Kings Of Leon 'Closer' Tone

bennield · #1 11-08-2010, 11:00 AM

Hey guys, I'm new so lets see how this goes . . .

Bearing in mind I am primarily a guitarist but I am filling in for someone.
I only have a small amp as my valve head is being used elsewhere, so at the moment, I am stuck with an Ashdown Five Fifteen 100W combo.
I need the Kings of Leon 'Closer' tone though for rehearsals and I was wondering if anyone had any ideas as to how I could achieve this with the given equipment that I have at the moment, this is urgent as I need it for next Sunday and do not have the money or time to be running about buying and borrowing pedals and equipment.
So here's what you have to play with:
Ashdown Five Fifteen 100W Bass combo
Digitech Whammy
Boss DD-2 or a Boss DD-3 whichever is more suited
Boss GE-7 which actually sounds good with a bass
Cheers guys, please help me if you can

Ben

parsons · #2 11-08-2010, 11:06 AM

What bass are you using? That tone is pretty straight forward... I dont think he uses anything special on the record.

He uses a Gibson Thunderturd (gibbys get no love from me, sorry) with a pick. That is where most of his tone comes from. On some older songs he's used reverb and some echo/slapback but Closer is just straight ahead. You should be able to EQ something close but the main limiting factor will be your bass depending on what it is.

parsons · #3 11-08-2010, 11:07 AM

This might help as well
Jared Followill - Kings of Leon

Zanpa · #4 11-08-2010, 11:11 AM

Play Crawl. Better groove.

bennield · #5 11-08-2010, 11:13 AM

Well at current, I have several basses at my disposal, but the one that I'll probably be using even though its not the greatest sounding in the world but feels and plays the best is an Aria TGB-40 ahaha

But yeah like I said, even though it probably shouldn't be my favorite, for some reason it is and its what I enjoy using

80'sRocker · #6 11-08-2010, 11:13 AM

I'd be willing to bet that his live setup is not the same as his recording setup, therefor anything goes -the Thunderbird is usually his main axe but many record with a P bass.

rick0link · #7 11-08-2010, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zanpa

Play Crawl. Better groove.

+++1

Jared Lash · #8 11-08-2010, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by parsons

What bass are you using? That tone is pretty straight forward... I dont think he uses anything special on the record.

He uses a Gibson Thunderturd (gibbys get no love from me, sorry) with a pick. That is where most of his tone comes from. On some older songs he's used reverb and some echo/slapback but Closer is just straight ahead. You should be able to EQ something close but the main limiting factor will be your bass depending on what it is.

You've got a very strange idea of "straight forward" tone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8AvtYJDBoA

The synth like tones to start the song are played by the bass. I think most people miss that because the bass is double tracked with a second bass line outlining the chord changes with sustained notes, but live he only plays the "synth" sounds.

And the effects you'd need are whammy (octave up) and some reverb.

I don't think he's actually using a whammy, but the pitch shifting effect on his Boss multieffect is basically the same thing.

On first listen I thought he was using a delay but if you listen you can hear that he's picking each note.

bennield · #9 11-08-2010, 11:38 AM

Ahahah, thanks man, I already knew about the Bass part, that's mainly why I have a whammy

But I could just use some EQ settings for that really tight sound please

Jared Lash · #10 11-08-2010, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bennield

Ahahah, thanks man, I already knew about the Bass part, that's mainly why I have a whammy

But I could just use some EQ settings for that really tight sound please

SVT and 810 run pretty much flat and played with a pick. The "tight" sound comes from good use of the whammy.

To simulate an SVT you could always try a VT Bass.

bennield · #11 11-08-2010, 11:43 AM

Thanks man, but again, I only have a small Ashdown Five Fifteen to play with at this moment in time.
The EQ options are:
Input Gain, Deep IN\OUT, Bass, Mid, Treble, Output Level

Jared Lash · #12 11-08-2010, 11:52 AM

I haven't used that amp but in general the SVT tone is a bit midscooped. The deep switch looks to boost lows and cut mids. I'd try pushing that in and boosting the treble a fair amount. If the input gain knob introduces a bit of overdrive I'd try turning it up just a bit.

Adjust to taste.

Be aware of course that cutting your mids too much will have you disappear in the mix.

bennield · #13 11-08-2010, 11:53 AM

Thanks man, I'll give it a go

JimmyM · #14 11-08-2010, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 80'sRocker

I'd be willing to bet that his live setup is not the same as his recording setup, therefor anything goes -the Thunderbird is usually his main axe but many record with a P bass.

i'm pretty sure i've read that he doesn't like fenders.

BbbyBld · #15 11-08-2010, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zanpa

Play Crawl. Better groove.

I just saw KOL two months ago. That was the opener and sounded great live.

Quote:

The synth like tones to start the song are played by the bass. I think most people miss that because the bass is double tracked with a second bass line outlining the chord changes with sustained notes, but live he only plays the "synth" sounds.

That was a complete surprise to me. I thought it was a guitar with a whammy until I saw the bass player doing it.

Quote:

But I could just use some EQ settings for that really tight sound please

A lot of Jared Followill's sound is in his hands.

DreadRaver · #16 11-08-2010, 02:43 PM

Bass player Jared Followill explained how the band got the song's unique sound in State Magazine:

"That was really quickly, off the cuff. We were sitting around the studio and as far as the bassline goes, I had a bassline that me and Nathan were working together on. But as we don't use a clicktrack, it was like a repeat pedal that we couldn't get down so we thought about not even doing it. Right before we started, I clicked on an octave pedal and started playing with, had some reverb on it. All the guys liked it and it's the thing that starts off the record which most people think is a keyboard. We came in and put a lot of reverb on everything, Matthew found out his pick-up on his guitar picked up his voice so a lot of those really atmospheric sounds, that's Matthew screaming into his guitar."

Source: http://www.state.ie/features/2732-ki...track-by-track

bennield · #17 11-09-2010, 10:57 AM

Awesome, thanks man, still after some EQ for this Ashdown though

I'm obviously using it for the main riff bass part and not the over-dubbed bass line, so this is what I would like the settings for

Kirk Bryant · #18 11-03-2011, 03:51 AM

bump..........just watched the Storytellers on tv and he was using what looked like a Boutique tube rig through 2 x 8x10's on thier side cabs..couldnt make out the badge on either head or cabs. I am very curious.

peace Kirk

rodl2005 · #19 11-03-2011, 04:56 AM

Ampeg SVT-CL & 2 810 cabs.
Just add some bass & drive if u can.

Son of Bovril · #20 11-03-2011, 07:15 AM

I watched them last weekend and he wasn't using SVT's on stage, not sure what they were, but it looked like 2 big tube heads with lit up face plates on top of two 410 cabs each... I know a lot of amps but those I didn't recognize? Boutique maybe?

+1 on the whammy and reverb for the intro part, I didn't realize he did that part till I saw him playing it...

check this for "closer":Private Gear Tour: Kings of Leon - YouTube