Hey there, this is my first post. I have an Ibanez ergodyne 5 string (just bought it tonight) and I am curious about my favorite band, Staind. I can't seem to figure out how Johnny April gets that sound. I have an EQ on my BX100 amp, what should I do with all that stuff? Please keep it not too complicated (I am kinda new to Bass) any help would be greatly appreciated.

Uh, well, he uses alot of midrange, i think. he plays a soundgear 5 string, tunes to A. And uses DEAN MARKLY STRINGS! Well, thats what the new BP says anyway. i dont think he uses stock pick-ups, not the typical "soundgear" sound.

I find it hard to pick the bass out of their sound, with the exception of songs like "Mudhovel." Mike Mushok often uses a Baritone guitar (he may always use one for all I know). I think the combination of the Baritones and the fact that they detune like crazy people, should contribute to a "thicker" sound.

Yeah, its hard to hear him thru the mix, didnt know mike mushok used baritone guitars though. you can hear him pretty good live though. most of the time i just try to pick out the clacks and stuff to hear him, that being the only way to hear them because they tune real low.

Really I just want to know how to play mudshovel and have it sound perfect. I am not sure of the exact notes. I was lucky enough to meet Johnny April, and he said he uses a Bflat on the 5string to for the third part of the intro. I just want to get the intro perfect.

I think you are right about the high mid, it sounds a lot better on songs like Fade and Mudshovel.

Originally posted by PollyBass
Uh, well, he uses alot of midrange, i think. he plays a soundgear 5 string, tunes to A. And uses DEAN MARKLY STRINGS! Well, thats what the new BP says anyway. i dont think he uses stock pick-ups, not the typical "soundgear" sound.

I always thought he tuned to C# :confused:

because the low note in Fade is a C# and the low note in Mudshovel is C# and in the video the C# is when he's playing the open 1st string on his 5er...

So I always thought he tuned C# E A D G :confused: there must be a Staind fanatic around here somewhere to straighten this all out...

Originally posted by FearOfGodX
Really I just want to know how to play mudshovel and have it sound perfect. I am not sure of the exact notes. I was lucky enough to meet Johnny April, and he said he uses a Bflat on the 5string to for the third part of the intro. I just want to get the intro perfect.


Actually that isnt a B flat, its a C sharp (also known as D flat). Basically you take a 5 string and tune the lowest note up a whole step to C#. Thats that low note he plays in the intro for Mudshovel. Trust me, I have a keyboard right next to the TV so I always mess around to find out what bands tune to. Staind tunes to C#. I guarantee it. :D

Might he have several basses along on stage with different tunings on the B? Listening to the intro line to 'Pressure', it sounds like the B is tuned down.

I haven't listened to the disc since it first came out, now I'm curious, I'll check that out.

this doesn't belong in basses, it belongs in technique. i'll move it there presently.

I don't really think that dudes tone is anything unique at all.. I won't diss on the band b/c that wouldn't be cool... even though I am not fond of them... anyway.. yeah. it does sound like he uses alot of mids.. nothing spectacular... and it may be the amp he uses also..

Originally posted by ldiezman
I don't really think that dudes tone is anything unique at all.. I won't diss on the band b/c that wouldn't be cool... even though I am not fond of them... anyway.. yeah. it does sound like he uses alot of mids.. nothing spectacular... and it may be the amp he uses also..
you never know, man. he may, in fact, be the newest DADDY of BASS :eek: :p

Originally posted by FearOfGodX
Really I just want to know how to play mudshovel and have it sound perfect. I am not sure of the exact notes...I just want to get the intro perfect. My band plays this song in dropped D, flat. I play an A for one measure on the A string, a C for one measure on the A string and then D on the E string (which would now be your dropped D string) for two measures. For the pre-"Mudshovel" part, I play A into C and then D into C and for the "Mudshovel" part, I play it all on the dropped D string: 3rd fret, open, 6th fret, open, 1st fret, open, then repeat. The trickiest part of this song, is getting the rhythm and timing of the notes in the intro just right. I have never seen a cover band get it right (but I get the closest ;)).

I hope this is what you were looking for (I'll probably get flamed for not telling you to figure it out yourself)!

Hrmm... So he tunes his B string to C#??

Why not just play C# on the normally tuned B string? It is a little awkward to go G#-B-C# (is that right? I think it is...) on a normally tuned 5-string, but it's doable. I haven't seen them live, so I don't really know how he plays it.

I was looking everywhere on the net trying to find his setup a little while ago.

Anyone know what kind of amps/cabs he uses? The Ibanez site says he uses a Custom SR885, but gives no info other than that. None that I could find, at least.

I really like the tone on the intro to Mudshovel as well, and was curious as to how he did it.