Robert Trujillo's live tone. . . Damn!!

#1 02-01-2009, 10:58 AM

Just saw Metallica at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, last night. I'm not a fan of the new album, and I've never been the biggest Trujillo fan, but damn dude, that guy had AMAZING live tone!! Loud, clear, bottomy, punchy, ferocious!!

I know for a fact that Trujillo doesn't use that complicated a set-up. Just some Ampeg, not many pedals, and he switches back and forth between some Zons, some Fernandes, and a P-Bass. I do know that Metallica undoubtedly has one of the best live sound systems in the business. Despite all this . . . it was VERY enjoyable to hear a live metal act where the bass came through loud and clear with QUALITY.

The only comparison live is Alex Webster in Cannibal Corpse. Nothing has compared to that yet. Punching through that wall of sound is a true achievement. Trujillo is a close, close second. Go see Metallica if you can.

excane · #2 02-01-2009, 11:00 AM

Trujillo does sound damn good live...

Alex webster has a video or two on youtube giving a rundown of his gear and he does some playing. Agreed...he is awesome live as well.

GianGian · #3 02-01-2009, 11:06 AM

I like his Fernandes tone a lot and I was excited when I saw a pic of him playing a Rickenbacker, didn't he use it?

SafetyBean · #4 02-01-2009, 11:09 AM

Loved Metallica at Leeds '08, man.

Anyone know about his EQ settings? *Noob*..

On the topic of his basses, when I saw him he must have produced a new one for every song. He was playing a Warwick Stream - two of them, actually - with his own pickup spacing. Two EMG Jazz pickups, looked like he had 'em spaced like those on his Fernandes.

Matt

Lemoore-on · #5 02-01-2009, 09:13 PM

I saw them in Fresno, It was a great show. I dont have a clue what his rig is but it was all that you said.

Ampeg SVT · #6 02-01-2009, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SafetyBean

Loved Metallica at Leeds '08, man.

Anyone know about his EQ settings? *Noob*..

On the topic of his basses, when I saw him he must have produced a new one for every song. He was playing a Warwick Stream - two of them, actually - with his own pickup spacing. Two EMG Jazz pickups, looked like he had 'em spaced like those on his Fernandes.

Matt

Its slightly scooped, he is running a Mesa Dual Rect rackmount guitar amp also.

timzrage · #7 02-01-2009, 11:26 PM

Just curious, how was Machine Head?

Suresh · #8 02-01-2009, 11:30 PM

Isnt Trujillo using Tobias ?

timzrage · #9 02-02-2009, 12:12 AM

I think he's using Zon.

basste · #10 02-02-2009, 12:12 AM

can't wait to see them on april !

MarkMyWordsXx · #11 02-02-2009, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhan

Just saw Metallica at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, last night. I'm not a fan of the new album, and I've never been the biggest Trujillo fan, but damn dude, that guy had AMAZING live tone!! Loud, clear, bottomy, punchy, ferocious!!

I know for a fact that Trujillo doesn't use that complicated a set-up. Just some Ampeg, not many pedals, and he switches back and forth between some Zons, some Fernandes, and a P-Bass. I do know that Metallica undoubtedly has one of the best live sound systems in the business. Despite all this . . . it was VERY enjoyable to hear a live metal act where the bass came through loud and clear with QUALITY.

The only comparison live is Alex Webster in Cannibal Corpse. Nothing has compared to that yet. Punching through that wall of sound is a true achievement. Trujillo is a close, close second. Go see Metallica if you can.

Funny you say that, my friends went to the same show and said he was horrible, as well as the whole band. Not to disrespect your opinion, but ive seen them twice(with rob) and that was the reason i did not attend for a 3rd time.

He was very mediocre(sp?) when i saw them, but im glad you enjoyed it.

IPS · #12 02-02-2009, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkMyWordsXx

Funny you say that, my friends went to the same show and said he was horrible, as well as the whole band. Not to disrespect your opinion, but ive seen them twice(with rob) and that was the reason i did not attend for a 3rd time.

He was very mediocre(sp?) when i saw them, but im glad you enjoyed it.

I was at teh show on the 31st too and i ahve to agree with the OP... I thought trujillio cut through very well and had a great tone, and the whole show was great. Good amount of older stuff and they all seemed to be enjoying themselves and put on a great show they even broguht a ten year old on stage and lars let him hit the cymbal before the last song .

Allmanfan456 · #13 02-02-2009, 02:23 PM

I love Trujillos tone. so much presence to it. I definatly want to see Metallica if I can get the chance.

GianGian · #14 02-02-2009, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IPS

I was at teh show on the 31st too and i ahve to agree with the OP... I thought trujillio cut through very well and had a great tone, and the whole show was great. Good amount of older stuff and they all seemed to be enjoying themselves and put on a great show they even broguht a ten year old on stage and lars let him hit the cymbal before the last song .

His son perhaps?

PBass101 · #15 02-02-2009, 02:44 PM

Funny, I saw Metallica at the Scottrade Center and he was buried so deep in the mix that you couldn't hear a note he played, even his "solo" bit sounded strained in the PA. No presence at all.

bassbrock · #16 02-02-2009, 02:49 PM

I wonder if people's different seating positions might explain the difference in what sounded good to one person and bad to another?

stanger503 · #17 02-02-2009, 04:12 PM

i dont want to take this off track but i came to this part of the forum to start a new thread on him mainly for the fact of this bass...wth is it because its incredible

baddarryl · #18 02-02-2009, 04:40 PM

Trujillo is the only reason I would even think of seeing them again. 3x was enough 10 years ago. Too bad his bass is so buried on the album. Terrible, but of course that whole production sucks.

MOTORHEADBANGER · #19 02-02-2009, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PBass101

Funny, I saw Metallica at the Scottrade Center and he was buried so deep in the mix that you couldn't hear a note he played, even his "solo" bit sounded strained in the PA. No presence at all.

Sounds alot like the mastering on the Death Magnetic album.

Hamrhed · #20 02-02-2009, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stanger503

i dont want to take this off track but i came to this part of the forum to start a new thread on him mainly for the fact of this bass...wth is it because its incredible

He endorses Fernandes 5-string basses stocked w/ EMG pickups (thats what the Bass in the picture appears to be)and usually sticks to those for performances, but he also employs a slew of different brand axes in the studio....

As for his tone, he is very conscientious of his place in the Metallica frequency chain

Robert does his best to accent James and Kirk w/o overpowering them to that end. I think his live tone- as well as his recorded tone- are excellent considering that objective, and I think he sounds fantastic on Death Magnetic. Anyone who knows Rob's body of work knows full well what he's capable of- the fact that he acts as the total team player w/ Metallica makes him even better, imo!