Getting good tone

arjunreddiar · #1 11-13-2008, 02:27 AM

I use a fender P-bass with the s-1 switch along with dan electro eq + EBS multicomp....Amp is an old MB15 of Marshall...given this how can I extract good tone...help needed man ...

soulgaard1 · #2 11-13-2008, 04:17 AM

Practice. If you play alone, you should be able to get a good tone, running everything flat.
And keep the pedals turned of until that sounds good.

Other than that.... sell the stompboxes and the amp and buy a bigger amp.

sorry that theres no easy answer here.

Ezbass · #3 11-13-2008, 04:59 AM

Tone is a matter of personal taste, what you consider good may not be what I do. What kind of sound are you after?

air_leech · #4 11-13-2008, 05:29 AM

as been already mentioned - good tone is subjective.
give examples of songs featuring a bass tone you would like to achieve.

also, dont expect hugh tone from a 15 watt amp, it doesnt matter what you run through it it will still be an entry level amp and extremely underpowered for reproducing a decent low end.

mingustoo · #5 11-13-2008, 06:56 AM

Learn to hate anything with that curly M on it.

air_leech · #6 11-13-2008, 02:34 PM

I can forgive Marshall for any lousy beginner level SS amp they made for the mere fact that the best live tone I ever heard came out from a Marshall bass head paired with a single 4X12 cab.

it could have been the room acoustics, the bass, the bassist, the strings whatever - I still haven't heard a sound more tight, smooth, punchy and full in a live setting, hell, it actually sounded way better than most recorded tones I have encountered.

AlembicPlayer · #7 11-13-2008, 04:36 PM

I believe that good tone starts with a well setup bass, quality strings and proper fretting technique aka the fingers!
as well, a quality set of pups and electronics(which your p bass already has)

I don't understand the need for the EQ pedal unless you are using it to kick in for a completely different sound at points. If you are using it to compensate for the sound you are getting from your bass/amp setup, then something is amiss either from your bass tone controls or from your amp setting or even from the speaker cabs.

Pilgrim · #8 11-13-2008, 06:02 PM

Since you asked a general question...

1) Connect all equipment, set EQ flat.
2) Practice.
3) Vary one thing at a time until you like the sound. Don't change a lot of things at once.
4) When you like the sound, you're done.