Not Impressed with wooten's tone

7StringBassist · #1 07-31-2009, 10:26 PM

Great Bassist Horrible tone. It sounded as if there was no balls to his sound when I heard his live material Id hate to be a flamer but, I seriously had to get this off my chest.

Stated before, he is a amazing player not to be a nay sayer on his talent but just his tone and I'm very unimpressed coming from a 5K bass

two fingers · #2 07-31-2009, 10:32 PM

He plays VERY light strings. And with all of the chords and melodic stuff he does, I'm sure a traditional bass tone would sound pretty bad. No flames. Just making an observation. I couldn't work with a tone like his either, but I went to his camp and spent a week with him. If you walked up to him and told him you didn't like his tone, he would probably say "That's great. I WANT you to find your OWN voice on your instrument." Just an awesome guy. And he really doesn't want a bunch of Victor wannabees running around. He would probably dig hearing you play bass as much as most people dig him.

ElMon · #3 07-31-2009, 10:33 PM

Did you hear him live and in person?

J. Crawford · #4 07-31-2009, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElMon

Did you hear him live and in person?

This.

Best live show I have ever seen, and I am almost at 30 different shows in my short 16 years of life.

Juan Count · #5 07-31-2009, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Not Impressed with wooten's tone

Wow... you're brave... I look forward to reading some 'firey' replies... sometimes it's best to use your inside voice...

THand · #6 07-31-2009, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by two fingers

He plays VERY light strings. And with all of the chords and melodic stuff he does, I'm sure a traditional bass tone would sound pretty bad. No flames. Just making an observation. I couldn't work with a tone like his either, but I went to his camp and spent a week with him. If you walked up to him and told him you didn't like his tone, he would probably say "That's great. I WANT you to find your OWN voice on your instrument." Just an awesome guy. And he really doesn't want a bunch of Victor wannabees running around. He would probably dig hearing you play bass as much as most people dig him.

That's the nicest thing I've read in a while. I hope Victor sees it.

7StringBassist · #7 07-31-2009, 10:39 PM

most solo bassist Ive heard have fantastic tone MM is one of them
and not so much a solo bassist but John Patatucci probably has the tone I find I like the most I could hear his Chick Corea Electric stuff for days

J. Crawford · #8 07-31-2009, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7StringBassist

most solo bassist Ive heard have fantastic tone MM is one of them
and not so much a solo bassist but John Patatucci probably has the tone I find I like the most I could hear his Chick Corea Electric stuff for days

But, IMO, MM and JP are two totally different beasts then Victor.

Plus, Victor loves his tone, and in his eyes, thats all that matters.

PBass101 · #9 07-31-2009, 10:42 PM

Don't be an armchair tone-snob 7String, you aren't going to impress anybody that way.

bluewine · #10 07-31-2009, 10:45 PM

I've seen these guys like Wooten in the past.These guys are really coming from somewhere ele. Maybe another planet or other dimension.

I wonder how stable he is mentally. Most guys that are as talented as he is are usually missing a few screws.

Mr_Sore_Fingerz · #11 07-31-2009, 10:46 PM

Sorry...gotta agree with the OP, his tone isn't necessarily something to write home about.

But I will say that discussing tone can be like men discussing their taste in women. Most of us find similar things attractive, and other things most of us will generally consider unattractive. However, when it boils down to it, it's about what the beholder sees beauty as. Most artists on Victor's level probably want a "signature" tone so that you can tell its them just by listening. Sorta like you can tell it's Marcus Miller playing on "Thighs High" with Tom Browne.

two fingers · #12 07-31-2009, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluewine

I've seen these guys like Wooten in the past.These guys are really coming from somewhere ele. Maybe another planet or other dimension.

I wonder how stable he is mentally. Most guys that are as talented as he is are usually missing a few screws.

Actually, he and his family are among the most down to earth people I have ever met. Great wife and kids. His mother is one of the coolest ladies I ever had the pleasure to meet. He and all of his brothers are nice to fans, and each other. They seem like the kind of people you would want as neighbors.

J. Crawford · #13 07-31-2009, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluewine

I've seen these guys like Wooten in the past.These guys are really coming from somewhere ele. Maybe another planet or other dimension.

I wonder how stable he is mentally. Most guys that are as talented as he is are usually missing a few screws.

I havent even met Victor, or any of his family, and I know they are amazing people.

ElMon · #14 07-31-2009, 10:59 PM

In general, I don't like the thin, quasi-trombone-like tone of a lot of soloing bassists. Copping this kind of tone facilitates this type of playing and better communicates its more melodic nature, but give me a fat supportive tone any day. Of course, with guys like Victor, I"m simply an admirer of his very original voice but have absolutely NO desire to play like him or sound like him.

groooooove · #15 07-31-2009, 11:02 PM

i agree with the OP. victor is great, but his tone has never done anything for me. a USA fender would probably sound better. idk what it is, foderas are fabulous instruments. i hate to say it but, maybe its in his fingers?

EagleMoon · #16 07-31-2009, 11:35 PM

To be honest, I've never been a fan of his tone either. Live or recorded. I think he's an awesome player though.

superfunk47 · #17 07-31-2009, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluewine

I've seen these guys like Wooten in the past.These guys are really coming from somewhere ele. Maybe another planet or other dimension.

I wonder how stable he is mentally. Most guys that are as talented as he is are usually missing a few screws.

Seriously?

It's fine not to dig his tone, it's even fine not to dig his playing or music. But do you really have to go talking about the mental health of a guy you've never met, based on the fact that he plays a certain way and you don't dig his tone (to say nothing of the fact that he's widely considered to be one of the most humble, down to earth guys you're bound to meet)?

farbs · #18 08-01-2009, 04:19 AM

I'm impressed with Victor Wooten.....end of story

cnltb · #19 08-01-2009, 04:29 AM

[quote=7StringBassist;7756986]Great Bassist Horrible tone. It sounded as if there was no balls to his sound when I heard his live material Id hate to be a flamer but, I seriously had to get this off my chest.

Stated before, he is a amazing player not to be a nay sayer on his talent but just his tone and I'm very unimpressed coming from a 5K bass

[/QUOTE

Whilst I am no fan of VW and don't particularly like his tone either , I would never in the world have started a thread about it, as it has no relevance for me whatsoever.

His tone however doesn't have to appeal to everyone.
He seems to like it and for what he does it works, I think.

As to the comments made by bluewine...quite useless really, no?

A bit like burn threads in general IMO

ras1983 · #20 08-01-2009, 04:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7StringBassist

Great Bassist Horrible tone. It sounded as if there was no balls to his sound when I heard his live material Id hate to be a flamer but, I seriously had to get this off my chest.

Stated before, he is a amazing player not to be a nay sayer on his talent but just his tone and I'm very unimpressed coming from a 5K bass

How dare you have a personal preference? Don't you understand that you need to conform to the rest of our expectations and opinions? Now let's all tell you what a bad opinion you have and what a naughty thing you've done.

This is why Talkbass went down the drain.