The Rex Brown-sound

NKUSigEp · #1 08-17-2007, 12:18 PM

I've done some searching and haven't really been able to find much on the topic. I know the standard stuff - Spector basses, Ampeg amps. So what else is involved with Pantera/Down bassist's sound? GuitarGeek says a Morley wah and a Rocktron Blue Thunder preamp. Any fact to this? Anything else going on there in the way of FX or "tricks"?

EDIT: Mostly interested in the more recent stuff - "Reinventing the Steel" and on

TrooperFarva · #2 08-17-2007, 01:21 PM

Drink a lot. Play with a pick.

Spector_Ray · #3 08-17-2007, 01:37 PM

It depends on which Rex sound. In the early days of CFH and Vulgar, it was Jackson/Charvel basses and Ampegs. Listen to his live tone in this video. Brutal!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTR-tePa0Bg

NKUSigEp · #4 08-17-2007, 03:05 PM

Sorry - Reinventing the Steel through his Down/Rebel Meets Rebel and other material.

one · #5 08-17-2007, 04:42 PM

I also know he's played through a MXR M-80 at some point!

erodus · #6 08-17-2007, 06:02 PM

My best guess after seeing some pics of his setup a while back and some pantera videos, for recording he probably used a sansamp(rbi maybe) and a 70's SVT and a spector bass. Any other effects are a mystery to me.

jnprather · #7 08-17-2007, 06:19 PM

I think the "Reinventing the Steel" tone is my favorite metal bass tone of all time.

I just got a Sansamp RBI, and I am extremely happy with how my Warwick Thumb (played with a pick) sounds through it for metal. There is alot of the same tone there, I have a feeling if I had a Spector or something with a similar pickup configuration I would be very, very, close to Rex's tone.

Rusty Chainsaw · #8 08-17-2007, 08:50 PM

Spector. Ampeg. Pick. Attitude. Learn them, live them, love them. And you'll get pretty close.

NKUSigEp · #9 08-18-2007, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rusty Chainsaw

Spector. Ampeg. Pick. Attitude. Learn them, live them, love them. And you'll get pretty close.

Spector - Check
Ampeg - Will Aguilar do for the moment?
Pick - Check (Still prefer my fingers though)
Attitude - Check
Skills - still working on 'em after over a decade

I was just seeing if there was anything more to his rig than the Ampegs and Spectors.

TheDarkReaver · #10 08-18-2007, 04:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrooperFarva

Drink a lot. Play with a pick.

that made me laugh quite a bit

csholtmeier · #11 08-18-2007, 06:55 AM

That Domination vid is five of the best minutes in metal. It still raises the hair on the back of my neck.

If you watch the Pantera videos, you'll notice he used a black Stingray a lot in the studio.

NKUSigEp · #12 08-18-2007, 10:35 AM

Yeah that's all fine and good but I'm more interested in the more recent stuff. I think his sound with Down is his best work ever.

Metal Mitch · #13 08-18-2007, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csholtmeier

That Domination vid is five of the best minutes in metal. It still raises the hair on the back of my neck.

[mod edit] that barely qualifies as metal. That "groove metal" stuff is just hard rock.

jnprather · #14 08-18-2007, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metal Mitch

[mod edit] that barely qualifies as metal. That "groove metal" stuff is just hard rock.

uhhhhhhhhhhh

erodus · #15 08-18-2007, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metal Mitch

[mod edit] that barely qualifies as metal. That "groove metal" stuff is just hard rock.

lol, are you the metal referee? just hard rock?

just because phil doesn't cookie monster his vocals on each song doesn't mean it's hard rock. but to each its own I guess

funkytranki · #16 08-18-2007, 02:09 PM

Get a five string and boost the bass on the eq.
<play with a pick...and play hard!!
Also remembre that what's important to understand about his sound is that pantera had only one guitarist and that, often, during the solos, there was no rhythm guital at all.
That's why his sound manages to be so deep, profound but still
very clear.
And be GROOVY...

beggar98 · #17 08-18-2007, 02:19 PM

I read an interview around GTSK, and he talked about boosting his eq right around 2k, which enhances grit and helps you cut through. I know at that time he played Spectors and that signature Fernandes he had for a while, and that he used a Sansamp BDDI.

NKUSigEp · #18 08-18-2007, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funkytranki

Get a five string and boost the bass on the eq.
<play with a pick...and play hard!!
Also remembre that what's important to understand about his sound is that pantera had only one guitarist and that, often, during the solos, there was no rhythm guital at all.
That's why his sound manages to be so deep, profound but still
very clear.
And be GROOVY...

Thanks for your input but looking strictly for his gear other than the Spectors and Ampegs. I can tell ya right now that the bass isn't boosted as much as ya think but there are hella mids!

Quote:

Originally Posted by beggar98

I read an interview around GTSK, and he talked about boosting his eq right around 2k, which enhances grit and helps you cut through. I know at that time he played Spectors and that signature Fernandes he had for a while, and that he used a Sansamp BDDI.

LOL THANKS!

MacNilly · #19 08-18-2007, 02:25 PM

Rex Brown, possibly THE most underrated metal bassplayer of this century. I love his backfills and how he keeps the songs interesting even while dimebag goes on a complete tangent. Rex holds it down, hardcore, with style, period. His tone is to kill for.

I don't care what gear you've got, you're not even likely to being close to even touchin' rex brown.

Spector_Ray · #20 08-18-2007, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csholtmeier

That Domination vid is five of the best minutes in metal. It still raises the hair on the back of my neck.

If you watch the Pantera videos, you'll notice he used a black Stingray a lot in the studio.

It's fun as hell to play too!