Mike Dirnt tone

Roflcopter · #1 05-05-2009, 04:50 PM

I'm not really sure if this is the right forum, but how do you get that MD tone? I cannot seem to figure it out. (Just FYI I have a P/J so I can just shut out the J pup)

etechstan · #2 05-05-2009, 05:03 PM

Roflcopter · #3 05-05-2009, 06:12 PM

I've always admired his tone and I wanted to snag something like it for myself.

Kyon` · #4 05-05-2009, 11:20 PM

A lot of the older stuff sounds like a cranked tube amp... I believe he was also using a Gibson Grabber though I'm sure a pbass would suffice. If anything you could get that sort of ballsy crunchy sound with a p/j set up. Really I think it's more with his picking then his choice of bass that gets that sound.

Kink Rimson · #5 05-06-2009, 06:18 AM

His recorded tone is a mix of a miked SVT and an evil twin DI.

greengoblin · #6 05-06-2009, 06:50 AM

Mike Dirnt does have a nice tone..

Here is a page that list what he uses although I am not sure how accurate it is:

http://www.uberproaudio.com/content/view/131/38/

All of the pics i have been seeing lately, he has been using newer Fender rigs... But one thing you have to watch, during studio recordings artists use a variety of set-ups and not always what they use on the road.

I read an article where Mike talks about using some old Sunn amps in the studio as well... Cant seem to find it though.

SwamiRob · #7 05-06-2009, 06:56 AM

Read in an interview that he runs his EQ flat nowadays with a slight boost at 1K, sounds pretty simple other then the fact that there's probably alot more going on then that elsewhere when in the studio and playing live etc.

**bassman_al** · #8 05-06-2009, 07:02 AM

From wikipedia, so who knows how accurate it is...

Basses

* Mike Dirnt Precision Bass (in several different colors including: black, white and a two-tone sunburst )
* Fender 1969 Vintage Precision Bass (w/ a BadAss II Bridge, Seymour Duncan Antiquity Pride II Pickups) aka. "Stella"
* Fender Standard Precision Bass
* Fender American Jazz Bass (used with the S-1 Switch "down")
* Fender 1966 Vintage Precision Bass
* Gibson G-3 Bass (no longer used)
* Peavey Patriot Bass (no longer used)

Amplification

* Mesa/Boogie M-2000 Head (x3)
* Mesa/Boogie 6x10 Custom Cab (x2+)
* Mesa/Boogie 1x18 Cab (x2+)
* Mesa/Boogie 2x10 Cab (x2+)
* Fender Pro 1200 Head (x2)
* Fender Pro 800 Head (x1)
* Fender Pro 810 Cab (x3+)

Jimbob Jones · #9 05-06-2009, 07:04 AM

P bass with new-ish strings, and a boost to 800-1k with everything else flat will get you close...gets me close.

Leftybass12 · #10 05-06-2009, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by etechstan

Why?

Seriously, lol

Against Will · #11 05-06-2009, 10:02 AM

Just use the pick and practice a lot. It'll be cheaper (and therefore more punk rock).

lorenk · #12 05-06-2009, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Against Will

Just use the pick and practice a lot. It'll be cheaper (and therefore more punk rock).

ahahahaha best reply!

On a side note, I really don't like his tone lately...like I love Dookie, its sick tone. But now...I dunno, maybe it is just because I am not diggin' where Greenday is goin' musically.

Mikio · #13 05-06-2009, 11:14 AM

besides all the technological stuff, I think you have to pick in between the p/u's, almost in the neck one, too [I'm comparing this saying this with a Jbass]

greengoblin · #14 05-06-2009, 05:17 PM

[rant on]

Quote:

Originally Posted by etechstan

Why?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leftybass12

Seriously, lol

Why even bother to respond if you have nothing worth while add to the OP's post? Just because you dont like Mike Dirnts tone, doesn't mean that no one else can...

[/rant off]

Back to the topic at hand...

I started to try to get Mike's tone... Have an Ibanez 4 string with a P pup... But then started to like Randy Bradbury's tone a bit better and headed that way.. But to my surprise, I dont think they are far off. Went with some Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinkys and can get a decent Dirnt tone on Green Day songs and I use a 1.0 Dunlop pick... I saw in one rig post that Dirnt uses nickel round wound trings(similar to the Hyb slinkys)..

Play with your tone knob and preamp settings and play along with songs til you get close... Also I believe they tune a half step down...

greengoblin · #15 05-06-2009, 05:19 PM

Does anyone know if his signature bass uses special pickups or normal MIJ p-pickups?

SwamiRob · #16 05-06-2009, 05:28 PM

"Modeled after the ’51 Precision, it features a slab ash body with a ’55 arm contour and pickguard. Other features include a thick C-shaped maple neck modeled after Dirnt’s original ’69 Precision, a Custom Shop ’59 Precision Bass pickup, and a Badass® Bass II™ bridge with chrome hardware."

greengoblin · #17 05-06-2009, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwamiRob

"Modeled after the ’51 Precision, it features a slab ash body with a ’55 arm contour and pickguard. Other features include a thick C-shaped maple neck modeled after Dirnt’s original ’69 Precision, a Custom Shop ’59 Precision Bass pickup, and a Badass® Bass II™ bridge with chrome hardware."

Thanks man, sorry my bad.... I dont know why I didn't check the site...

Kink Rimson · #18 05-07-2009, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kink Rimson

His recorded tone is a mix of a miked SVT and an evil twin DI.

My bad, this is from the Nimrod era. think he uses Fender amps now. Although in my opinion, Nimrod has an incredible Precision tone!!

jaywa · #19 05-07-2009, 06:35 AM

IMO most of the recorded stuff sounds like your basic Fender P played with a pick through an SVT.

His tone is nice and he's always up in the mix, but I don't think it's anything real unique and it should be pretty easy to reproduce.

Surly · #20 05-07-2009, 06:54 AM

Sansamp or VT Bass pedal would probably help. Of course you need a P-bass with roundwound strings and a pick. His tone is great and you can hear him especially since there's only one other guitar in the band.