Your Tone.

Shortbigtoe · #1 02-02-2009, 11:52 PM

I started playing about a year ago when I found out how much I loved Justin Chancellor's tone. I've been looking to recreate that perfect tone. I was silly to think that I would get his tone without having much money to throw at a Wal bass so I figured "why not just find my own tone". All this time I have been tweeking settings, dialing in different tones to see which one really clicked. After much hunting I think I finally found it. It's punchy and cuts through nicely, and it's also somewhat smooth. I have never had any prior exposure to music I'm pretty stoked that I could actually come up with my own tone/style. I'm pretty sure that down the road it will change.

Btw, here is a soundclip of my playing. It's the intro to one my band's song that we just started making.
http://www.supload.com/listen?s=FYhf0D

I never ever imagined that I got that out of a behringer playing a B.C. Rich Warlock. I just bought the Ibanez ATK750 a few days ago. I was just wondering what you guys think about it or how you all finally found that awesome tone. I posted this soundclip a week ago in the wrong forum and didn't get any responses.

troyus · #2 02-03-2009, 12:01 AM

Shortbigtoe · #3 02-03-2009, 12:10 AM

Hehe, I dont know how some people are able to afford a $2000 Head.

Ampeg SVT · #4 02-03-2009, 12:12 AM

A job

Shortbigtoe · #5 02-03-2009, 12:20 AM

Even with a job thats a lot of money.

Ampeg SVT · #6 02-03-2009, 12:25 AM

Depends but yes its a lot, however there are much more expensive amps out there.

The bass sure sounds good though, those ATK's are great. I sold one to my friend a while ago.

The tone I am getting currently is very close to what I want in my head, really heavy with a lot of dirt. I am trying to find a head that has that all in one and it is one of those Mesa BB750's, its going to take several months to even make enough to buy one. Then I have to buy a rack and a compressor.

JimmyM · #7 02-03-2009, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shortbigtoe

Hehe, I dont know how some people are able to afford a $2000 Head.

I bought my $2000 head and a $1000 810 for $650 used 20 years ago.

BTW, you absolutely do not have to have a $2000 head to have great tone. The playing is what counts. Get the highest quality you can afford and play to the best of your ability and it's all good.

troyus · #8 02-03-2009, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shortbigtoe

Hehe, I dont know how some people are able to afford a $2000 Head.

Well I got it for cost... And yeah, having a job helps, or not having a new car, or a wife, or kids.

Anyway if you are on a tighter budget, these work well:

You'll get 98% of that sound and about 70% of the volume for 25% of the money.

Jimmy brings up a good point... good player that has a good ear for tone makes the most difference... but man my ears always thank me when I go back to that big heavy SVT after playing those reliable and light solidstate wonderboxes.

MikeBass · #9 02-03-2009, 12:43 AM

I think I have my "sound".
A generic growly Jazz Bass tone really.
There are three clips on my MySpace page that are pretty good examples of "my sound".
"Come Together", "Let God Arise" & "Salvation".
Funny thing, it's 3 different "versions" of a Jazz Bass. One is my old Fender Jazz (mid 70's modded to hell and back), a Ken Smith BSR-MW 5 string (with single coil Jazz type pick-ups) and an Alleva Coppolo LG5.
All three through different rigs as well.
I won't tell you which is which, because besides the few low B's that are played, I sound pretty damn close on all three tracks. IMO.
You can try and guess if you want though!

Actually all the tracks were recorded with one of those three basses, except for "My Glorious" which was my old Yamaha TRB5P.
And two of the tracks were just the bass into my Ditto Box tube DI.

So three different "rigs" -three different basses (all Jazz type), 4 tracks- pretty much the same darn sound.
Guess I'm kinda stuck with it huh??!?!

Actually just found this YouTube clip:
This one IMO is "me" (another bass & rig!!! Sadowsky and Eden):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-xEi2lY9-I

DreadyDiggs · #10 02-03-2009, 02:01 AM

Keep jammin man. That's what's up. I need to get myself on Youtube. I don't have my sound yet. I don't have a rig and hopefully my "go to" bass I get to pick up tomorrow.

All I have now is a little 10 Watt Ibanez Amp. I haven't touched the Spirit (that's what I'm trying to pick up tomorrow) but my Squier, well she's sitting in my lap right now. My roundwounds sound like Flats through this tiny amp. I'm not changing the strings. My tone knob is broken, so I don't know what other tones I have (fixing that when I get the Spirit).

okTem · #11 02-03-2009, 02:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreadyDiggs

Keep jammin man. That's what's up. I need to get myself on Youtube. I don't have my sound yet. I don't have a rig and hopefully my "go to" bass I get to pick up tomorrow.

All I have now is a little 10 Watt Ibanez Amp. I haven't touched the Spirit (that's what I'm trying to pick up tomorrow) but my Squier, well she's sitting in my lap right now. My roundwounds sound like Flats through this tiny amp. I'm not changing the strings. My tone knob is broken, so I don't know what other tones I have (fixing that when I get the Spirit).

Oh man!! go fix everything for God's Sake!!

Hear your guitar

ga_edwards · #12 02-03-2009, 02:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shortbigtoe

Even with a job thats a lot of money.

There's also 0% finance options. If you keep up the reasonable payments, it doesn't make such a huge dent in your wallet.

JimmyM · #13 02-03-2009, 03:18 AM

Good luck getting 0% financing. Your credit has to be perfect for that.

autologic · #14 02-03-2009, 03:25 AM

my tone has been described as a "pear" and as a "seedless watermelon".

197? Guild B-301 with an unknown jazz style dual coil, wired straight to the jack no pots, straight to the board usually.

fullrangebass · #15 02-03-2009, 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ga_edwards

There's also 0% finance options. If you keep up the reasonable payments, it doesn't make such a huge dent in your wallet.

I'd rather go for the cash option. I'll get what I can afford. I may get it a little later, but eventually I get it.

Back to the OP. The voyage of getting to "YOUR TONE" is really worth but it takes some time (mainly to realize and make an informed decision) and sometimes it takes some money to sacrifice. The amount may not be high dollar though. Once you find your tone, one needs to see how this tone fits to the music that one wants to support (as an artist, not as a bass player). If the audience likes the result then it's killing two birds with one stone (literally speaking)

DreadyDiggs · #16 02-03-2009, 04:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by okTem

Oh man!! go fix everything for God's Sake!!

Hear your guitar

LOL, I will be reporting soon with progress. There's a music shop down the street from school, I'm gonna go talk to them before the week is out. And just checked FedEx, I'll be picking up the Spirit today

baalroo · #17 02-03-2009, 12:16 PM

Here's mine...

P/J with the tone and P volume cranked and a touch of the J volume run through this with a lot of mids and mid-highs (bright switch ON):

then to an array of 10" and a 15"

Ubersheist · #18 02-03-2009, 02:53 PM

My tone? Egads.... I REFUSE to be nailed down to one town. However, the other local musicians in my circle of friends are very familiar with my (over) use of the Microsynth...

mattyiop · #19 02-03-2009, 03:08 PM

Having good/great gear can make a world of difference in tone, but I think that a lot of you tone/style come from the way you play. You dont need the best rig to have great tone. It's in your fingers!

Deacon_Blues · #20 02-03-2009, 03:20 PM

My tone is 80% in my head, 15% in my fingers and 5% in my bass equipment.

+1 to mattyiop above.