How to get Cliff Burton's tone on Master of Puppets?

MOTORHEADBANGER · #1 12-23-2009, 04:30 PM

I was listening to the Master of Puppets album recently, and after listening for a while I really started paying attention to the bass on the album. I love the tone on it, and have been experimenting on how to get it since then. The problem is that I'm pretty clueless on how to get it. The tone is a little different than what he usually had: very deep and clean, but it is very agressive and growly at the same time. I don't want to just copy Burton, but I really like the tone and I would love to have a similar tone to the one he had on that album.

I use an '83 Aria Pro II SB-R60 bass which is nearly identical to what Burton played (different finish) and my amp has an 8 band eq. I also use a Sansamp VT pedal with the amp often. So if anyone had any suggestions on how to get a similar tone, I would greatly appreciate it.

Intenzity · #2 12-23-2009, 04:38 PM

Mix in three tablespoons of meth, plus 2 quarts of jeagermeister, soak for about 3 years and then add an underage groupie.

bass player 48 · #3 12-23-2009, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Intenzity

Mix in three tablespoons of meth, plus 2 quarts of jeagermeister, soak for about 3 years and then add an underage groupie.

Dude, that's not cool. How about some respect for the dead.

You obviously are not a fan of Cliff, and you obviously don't have anything positive to add to the thread - so why post?

Quit being a troll and show some respect.

enemybass · #4 12-23-2009, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Intenzity

Mix in three tablespoons of meth, plus 2 quarts of jeagermeister, soak for about 3 years and then add an underage groupie.

Probably not far off
just add a nice hearty does of good weed and some tight bootcut jeans

RCCollins · #5 12-23-2009, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Intenzity

Mix in three tablespoons of meth, plus 2 quarts of jeagermeister, soak for about 3 years and then add an underage groupie.

you're missing a sheet and a half of acid there

SpamBot · #6 12-23-2009, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bass player 48

Dude, that's not cool. How about some respect for the dead.

You obviously are not a fan of Cliff, and you obviously don't have anything positive to add to the thread - so why post?

Quit being a troll and show some respect.

Quick! Somebody call a wahmbulance!

RCCollins · #7 12-23-2009, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpamBot

Quick! Somebody call a wahmbulance!

make it a tel-ray morley power wahmbulance

SpamBot · #8 12-23-2009, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCCollins

make it a tel-ray morley power wahmbulance

You think they'd ship in time for Xmas?

Taxt · #9 12-23-2009, 05:08 PM

Id imagine youd just boost your highs and mids a little. I too have been paying attention to the tone on Master and its so buried in James' bassy tone I cant pick out much from his tone (cliffs).

Intenzity · #10 12-23-2009, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bass player 48

Dude, that's not cool. How about some respect for the dead.

You are right.

I forgot to add that you have to mix it all together in a bus without snow tires on it.

Taxt · #11 12-23-2009, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Intenzity

You are right.

I forgot to add that you have to mix it all together in a bus without snow tires on it.

too far there. Why waste your time hammering the guy? Ill be the first to say Cliff is vastly over rated but that doesnt give your grounds to bash him.

Sartori · #12 12-23-2009, 05:34 PM

On the OP's subject:

Mesa D-180 amp (400 and 400+ would probably work as well).
Mids: 10
Bass: 1 or 2
Treble: 1 or 2, boost as needed.

For the graphic EQ, from pics I've seen, the lows and low mids are slightly boosted and the highs are slightly cut. I'm not sure if he's even using it though.

You don't have to get his exact amp, I would think most tube amps would work if you turn them up enough to drive the power amp a bit.

I've actually gotten almost spot on with a guitar distortion pedal, the Marshall Jackhammer. I set it on "overdrive" (rather than "distortion"), set the bass knob at about 2:00, the treble knob at about 4:00, the contour frequency knob at about 10:30, and the contour knob at about 5:00 (all the way counter-clockwise.) For the gain, I just turn it up until there's a little bit of crunch, not too much, and a bit more if I want a more Ride the Lightning-esque sound.

SpamBot · #13 12-23-2009, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taxt

too far there. Why waste your time hammering the guy? Ill be the first to say Cliff is vastly over rated but that doesnt give your grounds to bash him.

