Is this the greatest tone of all time? Please tell me how to get this!!!!!!

Bibby · #1 10-15-2011, 06:55 PM

Obviously tone is subjective, but this is at the top of personal list:

Jamiroquai - Travelling Without Moving Live From Abbey Road - YouTube

This tone has both vintage warmth and a modern edge. The fingerstyle has perfect punch, and the slap tone is thick but not overbearing at all. Seriously, this is what I consider perfect! The bass break @ 2:34 brings a tear to the eye...

So - how do I get this? I can't play like that (yet) but gear is part of the equation. That is what I am after for now.

Here is what I know:

That is Jairoquai. Duh.
That is Paul Turner. Awesome bassist.
That is a Jazz bass. Probably vintage, definitely sweet!

Amp? DI? Strings of choice? I do not know.. please enlighten me!

There are a few of these live Jamiroquai Abbey Road videos and PT sounds great on all of them with different basses. But this one takes the cake!

Dethrats · #2 10-15-2011, 07:05 PM

hes got an Aggie rig, that much i can tell ya

Ric5 · #3 10-15-2011, 07:09 PM

Is it the greatest tone of all time ... sorry but hell no ... not even close ...

How do you get that tone ... it is all in your right hand ...

Practice your slapping technique and you can get there.

socknroll1 · #4 10-15-2011, 10:07 PM

Yeah I wasn't really blown away either...sounds like a J with strings that are not brand-new. Rounds. What can I sa. Great player but this one didn't do it for me

Trabeen · #5 10-15-2011, 10:41 PM

Hopefully I'm not the only bass player here that was disappointed waiting for that Strat to throw down something short and really greasy.

BassIsBoss · #6 10-16-2011, 09:35 AM

Good groove, arrangement, performance....nice to see a bunch of guys and gals in a room cutting live. What does the song say....it ain't 'What's Going On', but then what is. Fun band.

brendanbassist · #7 10-16-2011, 09:45 AM

Not a big fan of slap stuff anymore, but the fingerstyle tone after the beginning is pretty damn good.

Papa Dangerous · #8 10-16-2011, 09:57 AM

It was good. I dig it. Not the best I have ever heard and I am glad I read the comments on this thread before I got overly enthusiastic about it. But hey, he is still a really good bassist and they got a good sound.

Smallmouth_Bass · #9 10-16-2011, 10:11 AM

I don't think there's such thing as a "greatest tone of all time".

That being said, I really love Paul Turner's playing, Jamiroquai's music and a Jazz Bass is a great bass (and has the best slap sound, in my opinion).

**nutdog** · #10 10-16-2011, 10:14 AM

Too many great tones to call any of them the best, but that one is certainly easy on the ears.

Part of the tone is the player, but if it were all in the right hand, you could by a Johnson P bass starter pack with 5 watt 8 inch combo and get it.

bassboysam · #11 10-16-2011, 10:24 AM

you know they try to be funky and soulful but fail so miserably. to me the bass and pretyy much everything else is completely lifeless and un-original. no where near enough stank and grease!

jsbarber · #12 10-16-2011, 10:38 AM

There was a bass for sale on a British website last March that had been owned by this bass player and it looks like the same one. A white jazz. It was an Aleva Coppola with a Brazilian rosewood board. (at 1:48 you can pause and see the headstock, this looks to me like an AC) It was going for 3,700#sterling, as I recall - close to 6 grand. But you could get JC to make you one to the same spec for about the same amount of money new, or close to it. I too thought it had excellent tone, but I saw it on a different you tube video.

I do have to agree with other comments, a lot of the tone comes from your playing technique.

For a GREAT jazz bass take a look at NYBW,

New York Bass Works - www.newyorkbassworks.com

David's basses are outstanding.

Jim

Gab124 · #13 10-16-2011, 11:05 AM

They are a fantastic band, and VERY tight. If they had stank and grease I would be let down personally. His tone is also one in my head. Everyone wants to say it is all in the hands, and much can be. But I think, as you mentioned, that gear does play a significant role. I say this because I always sound like me from my playing style, but different gear can get me to many places I cannot do with one setup. I think for sure one needs the Jazz for that, it sounds a little pumped to be a passive setup to my ear but who knows. I also understand he may use a REDDI to the board on many recordings, but I am sure it changes. I am guessing nickel strings and a fairly easy touch. Just my opinion and I wouldnt put too much stock in it.
Jam on.

MrGotBass · #14 10-16-2011, 11:26 AM

Greatest tone? Maybe not. But I wish when I slapped it could sound that good.

Mayers · #15 10-17-2011, 08:18 AM

Greatest tone of all time is very subjective but for the sake of the tread it will take more than his amp, bass, strings and technic to get that exacly ...

you know studio magic that polish the sound of every instrument to make them blend.

Virgil · #16 10-19-2011, 02:07 PM

I too am a huge fan of this track and of Turner's tone. I have seen all of their live tracks and he uses different basses, but the tone from this track is awesome. I can't say it's the best tone I have ever heard, but I agree, it's up there. He is using an Aguilar 750 head and DB cabs; they will get you in the neighborhood. The J bass is essential, and last but not least, the right hand. His tone reminds me of Bernard Edwards from Chic. My favorite track is Foolosophy