Motown Sound

[Ron G]

I have an Ampeg BA-115HPT and my main bass is a Fender P with flats. Which settings should I use to best achieve that classic Motown sound?

Amp settings:

Speaker: 15"

Style switch: 1 = -25dB @500Hz, 2 = -12 dB @500Hz, 3 = flat, 4 = +5 @2kHz and above, 5 = -6dB @50Hz and below

Eq: Low 40dB range @50Hz, Mid 30dB range @500Hz, Hi 40dB range @10kHz (knob range 0-10)

HF level control: adjust the level of the high frequency driver. (should I use it?)

[pan1k]

boost the mids, cut the bass and treble

[Gearhead17]

Put it on setting three for the style control. Turn the high frequency driver control all the way to the left (effectively turns the tweeter off). Turn the treble knob a little to the left, play with your fingers towards the neck. Experiment with the placement of your fingers and you should get pretty close to the Motown sound without much effort.

Leave the other tone knobs at the "noon" position.

Small boosts and moving your plucking hand around is the key to the Motown sound.

[Russell L]

I don't if I necessarily agree to boost the mids unless your amp sounds mid-scooped when all is set at neutral. I play P nad J with flats and run pretty much at noon on the dials, with no contour controls operating. But, I'm playing through Markbass stuff, so it could be different. Anyway, you know the sound you're looking for. Start with everything at noon, no filters or contour stuff, and mess with the knobs to see what each does. I can't say myself what settings would work on your amp for your personal technique, but playing with the mids will probably get you there. However, when you get in a mix be ready to change it all again.

[pan1k]

im just going off of a lil research i did as year ago. not to mention i visited the motown studio in detroit last year. the tour guide somewhat confirmed what im tellin ya. =]..
James Jamerson is the bassist btw. My fav =]

[DJ Bebop]

Originally Posted by Ron G

I have an Ampeg BA-115HPT and my main bass is a Fender P with flats. Which settings should I use to best achieve that classic Motown sound?

Amp settings:

Speaker: 15"

Style switch: 1 = -25dB @500Hz, 2 = -12 dB @500Hz, 3 = flat, 4 = +5 @2kHz and above, 5 = -6dB @50Hz and below

Eq: Low 40dB range @50Hz, Mid 30dB range @500Hz, Hi 40dB range @10kHz (knob range 0-10)

HF level control: adjust the level of the high frequency driver. (should I use it?)

As numbered behind your knobs.

Style switch: 3

Eq: Low 7-8, Mid 5, Hi 5

HF level control: OFF!

Season to taste

BTW - Jamerson's amplifier of choice at club performances was an Ampeg B-15; in larger venues, he used a blue Naugahyde Kustom with twin 15" speakers. On both, the bass was typically turned up full and the treble turned halfway up. On most of his studio recordings, his bass was plugged directly into the mixing console.

Just Sayin'

[Craig_S]

Originally Posted by DJ Bebop

On most of his studio recordings, his bass was plugged directly into the mixing console.

According to "Standing In The Shadows" he was in the live room, plugged into a box that was built into the wall. The box had a meter and a knob. His signal was then routed to the mixer. Jamerson supposedly turned the knob on the box up full, so the needle on the meter was bouncing in the red constantly. What was the box? I haven't a clue.

[JimmyM]

The box was a 3-way tube preamp they used as a DI for bass and guitars. And while Jamerson did use that in the studio once they made it, he also used the B-15 on a lot of the early Motown stuff, and anyone who's heard a Motown song and a B-15 knows that the B-15 was clearly the model for his recorded sound.

[will33]

His studio sound is direct to the console, live is likely a B-15. The 2 aren't that far apart. His tone soloed is also a helluva lot dirtier than it sounds mixed in with band.

OP, set your mid switch to 3 or "flat, no effect", tweak the other tone knobs to taste. A lot of fat low mids and not to much deep bass or twangy uppermids/treble are key. Your amp and your bass as you have it setup should pretty much do this on their own.......the rest is in the hands.

[Ron G]

Thanks for all your inputs, all the things that I have tried just didn't sound right. I have the following settings:

Style: 3 flat, Low and Hi 2, Mid 5, HF off

[JimmyM]

You know, there's only so much you can do with an amp and a bass But try this...

Cut the treble to 9:00, mids at noon, bass at 1:00. Then turn it up till it starts to distort but not too far past that point.

[MIJ-VI]

The above suggestions plus a foam mute under the bridge cover.

[pan1k]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

The box was a 3-way tube preamp they used as a DI for bass and guitars. And while Jamerson did use that in the studio once they made it, he also used the B-15 on a lot of the early Motown stuff, and anyone who's heard a Motown song and a B-15 knows that the B-15 was clearly the model for his recorded sound.

You're pretty much right. The DI is weird. I saw it. Its like 3 in 1. But ya its what bass and that other instrument that shall not be named plugged straight into. Its a bummer the only video I've ever seen him play live, is a marvin gaye video and I see him for about 10 secs

[Ron G]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

You know, there's only so much you can do with an amp and a bass But try this...

Cut the treble to 9:00, mids at noon, bass at 1:00. Then turn it up till it starts to distort but not too far past that point.

Thanks, my 2 was 9:00 and 5 was noon. Placing the bass at 1:00 sounds nice.

[arai]

Originally Posted by MIJ-VI

The above suggestions plus a foam mute under the bridge cover.

Agreed

[DJ Bebop]

Originally Posted by Ron G

Thanks, my 2 was 9:00 and 5 was noon. Placing the bass at 1:00 sounds nice.

Is that about number 6,7 on the bass knob?

[rodl2005]

Yes

[deepdown]

A little chicken grease on the flats is essential.

[C.Linton]

Originally Posted by deepdown

A little chicken grease on the flats is essential.

Off to the PathMark to get some Banquet Fried Chicken!

[Ron G]

Originally Posted by DJ Bebop

Is that about number 6,7 on the bass knob?

1:00 is number 6 on the bass knob.