Rediscovering P-Nut's tone

[eastcoasteddie]

I've always liked 311 and felt that P-Nut is one of the greatest modern players around. That being said, I never thought too much of his tone on the first few albums, until I got Evolver and Uplifter.

When did he switch from SWR to Warwick amps? Is it around that time? I swear that Evolver has like the best friggin modern tone, and I want it.

Of course that means "get a Streamer Stage II and a Hellborg". Yeah, do I look like I'm made of money?

I notice that his highs are turned down to the "-dB" side of things but his low end is full and growly.

My Dean Sledgehammer basses growl something fierce; the "$$" (Carvin Alnico HB pickups) moreso than the "Jazzhammer" (Stock Dean ceramic HB {bridge} and Squier ceramic Jazz {neck} pickups...maybe I should get Alnico's for that one, too)



The Eminence BP102-loaded cabs I have achieve that thunderous low-end and smooth, vintage rolled-off top that sounds so sweet, I'm totally digging these cabs more than ever.

I have a pair of Deltalite 2510's coming in tomorrow or Wednesday that I wanted to try out in the 2x10...but I'm scared to try them, scared that I won't like the tone being that they're so mid-range happy.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it? or take a shot and see what happens?

[JimmyM]

if it was me i'd take a shot because the bp102's are so dark and i like more top end than the bp102 delivers. you can always roll it off if you don't like it, but you can't add it if it doesn't exist.

[Son of Bovril]

much of that warwick sound comes from the wenge/ovankol necks and the Streamer stage II has an active Jazz bass type pickup config and is a neck through body. Although his sig basses he plays now do use that jazzman type pickup config. I don't think he wasn't using Warwick amplification at that time, but who knows what happened in studio to get that tone...? could be anything or even straight DI to desk

[Travis Harms]

I am also a huge fan of P-Nuts tone.

I think his tone has a lot more to do with his bass than his amp. I had a Warwick for a while and when I really dug in I could get close to that low mid growl that he has (and I had a Thumb instead of a Streamer). I doubt his amp is even involved in the studio.

Keep in mind that one of the things that allows his tone to work so well is the whole mix of band leaves a lot of room in the low mids.

[rockstarbassist]

Most/any high-end Wick = instant P-Nutt toan. Been that way a while now. They always track great and then you can add whatever you want to them to taste and make it your own bit.
I remember Dirk Lance was a big SSII5 user and even though he usually tracked about 4-5 lines per tune, that Streamer II sound was always there in the forefront.

[eastcoasteddie]

So I got the Deltalite II 2510 speakers. They seem very smooth and punchy, and don't really have to eq them at all to sound good. Just a bit of bass boost. Very hi-fi speakers with some really good low-end...I'm actually sorry I ever doubted them.

Now I have to try this cab with my BP-102 loaded 4x10. Hopefully I'll get a really good blend of low-end darkness and some zing on top.

I do have to say that the Neo speakers aren't all that much lighter than the ceramic magnet speakers...barely noticeable. The Goliath 2x10 still seems a bit heavy and monstrous (not a bad thing).