How you get a fat tone playing in the bridge

maturanesa · #1 07-21-2010, 12:32 PM

hi janek

i just want to know if you have some tips to get that fat/smooth/nasal round tone playing in the bridge area.

When i try to get it by EQing, the low frequencies comes up but the "voice" is still too tight with "no air".

thanx
matt

ras1983 · #2 07-22-2010, 01:28 AM

What bass and amp are you using mate? And, what strings are you using? There are a million factors that affect tone. If you give a little more info it might help in providing recommendations and/or ideas.

flipper_gv · #3 07-22-2010, 01:31 AM

300 - 400 Hz

maturanesa · #4 07-22-2010, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ras1983

What bass and amp are you using mate? And, what strings are you using? There are a million factors that affect tone. If you give a little more info it might help in providing recommendations and/or ideas.

a Fender jazz bass with bartolini passives and a gallien krueguer head through a 2x12 cabinet. 0.40/100 roundwounds

4-Banger · #5 07-22-2010, 08:03 PM

Good luck getting a fat tone with light gauge strings.

maturanesa · #6 07-23-2010, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4-Banger

Good luck getting a fat tone with light gauge strings.

if you are trying to say i need heavier strings...i totally desagree.

Maybe the fattest tone i ever heard is Stuart Zender´s from Jamiroquai.

"His basses are strung with light-gauge Elite roundwounds (.035-.090)".
http://www.angelfire.com/ab/stuartze...nterviews.html

**colcifer** · #7 07-23-2010, 12:37 AM

It's all in the touch.

4-Banger · #8 07-24-2010, 07:16 PM

eh. Personally I can't get anything more that a Wal tone out of light strings on my Fender. Guess its more in the EQ

bassyj · #9 08-15-2010, 06:53 AM

there are a bunch of factors that go into getting that sound. i go about it by leaving about 25% of the front pup on, playing with a fairly light but solid touch, and giving my amp a slight bump around 250hz. if i'm not competeing with a very dense mix, i'll even roll of some treble on my bass. I usually keep the controls on my bass set flat(center detent on most).

cubanbass · #10 08-15-2010, 08:08 AM

Since your bass is set up passive, I would suggest rolling tone knob off a bit and playing with a louder volume level. Headroom helps. The closer you can have the pick up to the string also helps with that.

Another thing is play, play, play. Tone can be such a headtrip. Especially when you are hearing/judging your sound at home, or by yourself than in a band setting, club, or outdoors.

I am sure Janek has worked hard on his voice but I can also say that it has probably been and still is an evolving process. A lot of it being the fingers, phrasing, and personality of the players.

I also do not know anything about your playing experience or your exposure to other bassists. I have learned more from a one in one with a mentor, or from interacting with other bassist (going to shows when I was young, clinics/workshops, tours or playing shows with other bands... ).

I just realized I went on a tangent... good luck and I hope the collective wisdom of the bass community helps.

countrybassist · #11 08-15-2010, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colcifer

It's all in the touch.

+1 I hate to say it's in the technique, but it's in the technique.

Sure certain gear will aid in a fat warm tone, but no matter what rig I play, my tone is fat and thick.

janekbass · #12 09-13-2010, 08:02 PM

I use 32/45/65/85/105, and I have my EQ completely flat for the most part. I guess it all comes from the fingers, but I'm afraid I couldn't tell you how to do that other than to spend as much time with your instrument as possible working on sound.

Janek