Need Tone

[Ted8383]

I'm new to the bass world. I play a Fender Jazz '60's re issue. I play through a GK 800RB with Eden 2x10 and 1x15. I also have a Eden 4x10. I use flatwounds. My question is this; am I using the right amp/cab configuration? I play a very traditional style. I'm looking for a fat, round sound without sacrificing punch. Any suggestions? Thanks for any feedback I can get.

[janekbass]

I would really start by working on the acoustic sound of your fingers and the instrument. There obviously isn't a lot of acoustic sound from an electric bass, but it really is the sound of the wood and your fingers that you should be striving to enhance.

As far as gear goes I do have my recommendations. I play Fender cabs, power amps, and pre amps. I use it completely flat, it's basically just a volume control for me. The sound I get from the gear I use is a pure representation of my true sound on the instrument.

I use various techniques to vary the sound for different settings, and use different basses for different sounds also. but the real bottom line for me when it comes to sound, is to work on the wood, the strings and the fingers. These are the most basic tools you have available to you, and will be the biggest contributors to a unique sound. Amplification should only be used to make that natural sound louder as far as I'm concerned. And I found the gear that truly represents my personal sound.

Easy,

Janek

[JLW]

While he is right, I find that certain amp heads and cabinets tend to highlight certain tones of your instrument.

I have an Eden cab and it is very very midrangey and sorta bright and harsh sounding (in a good way).

I've never played through a GK, but I understand that they're very bright sounding, as well.

Mess around with the EQ a bit. If you still can't find the sound you want, go to a music store and try out some different heads and cabinets.

I have an Ashdown 600H. It's a pretty basic amp head but the price was right and I was told they were reliable. I dont mess around too much with the knobs. I just find a tone and keep it that way. It has a very very vintage tone to it. Sorta like an ampeg, but warmer.

It really boils down to preference though.

[bassjamm]

Hi Janek,

Just a slight tangent on what you said here:

Originally Posted by janekbass

I would really start by working on the acoustic sound of your fingers and the instrument. There obviously isn't a lot of acoustic sound from an electric bass, but it really is the sound of the wood and your fingers that you should be striving to enhance.

I've been working on this for about 6 months now, and i totally see how you can get different tones from using different techniques, like using my thumb for a fatter, rounded sound etc. But how do you go about getting a similer tone (fat/round) when using new strings on say a 16th not funk groove? I personally can't move my thumb that quickly, so i have to use my fingers, but then i get a brighter sound which i don't want! Do you have any eq settings on your basses, or specifically, on a passive bass, do you keep the tone control on full and only use the pickup pan/volumes for tonal characteristics?

I use an F Bass, and i find i can get the very tone that i want by reducing the tone control to about 25%, however, going by what you're preference, this would be colouring the tone outside of using your fingers and bass wood right? In that case, how do you accomplish this?

Sorry for the hi-jack Ted8383...just thought it kinda followed on from Janeks reply.

Thanks
Jamie