Medeski, Martin & Wood Tone

[HarderTheyFlo]

Hey guys,
Ive been digging these guys a lot recently and I was wondering if you guys could help me figure out how the bassist is getting this tone. Its got me baffled, which isnt hard but still...

Alright the link is http://youtube.com/watch?v=OuCXJlfeq7I

Its one of my favorite of thier recorded songs.

Thanks a lot.

[AJ Brown]

I've found a P-Bass with a little bit of drive will do it. We do "Little Walter Rides Again". I love it just a little dirty for this one.

[bassist15]

Sounds palm mutted to me too.

[MarkTAW]

1. The right bass. You can't coax out tones that simply aren't in the wood.

2. Sounds a bit like a synth to me. He may have some sort of effects on that bad boy.

[Elmo Oxygen]

Chris Wood was on the cover of Bass Player magazine (i think last summer some time). in there is the run-down of his upright and electric set up, including a shot of his pedal board. i'm sure you could find the write-up on their site.

btw: mmw is gooooooood stuff!

[jmcgliss]

One way I found to get a nice percussive effect is with a dbx 166A - tighten up the noise gate and compressor settings.

[Bassist4Life]

Originally Posted by Elmo Oxygen

Chris Wood was on the cover of Bass Player magazine (i think last summer some time). in there is the run-down of his upright and electric set up, including a shot of his pedal board. i'm sure you could find the write-up on their site.

btw: mmw is gooooooood stuff!

I found the info on Bass Player:

GEAR
Basses Acoustic: 1920s Pfretzschner with Pirastro Oliv medium metal-wrapped gut strings, “crappy” German-style fiberglass bow; various electrics with MMW including a Hofner Club, ’63 Fender Precision, and ’65 Fender Jazz

Studio sound Acoustic: vintage RCA 44-BX ribbon microphone in front of the bridge “to capture the big woofy low end,” plus DPA condenser mic clipped to the bass body. “The DPA does a great job capturing the higher, woody tone without too much string sound and clicking.” Electric: miked Ampeg B-15 plus direct through “whatever warm tube DI is available.”

Live sound With Wood Brothers: direct from DPA condenser mic plus Fishman Full Circle pickup; Ampeg B-15 “if I need it.” With MMW: direct from Fishman Full Circle plus David Gage Realist pickup; Ampeg SVT for electric basses.

Effects Various with MMW, including Mooger- Fooger MF-102 Ring Modulator, Electro-Harmonix Bass Micro Synth, Electro-Harmonix Memory Man, SansAmp DI

[250GBsOfAwesome]

Chris has some great tone, good luck with that. Your first step would have to be getting a good P bass though.

[cosmicevan]

i've also seen him using some sort of muting clips on his bass live...i'm sure that contributes to that tone.

[newbold]

Sansamp DI??

Is that were he's getting his driven, retro tone?

I'm trying to make sure I don't have to go Sansamp to work that same mojo.

I certainly need a good P-Bass.

[Alan Vorse]

As my luthier would say: "The abilities of the player have a lot to do with it..."