Bassists you love, tones you hate

bass12 · #1 10-13-2009, 07:57 PM

I was just listening to Level 42's "Live At Wembley" album and was reminded of how much I dislike Mark King's bass tone on that recording (he's using an Alembic). I've always liked Mark's playing more than his tone (although I find his thin tone appropriate for some of the stuff he does). Anyone else have favourite players with not so favourite tones (even if only on a particular album)?

Billnc · #2 10-13-2009, 08:09 PM

Jack Bruce with Cream.

BassMaster4s · #3 10-13-2009, 08:16 PM

Flea's live tone.

humpy thumb · #4 10-13-2009, 08:24 PM

John Myung.
It's not so much his tone,but lack thereof.

NortyFiner · #5 10-13-2009, 08:24 PM

I think Fieldy is an interesting player in terms of technique, but that downtuned tone that sounds like his strings are just rattling loose on his fretboard...ugh...

grifff · #6 10-13-2009, 08:28 PM

Arif from Protest the Hero here's an isolated track:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Doxu...eature=related

Granted its mixed to fit well on the record but I still don't really like it.

lebrett · #7 10-13-2009, 08:36 PM

Bunny Brunel Fretless tone is sooo bad. It's a shame cause the guy is good. I often skip is songs on iTunes because I can't pass over his bass tone.

groooooove · #8 10-13-2009, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lebrett

Bunny Brunel Fretless tone is sooo bad. It's a shame cause the guy is good. I often skip is songs on iTunes because I can't pass over his bass tone.

bunnys tone overall is pretty nasty. but, his signature bass is pretty nice.. his fingers are cursed..

i think the king of good playing with bad tone is stanley clarke. his (electric) sound is flat out awfull. he can play, but he really should not be playing those alembics.

chicago_mike · #9 10-13-2009, 08:41 PM

live stanley clarke, thank gawd im not alone in this. My fav stan tone was that Jimi hendrix tribute with the orchestra.

He didnt use an alembic, but something else and thats the best tone IMO he ever got.

Hoover · #10 10-14-2009, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by groooooove

i think the king of good playing with bad tone is stanley clarke. his (electric) sound is flat out awfull. he can play, but he really should not be playing those alembics.

I agree that Stan's Talent-To-Crappy Tone ratio is dangerously close to 1:1, but I wouldn't fault his Alembic...rather, I think the choices he makes in how to use those Alembics, and their very steep filters, is what yields his boing/twang/dink sound. I've heard Alembic Series II basses exude seriously deep throbbing low end, almost dub-style sub-bass. I just wish to hell Stanley Clarke would dial some of that in when he played.

sloasdaylight · #11 10-14-2009, 08:08 AM

As some one said, Fieldy.
Chris Squire (applies flame retardant)
Justin Chancellor's tone on some songs, when he really rolls the treble up, however he does that with a wal with their filters.

electracoyote · #12 10-14-2009, 08:17 AM

McCartney. No matter what bass he played, Beatles, solo, studio, live, same plodding, generic dull thud.

One of my favorite musicians/bass players of all time.

Jim Campbell · #13 10-14-2009, 08:22 AM

i'd like to get that tone from don't eat the yellow snow,from zappa'a apostrophe album........tom fowler i think.........

Valerus · #14 10-14-2009, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grifff

Arif from Protest the Hero here's an isolated track:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Doxu...eature=related

Granted its mixed to fit well on the record but I still don't really like it.

ill check this out when i get home.

what do people think of steve harris' tone?

Trapezius · #15 10-14-2009, 09:58 AM

John Myung. One of the best players out there, with no mids in his tone. Only the deepest sub frequencies are audible below the wall of guitars from Petrucci.

buzzbass · #16 10-14-2009, 10:08 AM

Geezer, Steve Harris. Love what they do, haven't always appreciated their tone though.

Alvaro Martín Gómez A. · #17 10-14-2009, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by electracoyote

McCartney. No matter what bass he played, Beatles, solo, studio, live, same plodding, generic dull thud.

Maybe you haven't heard this from him? It doesn't fit your description of his tone (to me, at least).

air_leech · #18 10-14-2009, 10:23 AM

I'll second whats been said about Flea's live tone and John Myung's tone.

Flea - sounds like he boosted the treble and put on a fresh set of steels prior to playing.

Myung - I cant even define his tone, it's so buried in the mix I'm having a hard time following his playing.

Clark Dark · #19 10-14-2009, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bass12

I was just listening to Level 42's "Live At Wembley" album and was reminded of how much I dislike Mark King's bass tone on that recording (he's using an Alembic). I've always liked Mark's playing more than his tone (although I find his thin tone appropriate for some of the stuff he does). Anyone else have favourite players with not so favourite tones (even if only on a particular album)?

I have the Live At Wembley" DVD and his Jay Dee / Trace sound was spot on...
you almost couldn't tell the Wally Badarou sync was playing

3toes · #20 10-14-2009, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sloasdaylight

Chris Squire (applies flame retardant).

I'll do you one better...

Are you ready?

Geddy Lee. I think he sounds incredibly sterile.