Nikolai Fraiture Bass tone?

bencwalker · #1 10-20-2008, 03:25 PM

I've been trying for the longest time the replicate Nikolai Fraiture of the Strokes tone. I know he plays on a jazz with a pick, mostly downstrokes (I have basically the same technique and the same equipment) so playing style isn't really a problem- I just can't seem to nail his tone. Here's the best video I could find capturing his tone:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p75sjdEWMc

I have a Peavey MAX 115 if that changes anything.

Cheers and thanks for the help.

Ampeg SVT · #2 10-20-2008, 03:30 PM

I tried getting his tone once and I nailed it, if you have a Jazz bass then pick by the bridge. Also fresh roundwounds help.

His tone on Juicebox is pretty good, a slightly driven SVT simulation should do it. You want a bit of treble and high mids.

Amitio · #3 10-20-2008, 03:31 PM

He uses an ampeg svt cl i think. get one of them

Ampeg SVT · #4 10-20-2008, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amitio

He uses an ampeg svt cl i think. get one of them

Yeah thats probably the biggest part of his tone.

bencwalker · #5 10-20-2008, 03:56 PM

I've been downstroking on the bridge pickup and can never seem to nail it- maybe that zing from fresh roundwounds is what I'm missing. He uses T.I. bass strings, right?
Thanks

Ampeg SVT · #6 10-20-2008, 04:03 PM

the zing for sure, I believe he uses TI's. Not sure what kind as I have never used them before.

bencwalker · #7 10-20-2008, 04:30 PM

well many thanks for helping me out here! ill pick up a new set of strings and see what i can do

cheers

jetofuj · #8 10-20-2008, 04:48 PM

I don't find anything special in his tone. My Jazz with old strings sounds very close the same.

bencwalker · #9 10-20-2008, 05:48 PM

i think it sounds awesome- it cuts through the mix quite nicely as well.

origami · #10 10-20-2008, 07:57 PM

i love his tone and style.. works perfectly for that band and sits great in the mix, sort of how adam clayton does for U2.

for the strokes always play a with a pick (downstrokes) and nothin flashy, but all tasty:

a jazz for the first album, maybe with a little bit older sttrings, and something simulate a tube sounding head like an ampeg. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQRJvZBH1gw

a stingray for juicebox http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMtIzEAy1Wk

i was personally trying to get his 'juicebox' tone with my stingray for a song my band just recorded called "i'm on fire" demo at http://www.myspace.com/farstar

bencwalker · #11 10-20-2008, 10:00 PM

yeah, nikolai fraiture and john entwistle are pretty much my main bass influences- so how am i going to want to EQ my amp to get his sound? a know to boost a bit of the trebles but what about the lows and low mids?

thanks

GearHeadBassMan · #12 10-20-2008, 11:18 PM

my tone is similiar, now that im listening to it.

I get it through trace and p style pickups, picking right at the neck.

dial back alot of the bass and put your blend to the bridge pickup.

I get a tone like that only it has more bass and less treble.

bencwalker · #13 10-21-2008, 03:31 PM

so to sum things up- pick, downstrokes only, on the bridge pickup.

my amp has 4 settings:
bass
mid
shift
and treble

how am i going to want to dial those in? gearhead provided a little helpful info but i need more on how my amp should be EQd

thanks

jetofuj · #14 10-21-2008, 03:48 PM

Leave bass flat, add some mid and a little more treble. IMO of course

Ampeg SVT · #15 10-21-2008, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by origami

i love his tone and style.. works perfectly for that band and sits great in the mix, sort of how adam clayton does for U2.

for the strokes always play a with a pick (downstrokes) and nothin flashy, but all tasty:

a jazz for the first album, maybe with a little bit older sttrings, and something simulate a tube sounding head like an ampeg. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQRJvZBH1gw

a stingray for juicebox http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMtIzEAy1Wk

i was personally trying to get his 'juicebox' tone with my stingray for a song my band just recorded called "i'm on fire" demo at http://www.myspace.com/farstar

Juicebox is NOT a stingray, its a Jazz bass.

I can sort of it get it with a Sterling which is the one in the video, you have to put it in the single coil setting.

plorenzo · #16 10-21-2008, 05:50 PM

you need something that emulates a slight tube overdrive...

bencwalker · #17 10-21-2008, 07:19 PM

by flat you mean leave at at 12 oclock right?

bencwalker · #18 11-01-2008, 11:39 AM

apologies for the double post, but i just slapped on a fresh set of roundwounds the other day and nailed the tone- its a pretty large factor. thanks to all who helped and go nikolai

ElectraPhoenix · #19 05-23-2010, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bencwalker

yeah, nikolai fraiture and john entwistle are pretty much my main bass influences- so how am i going to want to EQ my amp to get his sound? a know to boost a bit of the trebles but what about the lows and low mids?

thanks

*high five* agreed that Entwistle and Fraiture are amazing! Both are huge influences on me... funny how Nikolai's tone seems like it'd be real easy to capture, it's just a Jazz with pick, but it's actually not easy to capture and it cuts through the mix amazing, even with Albert's and Nick's guitars playing... LOVE the tone on Someday.

TJ pereira · #20 12-02-2010, 05:08 AM

On the first album it sounds like he is using a jazz bass.
Almost 100% sure that from then on he records with a p bass and uses the jazz in live situations.