He just made a joke, you don't have to take him seriously if you don't want too.

FenderGibson · #14 12-23-2009, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOTORHEADBANGER

I was listening to the Master of Puppets album recently, and after listening for a while I really started paying attention to the bass on the album. I love the tone on it, and have been experimenting on how to get it since then. The problem is that I'm pretty clueless on how to get it. The tone is a little different than what he usually had: very deep and clean, but it is very agressive and growly at the same time. I don't want to just copy Burton, but I really like the tone and I would love to have a similar tone to the one he had on that album.

I use an '83 Aria Pro II SB-R60 bass which is nearly identical to what Burton played (different finish) and my amp has an 8 band eq. I also use a Sansamp VT pedal with the amp often. So if anyone had any suggestions on how to get a similar tone, I would greatly appreciate it.

Just listen to the master bass tracks for them album. Some people on youtube talk about his tone and how to get it. You have to look through the comments though.

**jmattbassplaya** · #15 12-23-2009, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Intenzity

You are right.

I forgot to add that you have to mix it all together in a bus without snow tires on it.

HAHAHAHA!

So bad, but so good!

reno88 · #16 12-23-2009, 06:21 PM

whatever the settings are, turn it up loud - no combo-amp, yuppie-friendly volume there. turn that **** up, and play hard. and pass the bottle and the number over here.

Qvist · #17 12-23-2009, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpamBot

He just made a joke, you don't have to take him seriously if you don't want too.

So I could walk up to your face and call you the worst thing I could possibly imagine, and just shrug it off and say "well, I just made a joke, even though I dont know you. You shouldn't take it seriously!"

That's ********, people run around all over the internet and act like smartasses. I thought TB was mature. Well, I guess not.

I read the "bassists you are tired hearing of thread" and I know Cliff gets talked about a lot there... Well, I'm a big fan of Cliff, I like to discuss him, his gear and everything else related to him, and I come to this forum in hope to find other people who does the same - and what happens now, everytime a thread is created about MY HERO, a bunch of idiots make jokes all over the freaking thread like it's the freaking Pit on ultimate-guitar.com (for those who dont know, a bunch immature assholes)

If YOU GUYS dont care then DONT POST and keep it relevant.. You can bash him elsewhere.. I recommend Ultimate-guitar.com...

And merry christmas to all.

FenderGibson · #18 12-24-2009, 02:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qvist

So I could walk up to your face and call you the worst thing I could possibly imagine, and just shrug it off and say "well, I just made a joke, even though I dont know you. You shouldn't take it seriously!"

That's ********, people run around all over the internet and act like smartasses. I thought TB was mature. Well, I guess not.

I read the "bassists you are tired hearing of thread" and I know Cliff gets talked about a lot there... Well, I'm a big fan of Cliff, I like to discuss him, his gear and everything else related to him, and I come to this forum in hope to find other people who does the same - and what happens now, everytime a thread is created about MY HERO, a bunch of idiots make jokes all over the freaking thread like it's the freaking Pit on ultimate-guitar.com (for those who dont know, a bunch immature assholes)

If YOU GUYS dont care then DONT POST and keep it relevant.. You can bash him elsewhere.. I recommend Ultimate-guitar.com...

And merry christmas to all.

Its kinda funny, Jason Newsted is my hero, when ever I make a thread about him, everyone talks positively about him. But when someone makes a thread about Cliff, people make jokes.
I respect Cliff a lot, he has influenced me a lot. I got the "To Live Is To Die" biography and it is great.
Did you know Cliff had a secret weopon on his Rickenbacker? He had a third pick up put in underneath his bridge lol.

BTW Cliff's tone has more of a fuzz sound on it on the RTL and MOP albums.

**jmattbassplaya** · #19 12-24-2009, 02:41 AM

Wow, we got some massive fan-boys in here...

All jokes aside, I still find it funny that the OP wishes to obtain Cliffs tone from MoP because (in all honesty and with exception to a few parts) you can never even hear the bass on that album.

standupright · #20 12-24-2009, 02:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bass player 48

Dude, that's not cool. How about some respect for the dead.

You obviously are not a fan of Cliff, and you obviously don't have anything positive to add to the thread - so why post?

Quit being a troll and show some respect.

wut