Gerald Veasley's tone?

[tbone0813]

Here is the tone I am after, but can't seem to achieve. Can anyone help with suggestions??? I am playing a Skjold Custom Exotic in to an iAMP 800 through a Accugroove El Whappo Jr cabinet.

Gerald Veasley (It takes about 15 seconds for the bass to come in)

[Dr. Cheese]

To me, that is the classic bridge pickup sort of tone. I say turn down your neck pup, play close to the bridge and practice like heck if you want to sound as clean as Gerald Veasley!

[Baryonyx]

Go for your bridge pickup, and cut some of your lows and your treble, allowing for a nice mid-range peak. Should get you that nice burpy, round sound. Other than that, a custom Ibanez might be on the books!

Btw, really dug the tune as well as the tone! Gerald is an amazing player with a great sense of groove and melody. Very underrated imo!

[dhadleyray]

Gerald's been playing the same bass for at least 15 years since I've known him. It's definitely the nicest custom Ibanez I've ever seen or played. The amps don't really matter, because he was using Hugghes and Kettner (forgive the spelling!) when I met him, and it's really in his head, (the tone, that is!). I guess you hear what you want to sound like, then you work towards that.

[Dr. Cheese]

Slight thread hijack: that Gerald Veasley song, "Celebrating Sipho," I believe is dedicated to the late South African bassist, Sipho Gumede. Check him out and another great bassist, Musa Manzini, at www.sheer.co.za

[Larry99]

Geralds tone and playing on the Jaco big band discs are phenomenal! He just kills on one of the tunes, Barbary Coast, I think?

[Baryonyx]

Originally Posted by Larry99

Geralds tone and playing on the Jaco big band discs are phenomenal! He just kills on one of the tunes, Barbary Coast, I think?

Thats the one, thats how I discovered Gerald, long before I'd even heard of Joe Zawinul! Awesome playing from pretty much everyone on that disc except a slightly lacklustre performance from David Pastorius!

[lefty007]

Solo bridge pickup and give the amp EQ's a nice bump around 800Hz - if that doesn't give you burp, I don't know what would!

[BuffaloBass]

Yup, for sure a "standard" jazz bridge pup tone. All my basses ( Lakland, Peavey, Valenti) can pull it off.

Funny, I just picked up one of Gerald's CD. The traditional bassline is deep, heavy RB, with no treble, yet all the melodic stuff is done in a completely different tone.

And I'm thinking , which Gerald Veasley?

[tbone0813]

Originally Posted by BuffaloBass

Funny, I just picked up one of Gerald's CD. The traditional bassline is deep, heavy RB, with no treble, yet all the melodic stuff is done in a completely different tone.

I noticed this as well.

[tbone0813]

After playing around with the controls, and some advice from Pete Skjold I was able to find the tone. I selected the back pup, boosted the bass control about 3/4, and the mid about 1/2 @ around 800 hertz. Thanks to everyone for their help. I'm in tonal bliss.

Now if I could only play like Gerald.

Peace ><>

[Baryonyx]

Originally Posted by tbone0813

Now if I could only play like Gerald.

Indeed, the final, and perhaps largest obstacle of them all!

[Clay_Bass]

Originally Posted by BuffaloBass

Funny, I just picked up one of Gerald's CD. The traditional bassline is deep, heavy RB, with no treble, yet all the melodic stuff is done in a completely different tone.

And I'm thinking , which Gerald Veasley?

He has a guy playing the deep "bass lines" on a keyboard synth and thats Gerald with the melodic lead lines.

[canopener]

Gerald's got some great "Weather Channel" tone. I'm sure I've heard that tune on the Local on the 8's.

[jerry]

Originally Posted by Clay_Bass

He has a guy playing the deep "bass lines" on a keyboard synth and thats Gerald with the melodic lead lines.

On Gerald's live CD, the keyboard player has a pretty smokin' left hand.

[BuffaloBass]

Well now, as a self avowed "purist", that kinda does not set well.