.

[TheMohawk]

Definitely definitly get the feeling it's aimed more at the long haired wrestler type guitarists, metaller's undertakers who shout random roars from the pit of their stomach, very macho and so on and all that. I love acoustic and harmonica and so on want to use it for that.
It's also very biased against beginners by the looks of the manual. Very exsclusive as if you don't know this shit already then you're not welcome here. Fuck it.

[Greeny]

Definitely definitly get the feeling it's aimed more at the long haired wrestler type guitarists, metaller's undertakers who shout random roars from the pit of their stomach, very macho and so on and all that. I love acoustic and harmonica and so on want to use it for that.
It's also very biased against beginners by the looks of the manual. Very exsclusive as if you don't know this shit already then you're not welcome here. Fuck it.

The BR seems to be aimed, as you say, towards a harder metal sound. But that's a million miles away from from what I do, and it's been versatile enough to get exactly what I want (softer, acoustic-based pop).

The bass effects may be lacking, but I've still found plenty of good guitar tones and drum variations in this little box.

I've had mine for 2 weeks - and as you say, the manual scared the f*ck out of me. In fact, it's pretty poor as a user guide in my opinion. Which is why I'm glad I stumbled across his forum. I used the tutorials to record my first song, and they're so easy / good that I haven't even needed to look at the manual! I'm still learning, but it gets easier and easier.

Keep the faith!