How to get that "Boston" sound...

[SteveC]

So I'm listening to some Boston and thinking, man, what a great rock bass sound. I've thought that before and tried to get it with my bass but never quite got close. What's the secret? Anyone ever get close to it live?

[Folmeister]

I have always associated, especially the early work, with a P-Bass. When I was working out "More Than a Feeling" last month, my P-Bass just seemed to fit best. Or maybe it was the fact that I was doing it through an original Bass Rockman? Yep, P-Bass and a Rockman.

[SteveC]

I'm sure it's a P-bass. The closest I get is going passive and soloing my neck jazz pup on my bass. It's just so smooth and even sounding on the recording. I suppose it was compressed. I've never had much luck using a compressor live.

[ksandvik]

Originally Posted by SteveC

I'm sure it's a P-bass. The closest I get is going passive and soloing my neck jazz pup on my bass. It's just so smooth and even sounding on the recording. I suppose it was compressed. I've never had much luck using a compressor live.

I indeed also suspect compression plays a big role. A lot of the Rockman sound is really compression. --Kent