Which Strings to sound more like Tool bassist?

anarchipur · #1 06-21-2011, 06:38 AM

Hi,

I play a 4-string yamaha (b214) bass with a pick and am inspired by the sound of the band Tool (e.g the song "sober").

I want really my bass to cut through in the mix, the sound to be more brilliant and present. We have just a guitar, drums and bass+vocals in the band, so theres' enough room for the bass.

I know the amp is the most important part but now I am looking for new strings...

so here my questions:
1. What do you say about Dean Markley strings, e.g. DEAN MARKLEY MISFITS SKULLBUSTERS DM8801 (046 - 066 - 086 - 106), or Blue Steel?
2. Is tehre a difference if nickel or steel?
3. I normally use up to 100 for the lowest string (E) but I heared that fatter strings sound gnarlier.
Do you notice a difference at all?

Thanks guys!

Floyd Eye · #2 06-21-2011, 06:44 AM

I nail Sober pretty convincingly using Blue Steels.

anarchipur · #3 06-21-2011, 06:57 AM

I just read here The Best Heavy-Metal Bass Strings | eHow.com
that Justin Chancellor uses Ernie Ball hybrid Slinky.

THere are many variations like regular slinky, hybrid slinky , super slinky ..

Is having different gauges the only difference?

WhiteNinja · #4 06-21-2011, 07:13 AM

AFAIK, Justin uses a .110 gauge E-string (tuned down to D) from the Ernie Ball Power Slinky set.

Also, Sober was played with a Rick, I think (Paul d'Amour).

If you want to sound more like Justin, you should get an active bass a la Music Man Stingray/Sterling or similar.

eggfart1 · #5 06-21-2011, 09:36 AM

YouTube - ‪Tool - Lateralus (new version) (Bass Cover - HD)‬&rlm;

That guy sounds freaking awesome and he's using D'addario EXL160's (50-105) with a Drop D

Maybe worth a shot?!

BobaFret · #6 06-21-2011, 10:12 AM

IMO the strings are going to be pretty insignificant to the Chancellor tone. The Wal pickups are a lot of it and his effects chain is fairly important.

AmadeusXeno · #7 06-21-2011, 09:44 PM

The best way I've found for getting a tool like tone is stainless steel strings and boost your mids a bit.

**jmattbassplaya** · #8 06-21-2011, 09:48 PM

The closest I got to Chancellor's tone was with a Sansamp through an SVT with a Musicman Bongo HH with Dunlop Nickles. You could probably get just as close if not closer with a Mesa M6 or M9.

rockstarbassist · #9 06-22-2011, 03:00 PM

Use the EB's he does...

Altho if you don't have a Wal, good luck.

Bass-Adrenaline · #10 06-22-2011, 03:47 PM

Chancellors tone has more to do with his bass and effects than the strings he uses. If youre serious about it remiiiiii from the vid posted above is really knowledgable and helpful.

eggfart1 · #11 06-22-2011, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockstarbassist

Altho if you don't have a Wal, good luck.

Less time talking about what gear makes you sound best and more time practicing. This thread is a bit absurd. Get an active bass, some good strings and get to work. 99 percent of his sound is in his hands. He plays very clearly and neatly.

Bass-Adrenaline · #12 06-22-2011, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eggfart1

Less time talking about what gear makes you sound best and more time practicing. This thread is a bit absurd. Get an active bass, some good strings and get to work. 99 percent of his sound is in his hands. He plays very clearly and neatly.

His sound is NOT in his hands, thats just absurd. He himself has said his tone relies heavily on his effects/rig. Sure playing the way he does will help but you wont get the same tone.

Anyway, heres at leats part of his chain. Im sure it doesnt always stay the same.

eggfart1 · #13 06-22-2011, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass-Adrenaline

His sound is NOT in his hands, thats just absurd. He himself has said his tone relies heavily on his effects/rig. Sure playing the way he does will help but you wont get the same tone.

Anyway, heres at leats part of his chain. Im sure it doesnt always stay the same.

Be sure to buy all of that gear and then tell me how it sounds.

Bass-Adrenaline · #14 06-22-2011, 04:32 PM

Why the hell would i do that? Im just showing what he uses. Im sure you could get a tone close to his with other or just some of that gear (just not with your hands alone). Its not like he uses every pedal for every song.

eggfart1 · #15 06-22-2011, 04:44 PM

That's my point. Get a nice active bass, and a loud amp with good EQ and you can sound like anyone under the sun. I've heard great players make sounds as diverse as Flea to Jamerson on one bass and amp.

I think active bass is the keyword here.

JetBlackJazz · #16 06-22-2011, 04:45 PM

regular slinkys but switch the e string with the e string from power slinkys

Bass-Adrenaline · #17 06-22-2011, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eggfart1

That's my point. Get a nice active bass, and a loud amp with good EQ and you can sound like anyone under the sun. I've heard great players make sounds as diverse as Flea to Jamerson on one bass and amp.

I think active bass is the keyword here.

Flea and Jamerson isnt even the same situation. An active bass witha loud amp and decent EQ will not get you anyones ton under the sun. If that were the case there wouldnt be any point in effects pedals.

eggfart1 · #18 06-22-2011, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass-Adrenaline

Flea and Jamerson isnt even the same situation. An active bass witha loud amp and decent EQ will not get you anyones ton under the sun. If that were the case there wouldnt be any point in effects pedals.

lol. Gear is a means to an end. I've heard some incredible bass players use nothing but a good bass, amp and know how to use EQ. To each their own.

JoeVictim · #19 06-22-2011, 04:57 PM

Something meant for downtuning. I am not trying to sound like Justin on purpose but he does sound awesome. Anyways. I am using these right now:

vStandard Drop-tuned 4 Strings

I am also running a sansamp clone behringer DI with almost all the drive up through a 2-15". Sounds close enough to the tone on Schism which I was inspired to learn the little hammeron part after getting this tone dialed in. Pretty easy song actually.

eggfart1 · #20 06-22-2011, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeVictim

Something meant for downtuning. I am not trying to sound like Justin on purpose but he does sound awesome. Anyways. I am using these right now:

vStandard Drop-tuned 4 Strings

I am also running a sansamp clone behringer DI with almost all the drive up through a 2-15". Sounds close enough to the tone on Schism which I was inspired to learn the little hammeron part after getting this tone dialed in. Pretty easy song actually.

I can vouch for DR DDT's 45-105...They sound unbelievable with the Low D.