Best Amp Head for Mowtown?

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by jnewmark

The onetime I saw Jamerson play back in the '60's, he was using a Kustom tuck n roll 215 cab, with the matching Kustom head. It sounded so good I went out and bought one. Other than the B15N, which imho is'nt loud enough, that old Kustom rig nails it, and you can still find them on Ebay time to time. Looks cool as hell too !

A perfect example of what I just said. My choir director in high school had that exact Kustom rig and I didn't like it at all, and I still don't associate it with sounds I love. But Jamerson used one and still sounded like Jamerson. Go figure.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Basstreble

How does everyone feel about the ampeg SVT CL or the Fender bassman 100t?

Love the CL and I think I'm going to get a Heritage when tax season comes. Haven't played the Fender.

[spacebassed]

I don't ascribe to the notion that amp choice doesn't matter, of course it matters, everything matters - instrument and string choice, technique, cabinet, speakers, amp - all of it. If it didn't we'd all be playing through the same thing. Does some of it matter more than others? Sure. You'll get closer with similar technique through a different amp than a wildly different technique through a B15, but it's definitely easier to get that sound with certain amps than with others. Just like if you were trying to sound like Beatles era Paul McCartney, a Hofner with Pyramid flats would be a better starting point than a Fender Jazz with stainless steel rounds.

[Russell L]

Originally Posted by spacebassed

I don't ascribe to the notion that amp choice doesn't matter, of course it matters, everything matters - instrument and string choice, technique, cabinet, speakers, amp - all of it. If it didn't we'd all be playing through the same thing. Does some of it matter more than others? Sure. You'll get closer with similar technique through a different amp than a wildly different technique through a B15, but it's definitely easier to get that sound with certain amps than with others. Just like if you were trying to sound like Beatles era Paul McCartney, a Hofner with Pyramid flats would be a better starting point than a Fender Jazz with stainless steel rounds.

That is true. But, I think technique and eq is at least half of it, if not more.

[dhsierra1]

Originally Posted by Jim C

There is the possibility that he was an alien sent down by the Bass Gods to give us all a good schooling in R&B though.

+1

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by spacebassed

I don't ascribe to the notion that amp choice doesn't matter, of course it matters, everything matters - instrument and string choice, technique, cabinet, speakers, amp - all of it. If it didn't we'd all be playing through the same thing. Does some of it matter more than others? Sure. You'll get closer with similar technique through a different amp than a wildly different technique through a B15, but it's definitely easier to get that sound with certain amps than with others. Just like if you were trying to sound like Beatles era Paul McCartney, a Hofner with Pyramid flats would be a better starting point than a Fender Jazz with stainless steel rounds.

Paul uses Labellas.



And he's a perfect example...whatever he's played, from a Ric to a Fender to a Yamaha to a Wal and back to the Hofner, it's always sounded like him. Not saying that a Hofner sounds like a Wal, but we always try to cop the sounds that we like out of whatever gear we play no matter what it is, so in the end that translates to more similarities than differences.

[georgestrings]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

A perfect example of what I just said. My choir director in high school had that exact Kustom rig and I didn't like it at all, and I still don't associate it with sounds I love. But Jamerson used one and still sounded like Jamerson. Go figure.

It was the mighty hook...


- georgestrings

[PDGood]

+1 with the guy who said the OP is asking how to get that tone, not how that tone was created.

+1 with spacebassed. Everything does matter - especially the player, but yes everything else too.

I recently tried out the PF350 and PF500 and was surprised that I could get a very Jamerson like tone out of the 350 but that the 500 is voiced quite differently - much more modern sounding. This is absolutely true using my cabinet, playing my basses with my style of playing.

The best combo for me has been a P style bass with very old round wound strings, the PF350 head and AudioKinesis TC 115 cabinet.

[bigsnaketex]

My Fender Bassman 100T through my Fender 410 neo is the Motown sound and the reason I use it live with my P-Bass loaded with Rotosound flats.

