Johnny Christ of Avenged sevenfold

anonymous278347457 · #1 10-03-2006, 10:56 AM

I was listening to some of their stuff and the first thing I noticed was "wow that bass cuts through really well". Unlike most heavy modern metal bands where the bass is totally buried by 2 walls of guitars.

"lips of deceit" is a good example of this

according to wikipedia he uses a MM stingray.

but I dont have a stingray, I have a jazz and a home built bass with a MM humbucker at the "sweet spot", it doesnt have an active EQ though.

what should I do to get this kind tone?

JanusZarate · #2 10-03-2006, 11:47 AM

I know he uses a Gallien-Krueger 2001RB, with a matching GK Neo 412.

Based on the photos I've seen, looks like he's using a MusicMan Stingray.

The fact that it's NOT a tube amp has a huge impact on his tone. Being a GK 2001RB and GK Neo cab user, I can attest to that.

When I get home, I'll try playing around with my settings, and see if I can get something close with my own basses. I don't have a Stingray (I have Schecter basses), so it'd be interesting to see how dependent his tone is on his bass.

Techmonkey · #3 10-03-2006, 03:15 PM

Lots of mids and treble in that tone.

I love Avenged Sevenfold... i was gonna go see them up in Cardiff, but they cancelled their tour. gutted. their bassist is awesome, and though i never heard of the band until i'd been playing bass for some time, he was one of the justifying factors in me getting a stingray, and his lines are great fun to play.

TrooperFarva · #4 10-04-2006, 01:22 PM

He plays a Musicman Sterling. He plays with a pick most of the time. As others mentioned, he plays GK heads, which definitely attribute a lot to his sound. There's not a whole lot of finesse to the sound, if you play a Sterling with a pick into a GK head, you'll get that tone, trust me. I'd advise favoring the bridge pickup on your Jazz slightly, stringing it with Ernie Ball Slinkys, and playing with a pick, that should get you in the right direction.

A Quick Interview w/ Johnny Christ in Bass Player

JanusZarate · #5 10-04-2006, 02:17 PM

Heh... yeah, it's a Sterling. Nevermind what I said before... I don't know my MusicMans too well.

Anyhow, from my own experiments, TrooperFarva's right on the money with his advice. I prefer stainless steel strings, though, which is probably what Johnny Christ is using (not 100% sure, though... but stainless steel is the standard for the metal genre). Stainless steel strings + pick = crisp, mix-cutting tone!

His overdrive/distortion, when used, is definitely grittier than what you'll get from your typical tube amp, so kiss those dreams of tubes goodbye if you really want the kind of bass tone you hear in Velvet Revolver and Avenged Sevenfold (both use GK amps).

**SoComSurfing** · #6 10-04-2006, 08:44 PM

He's a solid support player. Not trying to do anything too flashy, just provide a strong rhythmic foundation for the guitarists. The bass comes through alot more "up front" on "City of Evil" than it did on "Sounding the Seventh Trumpet" or "Waking the Fallen".
The only time I've seen them live it was a Sterling with a pick, but all amps were off stage.

ALiP BoB · #7 10-26-2006, 02:21 PM

so how did he get his tone is some of the songs like Trashed & Scattered?? The 2001RB distortion circuit??

Also, what guage (thickness) is his pick??

ALiP BoB · #8 10-26-2006, 02:35 PM

and can you get his tone by using the GK diesel dawg?
(Since Johnny got his distortion from his 2001RB)

schecterbassx04 · #9 10-26-2006, 03:12 PM

Lips of Deceit is pre gallien Krueger acctually
this is how it goes in his gear:

Sounding the Seventh Trumpet and Waking the Fallen:

Ampeg 8x10
Ampeg SVT

City of Evil:

Gallien Krueger 2001RB x2
Gallien Krueger 4x12 x2

he uses onboard distortion in some songs, not trashed and scattered, tns is acctually just hard picking, lots of highs.

distortion would be used live in songs like chapter four, or recorings in the Wicked End.

ALiP BoB · #10 10-27-2006, 06:06 AM

guage of his pick??

BrandonBass · #11 11-27-2006, 12:47 AM

he follows the rhythm guitar from most of the stuff i heard, but he definitely has a tone more audible than most metal band....metallica, inflames etc

Jumbotron · #12 11-27-2006, 07:49 AM

Is this the same guy as John Christ, who used to play guitar with Danzig? Or maybe they're brothers. Brothers in Christ.

ALiP BoB · #13 11-27-2006, 08:03 AM

Do I NEED a GK and a Sterling to get his sound.?

Twiggy Jr. · #14 11-29-2006, 05:50 PM

sell your stuff and get the same equip he has...that should give ya the same tone he's got

LosingToApathy · #15 11-29-2006, 10:07 PM

Pretty solid player.

Rano Bass · #16 11-30-2006, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALiP BoB

Do I NEED a GK and a Sterling to get his sound.?

I'm pretty shure HE sounds like that even going direct, he would sound different with another bass so... i guess the Sterling and a pick are a key to his sound.
BTW i saw them last Ozz fest and he sounded great live, way better than the bass player from sistem of a down.

ALiP BoB · #17 11-30-2006, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rano Bass

I'm pretty shure HE sounds like that even going direct, he would sound different with another bass so... i guess the Sterling and a pick are a key to his sound.
BTW i saw them last Ozz fest and he sounded great live, way better than the bass player from sistem of a down.

What about the amp?
****! So I NEED the Sterling. Sigh...

ALiP BoB · #18 11-30-2006, 07:45 AM

Sorry, didn't mean to curse. Sh*t is cursing?

Stan_da_man · #19 11-30-2006, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALiP BoB

What about the amp?
****! So I NEED the Sterling. Sigh...

His bass: Musicman Sterling.
His amps/cabs: GK 2001RB > GK Neo 412.

Don't you read your own thread? - it's been said about 3 times!

Stan

ALiP BoB · #20 11-30-2006, 09:04 AM

I KNOW!
And it's not MY thread.
All I'm saying is, is there no cheaper solution to get his tone?