What can I do to mod my tone?

Eddz · #1 12-04-2008, 09:26 PM

My new bass, an Ibanez BTB450 is wonderful to play, and feels great, but the one thing I dont love about it is that the tone is slightly more metallic-ish sounding than i like in a bass. I just want to know what I could do with the set-up to make it more natural sounding, eg: New strings/Pickups etc.

Thanks.

Valerus · #2 12-04-2008, 09:43 PM

Get a new bass

humphreyaudio · #3 12-04-2008, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eddz

My new bass, an Ibanez BTB450 is wonderful to play, and feels great, but the one thing I dont love about it is that the tone is slightly more metallic-ish sounding than i like in a bass. I just want to know what I could do with the set-up to make it more natural sounding, eg: New strings/Pickups etc.

Thanks.

Try setting the pickups lower away from the strings. They'll pick up a little more body tone and a little less string tone.
This should help.

MH

Eddz · #4 12-04-2008, 10:23 PM

Thanks man.
Your a lot more use than Valerus.
Sheesh.

PBass101 · #5 12-04-2008, 10:57 PM

What kind of strings are you using?

Eddz · #6 12-04-2008, 11:06 PM

Mate, I have no idea, whatever the bass comes out of the Ibanez factory with.

Valerus · #7 12-04-2008, 11:10 PM

Oh oops. I didn't see that you mentioned pickups and whatnot.

I feel like a jerk, my apologize brosef.

PBass101 · #8 12-04-2008, 11:13 PM

Don't say "brosef."

Anyway, you might want to consider a "warmer" sounding set of strings - a nickel roundwound maybe, being that you feel it's too metalic-sounding. A new set of the right strings might get you the sound you're looking for.

Valerus · #9 12-04-2008, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PBass101

Don't say "brosef."

Anyway, you might want to consider a "warmer" sounding set of strings - a nickel roundwound maybe, being that you feel it's too metalic-sounding. A new set of the right strings might get you the sound you're looking for.

Will do broseph

Thunderthumbs73 · #10 12-04-2008, 11:34 PM

Strings can make a major difference in sound. And they're CHEAP tone experiments in terms of bang for the buck in comparision to other options such as modding the bass, changing amps, cabs, etc, etc... Try strings. You might be really surprised. And the bonus is if you don't like 'em, you'll have an extra set which you can keep in your gig bag in case of emergencies.

Eddz · #11 12-04-2008, 11:48 PM

Okay... so what kinda strings do you suggest....broseph...

Valerus · #12 12-04-2008, 11:51 PM

More natural sounding. Hmm. Have you ever tried flatwounds?

Eddz · #13 12-04-2008, 11:54 PM

Errr... I don't think so. How do you tell the difference.
(I am a complete noob, in case you hadn't noticed...broseph...)

Thunderthumbs73 · #14 12-04-2008, 11:54 PM

I'm not "broseph" but I will say the strings on your bass right now will mellow, darken and deaden over time. Aside from waiting for that, there are other interesting brands, varieties, including tapewounds/flatwounds and strings of different material composition. Those too will deaden over time, but may be initially darker right out of the packaging. The key is experiment. They're cheap enough, most can generally can afford to.

kb9wyz · #15 12-04-2008, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valerus

Get a new bass

I think I pulled something when I read this.

I looked at the bass and noticed that it is made of basswood. I do not like basswood. I am thinking the only way I know how to "fix" the tone would be to take the above advice.

Or, if you would like constructive thoughts, maybe try flatwounds, pull back the mids a little, and use a dual band compressor with the lows a little more compressed than the highs.

kb9wyz · #16 12-04-2008, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valerus

Will do broseph

O.K. Brain fart of epic proportions. What the heck movie is "brosef" from? I'm getting Jack Black's face in my mind. Am I at least close?

Eddz · #17 12-04-2008, 11:58 PM

I know! ***? Lol I can't stop sayin' it now!

Valerus · #18 12-05-2008, 12:08 AM

lol sorry

Eddz · #19 12-05-2008, 12:09 AM

You have to tell us where it's from now!
It's in the rules.

Tim Sevenfold · #20 12-05-2008, 12:09 AM

Being one of the few constructive voices on the thread (lol) I would say first of all, post in the strings section separately to get specific brand names and string types that you want. I completely agree that the right (or totally wrong strings) can make the difference. Generally, factory stock strings suck balls to put it bluntly and I would suggest round core (not roundwound, necessarily) strings which would give a more mellow/less metallic attack which it sounds like you're looking for. Round wounds will do that to an extent as well...

A specific string I'm thinking of that may help out your issue is either the DR Sunbeams or Lo Riders. The Sunbeams are Round core, roundwounds, whereas the Lo Riders are octagonal cored roundwounds (they sound pretty 'earthy' from what I hear though). So yeah. Hope it helped.

Or you can also tune out the mid and high on your eq, leave the bass, and turn out the gain on your bridge pick-up

to get complete bass w/o the metallic-esque sound, but where's the fun in that? (Plus you cant play the high notes for S&@* since they're practically turned off, which is why I suggest new strings before that.