[spacebassed]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

And he's a perfect example...whatever he's played, from a Ric to a Fender to a Yamaha to a Wal and back to the Hofner, it's always sounded like him. Not saying that a Hofner sounds like a Wal, but we always try to cop the sounds that we like out of whatever gear we play no matter what it is, so in the end that translates to more similarities than differences.

Paul would disagree that gear dosen't matter. Here's a excerpt from a Bass Player magazine interview:
"...I happened to see the on-the-roof footage from the Let It Be movie [the Beatles playing on the roof of Apple Records], and I noticed I was playing rather delicately on the Hofner. Because the bass is so light, it encouraged me to play with a light touch and be more adventurous with it. I’d play it more like a guitar, whereas my big, heavy Wal 5-string leads me to play more solid, deep bass. So looking back, the Hofner was a key to my style."

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Paul uses Labellas.

He uses Labellas now, but I said Beatles era Paul McCartney. If you asked Paul he'd tell you he uses "long shiney ones."

and Jimmy, am I really having to defend the Ampeg sound to you of all people - that could be a sure sign of the coming Apocalypse.

[JimmyM]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pb-8bdhogs

OK, so it's all drenched in reverb and not 100% identical to a Hofner in tone, but it still sounds like Paul to me. And it's quite a pretty song, too. Always thought it was quite underrated.

[spacebassed]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pb-8bdhogs

OK, so it's all drenched in reverb and not 100% identical to a Hofner in tone, but it still sounds like Paul to me. And it's quite a pretty song, too. Always thought it was quite underrated.

Jimmy, Carol Kaye told me she played that bassline.

[JimmyM]

LOL...good Carol Kaye reference!

I should make it clear I ain't tryin' to talk no one out of buyin' Ampeg. It's a darn great choice if Jamerson-tone is what you're after. But I'm not going to BS anyone either. You should be able to find a good sound to work with in any decent bass and rig you plug into for any type of music, and the key to getting a great sound is playing well, not playing with one finger on a 62 Precision with dead LaBella flats into a 61 B-15 because Jamerson did it. And if it doesn't sound good, I'm not blaming the equipment unless it's broken.

However, Ampeg does have that more affordable B-15 in the works

[joelb79]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

However, Ampeg does have that more affordable B-15 in the works

Please tell me it's tube. The only non-tube in their line I would consider at this point is the 4 pro.

[JimmyM]

It's tube. Hodgy said it's the same circuit as the Heritage with the switchable bias and two different circuits. I'm sure it won't have NOS pre tubes and mostly American parts inside like the Heritage but it sounds pretty hot to me from what little I've heard.

[joelb79]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

It's tube. Hodgy said it's the same circuit as the Heritage with the switchable bias and two different circuits. I'm sure it won't have NOS pre tubes and mostly American parts inside like the Heritage but it sounds pretty hot to me from what little I've heard.

sweet! not loud enough for me but sweet.

[Stumbo]

Originally Posted by Troph

I think you can make just about any amp with a "tubey" preamp and a nice EQ sound darn close to the Motown recordings. Especially if you feed it a Pbass with old, dead flats.

Fixed it for ya! More of a thump sound like an upright bass. Strings don't ring out. If you do some heavy palm muting and/or foam under the strings, you can get a lot of the thump.

Also, boost the mids and cut the bass a bit.

[toobalicious]

Originally Posted by nostatic

Toro. Or maybe Briggs and Stratton.

Oh, Motown. I thought we were talking gardening...never mind

yeah! i thought he was talking about these guys, whom are friends of mine!

[Jerry Ziarko]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

This is not meant to be a slam on Ampeg by any means, but if all Ampeg went away tomorrow and all I had to use was solid state amps I don't like, I would be fine and work just as much as I always have and sound pretty much like I always do. I use Ampeg because it idealizes for me what I like to hear in bass tone and makes it easy for me to cop a sound. But I'm driving the bus and the amp just sits there and waits for me to play something

You're a smart man Jimmy....

[Funkifized]

If it isn't in your fingers, no particular brand of gear is going to make any difference. I've been able to get that magic with many different bass/amplifier/speaker combinations.