The heroes who defined your tone

[Aussie Player]

1. Andy Frazer
2. Jack Bruce (Both Gibson / Marshall)

[Pilgrim]

I don't have a "tone" (a vague term I dislike), I sound like me. I don't try to sound the same every time, I just want to sound like me.

And the one I most like to sound like is Duck Dunn. R.I.P.

I'm learning the Blues Brothers version of Soul Man right now, and the Duck is simply perfect in that number.

[Gunnerhea86]

Tim Commerford
Robert DeLeo
Tony Kanal

[Spectrum]

Tone? Geddy and Squire, totally. By the time Tool arrived I had already decided what I wanted to sound like, but D'amour's Rickenbacker sound was right in line with my idea of good rock bass tone. John Entwistle's tone in Eminence Front is also very high on the list. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QaVzv5aR6U

[los100malditos]

Krist Novoselic tone in "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is what i like.. but i play a Precision and also like Steve Harris tone... so i guess i'm looking to get something between Iron Maiden's song "Killers" ... and the Nirva's Krist Novoselic tone in "Smells Like Teen Spirit"...

[lucas vigor]

When I was young: Chris Squire, Geddy Lee, John Wetton


Now: Kim Stone, Scott Ambush, Nate Watts, Jimmy haslip

In other words, all the hard-edged rasp is gone from my tone, and now it is smoooooooove!

[FenderBassist]

Bruce Thomas - "Busy Bodies" - Elvis Costello & The Attractions / Armed Forces

Tried to find YT video link, or any other link via Google, but it seems they've made that one unavailable.

[4StringsBetter]

My opinion. Andy Fraser has the best rock genre bass sound I've heard on record, back when he was with the band Free. Their guitarist Paul Kossoff told me in 1971 that Andy didn't use the Gibson EB3 much in the studio, that he used a bass that had no name on the headstock, probably Japanese he guessed. With Free live, he used an EB3, but when I saw Andy live at the Marquee club in 1975 solo in London he was using a Guild, which sounded great too.

[BassPlayer900]

My tone is heavily inspired by the tone on Rush's Digital Man... I can't make my Jazz bass sound like Geddy Lee's though, but I still try to get that growly bass and snarly treble on my own bass, similar to the tone on that song. Of course, I'd want to have my own unique tone, even if I could sound like Geddy.

[Jazzdogg]

Ray Brown, Lee Sklar, Rocco Prestia

[Dash Rantic]

For me it'd be Tim Commerford and Justin Chancellor. Very different sounds from each, but I've done what I can to get a blend between the two. Been happy with my tone so far!

[MustacheJoeII]

I was fifteen or sixteen and had never heard of the Minute Men or fIREHOSE, and was really reluctant to listen to "the establishment." So when I heard "alternative" types talk about mike watt I was skeptical. And then I actually bought "Ballhog or Tug-Boat?"

Throaty open A-string slide up to the octave, but he still had a boomy bottom. And then, the droped-D bombast of the opening track of "Contemplating the Engine Room..."

Defined, but part of the mix, even on his own solo records. Most bass solo records are about the bassist showing off, mike watt writes records on bass; songs and all.

[Shakin-Slim]

Definitely Jack Bruce when I was younger. These days... Duck Dunn, Jamerson, McCartney, JPJ, Buddy Miles, Various cats from Muddy's band, John McVie etc.

[21niko21]

After playing for three years as a hobby I'm turning towards Prestia. But, Entwistle, Fowler, Thunes, Barrow, Bruce Thomas, Jamerson, Palladino and John Taylor are still in the mix for sure.

[xander8280]

Originally Posted by BassPlayer900

My tone is heavily inspired by the tone on Rush's Digital Man... I can't make my Jazz bass sound like Geddy Lee's though, but I still try to get that growly bass and snarly treble on my own bass, similar to the tone on that song. Of course, I'd want to have my own unique tone, even if I could sound like Geddy.

Did You try more bridge pickup with tone rolled off and treble boosted on amp to even off the roll off. A good jazz bass has a very hot bridge pickup. Mine clips the amp if I play hard on it with the tone rolls off, it gives you that snarl/growl. Burp derp jazz bass

[bjabass]

I have never consciously tried to sound like anyone, I just set the bass and rig for what works for me at the time. I used to like BIG bottom end, dual 15's and crank the bass control, but when I went back to flat I found I got compliments on my 'tone'.

The bass sound that I coveted more than any was Grand Funk-Mel Shacher. Never could quite achieve....maybe because I never had that many amps all at once.....but their live album had the most amazing bass sound.

[cthomas5200]

Originally Posted by 21niko21

After playing for three years as a hobby I'm turning towards Prestia. But, Entwistle, Fowler, Thunes, Barrow, Bruce Thomas, Jamerson, Palladino and John Taylor are still in the mix for sure.

+1 on John Taylor. His tone on Rio still makes me smile and is the tone I always gravitate toward. (and I was never a Duran Duran fan...just loved his playing and tone).

[lowgroove677]

I would have to say Geezer Butler and Jason Newstead

[JlbassPlayer]

I'm still trying to get a sharp rich tone like David ellefson I think I'll get a jackson CBX to try to get closer to the tone

[sevdog]

Mike Watt
David Wm. Sims
Kevin Rutmanis on Tomahawk's Mit Gas
Joe Lally