Sorry if this makes me sound like a recording retard (I am one) but are there particular tips for getting a bass to sound "deep and constant, possibly rumbling" rather than "all twangy, metallic, scractchy, slappy" when recording?
I don't have this problem when just playing out of the amp (even though I use a pick) but recording straight in to the soundcard (Edirol with Cakewalk), frankly it sounds bad.

Should I be miking up the bass amp instead so it uses all its nice circuitry, or are there particular settings on an external soundcard or filters/effects in software that would get rid of the twangy/scratchy element?

Does this even make sense in written form?

Thanks