Early Stranglers/JJ Burnel bass sound on an Ampeg ?

Algae · #1 02-14-2011, 05:57 AM

I am wanting to emulate the 1970s JJ Burnel bass sound with my Fender P (a tone like on the first three Stranglers albums). I am not keen on the Ashdown gear that JJB uses nowadays (JJ-500 signature amp and ABM 4x10 cabs) as it is not the same sound as those early Stanglers recordings. His signature sound in the late seventies was using Hiwatt gear. After the demise of that piece of kit he has never really been able to recapture that original sound with his Ashdown gear. That is the challenge !

JJB would not entertain Ampeg gear nowadays as he is a fiercely dedicated to only buying british. Not so myself. I know Ampeg SVT can give a good old school sound so if any of you SVT owners out there can comment that would be great thanks. I am trying to avoid buying a fully valve amp due to the weight so was thinking of a hybrid like the SVT-7 PRO maybe?

If anyone out there can get the sound I am looking for on your gear then please tell !

Thanks.

alexclaber · #2 02-14-2011, 06:53 AM

A key part of the distortion on his early sound was having a hole kicked in the speaker cone...

**mikeddd** · #3 02-14-2011, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexclaber

A key part of the distortion on his early sound was having a hole kicked in the speaker cone...

And there you have it, Algae. So, exactly HOW much do you want that tone again?

murphy · #4 02-14-2011, 08:32 AM

I get close using a sansamp GT2 pedal. But usually use my BDDI

Big Up for JJ and some of the most amazing basslines and songs on those first three albums. One of the all time greats.

RCCollins · #5 02-14-2011, 08:40 AM

An SVT will surely do the job - lots of his sound has to do with playing style. Also keep in mind his early recordings used a P-bass strung with rotos. Plectrum style way down by the bridge and you'll be in Burnel territory.