How did (insert name here) get that sound?

[TimWilson]

How do they (the guys who REALLY created new and exiting bass sounds) do it? Sheehan has been pretty open about his recipe. So has Pinnick... But still, you just can't GET those sounds by using their gear!

Aw, spare me the 'It's all in your hands' jive: I'm no beginner: I KNOW how these dudes hit the strings. And I know what gear they ADMIT to using. But I think we're only getting half the story...

[JTE]

Ah, such cynicism. I can play my buddie's rig, and sound like mie, not Tim. The gear is only part of the equation.

jte

[Dave Bassincus]

The gear, the recording equipment, the mastering or if live, the room and even the size of the crowd can make a difference. And I recall Billy Sheehan saying he went through a Zoom multi-fx for one quick recording project and didn't hear much of a difference.
So instead of giving you the "it's in the hands" jive, I'll give you the "it's a special secret box that only pros use, and they're all sworn to secrecy" jive.
Feel better?

[bigfatbass]

Graham Maby from Joe Jacksons band. His signature tone comes from playing a 70s lawsuit Ibanez P-bass with black tape flat-wounds and a pick. With this bizarre set-up he recorded one of the best, most recognizable, rock bass tones in history for those first two albums.

Another is Pino Palladino. His fretless tone is pure magic, and from an old interview, he said he'd walk in with his p-bass, a beat up chorus pedal, and a cable. Listen once, read through the chart once, and then press record. He always said "It's my job to put the right notes in the right places, the engineers have the fuss of making it all sound good."

[timber22]

Originally Posted by bigfatbass

Graham Maby from Joe Jacksons band. His signature tone comes from playing a 70s lawsuit Ibanez P-bass with black tape flat-wounds and a pick. With this bizarre set-up he recorded one of the best, most recognizable, rock bass tones in history for those first two albums.

I guess I'm resurfacing this thread because I dug out my old "Look Sharp" CD last week (Yeah, I have the vinyl too from back in the day) and every time I do that I fall in love all over again with Graham Maby's bass lines and tone on that recording. Just great stuff. And as bigfatbass said, he does it with a cheap Ibanez, Roto black nylon flats and a pick. That was recorded in 1979, and I saw him about a year ago with Joe Jackson and he's still awesome.