Help with tone quest please?? kinda long post

[sowegafly]

I’m on a tone quest. I realize that a great percentage of one’s tone is in the players fingers and it’s ridiculous to try to get someone else’s exact tone, and that a person is better off obtaining their own tone goal’s. However, when I lay down to sleep at night, lately, all I hear is George Porter Jr’s tone on Warren Haynes album Man In Motion. If I could just get close to that, I could probably sleep better!! From what I understand he plays a Fender P or a Lakland P and goes through an Ampeg SVT 4 Pro and either Ampeg 810e or Ampeg 610hlf. I’ve read that he plays round wound strings on his bass. I also realize there is no real way for me to find out what he used on that album. He probably used his basses but went straight to the board with an Avalon or redid di. I have none of this, which is probably why I can’t get as close to his tone as I would like. My rig consist of a jazz bass with chromes on it, a Gallien Krueger 800rb head that I’ve had probably 15 years or so, and an Avatar neo 212 cab. I’ve used a vt pedal in front of this, but to me it get too muddy. When I use it or have too much low end, notes played on the D and G strings seem to disappear. Can you help? Can you give any suggestions? I imagine some of you want to give me the finger ifyou’ve read this andrealize it was a complete wast of time! Anyway below is a sample from a jam session I had with a few friends. Please excuse all the mess ups as this was the first time this particular group has ever jammed together. The settings on the head last night were gain: 11:00, all contour buttons out highs:8:00, mid highs: 9:00, mid lows: 1:00, lows: 2:00, boost: dimed and volume at about 11:00 no pedals. And my recorder was pretty close to my rig so the mix is mostly me. Thanks!!
Me and bobbie mcgee by Darrell Ditty on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free

[grendle]

You kind of answered your own question. The bass , the head, and especially the cab all have their own pretty specific voicings. The formula is pretty simple but there's not much else imo. That is going to sound like that. I spent years trying to get what I had to sound like something different, but in the end, you won't be satisfied until you have the gear that gets the tone in your head. Ymmv

[JxBass]

Though I've been through tons (literally) of gear over the years, I sound pretty much the same no matter what I'm playing through. I imagine the same goes for George Porter Jr.

[AMJBASS]

Agreed. You are going to eventually find that you sound like you. Of course you can get different sounds with different basses/rigs, but the inherent tone will be yours. One thing I will say though is that you cannot get a Jazz bass to sound like Precision. Even with the bridge pickup backed off it still wont have that fat growl with a slightly hollowness that you get from a P-bass.

[socknroll1]

Seems pretty simple. Buy a P bass. Roll back the tone knob to taste. Play. Done.

(I'm just playing dumb, I don't know Goerge Porter from George Costanza. Just agreeing with the poster above that your Jazz will get close but not exact.)

[lomo]

The single biggest difference you listed was the strings. Chrome flats vs rounds. Try that 1st.

[RickenBoogie]

Yes, always start with the easy stuff, strings in this case, and work your way forward from there. I will say, chasing tone can get very expensive, and usually leads to disapointment. Find YOUR tone, with whatever gear makes you smile, and be content that no one else will have that sound exactly.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

Yes, always start with the easy stuff, strings in this case, and work your way forward from there. I will say, chasing tone can get very expensive, and usually leads to disapointment. Find YOUR tone, with whatever gear makes you smile, and be content that no one else will have that sound exactly.

Word. Even if you have the exact stuff George uses, you'll still sound like you.

[countrybass007]

JimmyM is right on the money when he says you'l always sound like you. If you're looking for a different tone try strings, picks, and basic experiments in the settings on your amp and your bass. Sometimes the sound you're looking for is right under your nose.

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by countrybass007

JimmyM is right on the money when he says you'l always sound like you. If you're looking for a different tone try strings, picks, and basic experiments in the settings on your amp and your bass. Sometimes the sound you're looking for is right under your nose.

It's amazing what new and/or different strings will do. I was a DR Hi Beam guy and for the heck of it tried DR Fat Beams. Huge change in tone. Loved it.

I also agree with what others have said...you sound like you no matter what. Lord knows I have been on enough tone quest, gear swapping binges to last a lifetime and probably a few other people's lifetimes as well. No matter what I do, with small variations, I always end up sounding like me.

I am turning from my life of endless searching to a life of trying to help others avoid my mistakes. find a bass you like, and play it. Change strings, change right hand placement, change electronics if you must, but don't start the endless merry-go-round that I have been on for years.

[dsanders]

Originally Posted by SteveC

It's amazing what new and/or different strings will do. I was a DR Hi Beam guy and for the heck of it tried DR Fat Beams. Huge change in tone. Loved it.

I also agree with what others have said...you sound like you no matter what. Lord knows I have been on enough tone quest, gear swapping binges to last a lifetime and probably a few other people's lifetimes as well. No matter what I do, with small variations, I always end up sounding like me.

I am turning from my life of endless searching to a life of trying to help others avoid my mistakes. find a bass you like, and play it. Change strings, change right hand placement, change electronics if you must, but don't start the endless merry-go-round that I have been on for years.

I'll seconds Steve's tone quest. I remember years ago having a pickup discussion with him on the music player forums.

Find a bass that just works for you. Then go from there. I've been a 3 or less player for years. I realize alot of players enjoy having multiple instruments but when I find one that feels like home it stays. I've never gotten above 5 basses at a time and regardless of the rig if I'm playing my instrument it always sounds like me.

[chadds]

I so completely agree. Yet sometimes you have a hunch.
The bad hunch: "I'll sound like me if I have that rig." Followed by hours days weeks months of imagining that gear.
The good hunch: The clear knowing and attraction to a piece of gear not influenced by what other's use. One that makes it easier for your tone to be expressed.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by chadds

I so completely agree. Yet sometimes you have a hunch.
The bad hunch: "I'll sound like me if I have that rig." Followed by hours days weeks months of imagining that gear.
The good hunch: The clear knowing that is unaccompanied by a selection not influenced by what other's use. One that makes it easier for your tone to be expressed.

Exactly. Find what makes YOU happy, not what you think makes other people happy.

Having said that, a Precision through an Ampeg rig is about as badass as it gets

[One Drop]

Try nickel rounds for a start.

You might also try the VT pedal again, but start from a more neutral EQ on the head when using it. If you are losing the top strings it's because you are boosting the bass too much. Use the bass knob on the VT to fatten things up.

Try the neck PUP only on your J.

I agree you won't sound just like him, but you'll get a whole lot closer with a P and some rounds.

I've absolutely nothing against slavishly trying to copy someone else's sound, mainly because it's a great way to end up with your own, probably better than setting out to be different or consciously trying to get your 'own sound'.

I think a lot of great artists have passed through phases of pure imitation, and many lesser have sounded decent without creating their own distinctive voice. Better to sound good and similar to others than crap but completely distinctive, IMO.

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Exactly. Find what makes YOU happy, not what you think makes other people happy.

Having said that, a Precision through an Ampeg rig is about as badass as it gets

Unless the sound of a Precision through an Ampeg makes you go huh?

Jazz basses rule !!!

[ddawson2012]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Exactly. Find what makes YOU happy, not what you think makes other people happy.

Having said that, a Precision through an Ampeg rig is about as badass as it gets

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