Is it just me that loves treble?

JKambing · #1 10-03-2008, 03:25 AM

I hope this is an appropriate place to post this..

I've been playing bass for about a year now, and I've realised something about the tone that I prefer. I really, really like a treble boost. My small Peavey practice amp has bass levels set between 7 and 8, mids set at 8, and highs set to 9 (maximum being 10 for each). On top of this, the tone knob of my precision bass is usually rolled off towards highs. The result is this very trebly "growl", yet a sound that sounds rather "clean" due to the bass cut, that I simply love hearing no matter what song I play. Best of all, it cuts through the mix when I go jamming, and, in my opinion, sounds great for the songs I play (rock and metal in general, but leaning towards the classic and not-so-heavy stuff). Furthermore, I play with low action and often the sound of the flat wound strings crashing against the frets (like Mr Steve Harris' playing) sound great to me.

Am I nuts or something? It would be comforting to know if there are other bassists like me, because.. I don't know. I feel like its weird that I enjoy so much treble as compared to most bassists? I know I shouldn't care so much.. But still.. Any of you TB'ers like the treble?

filter · #2 10-03-2008, 11:45 AM

I love that tone also. I just got a TRB-10004 Yamaha. It is very bright but has the 3 knob boost-cut very easy tone changes.
I love Geddy and that Rush sound. He now uses the Fender but used a Rick for many years. I always read with his Rick which has the stereo outputs, he ran one out clean and the other dirty.
For treble lovers a Rickenbacker is the gold standard. I went with the Yami because it has more tone shaping options. But I would still love a Rick. A song that has that treble sound I love is the Pink Floyd song "One of these days" off the Meddle album.
Rock on!

stflbn · #3 10-03-2008, 11:54 AM

Yes you're nuts.

Someday you'll have an epiphany and discover where bass really lives. That event will likely evolve around different gear and more in depth experience with genre's of music.

RUSTYHOOK100 · #4 10-04-2008, 09:34 PM

dude then you should check out RANCID cause matt freeman loves his treble too and is also a great bassist

mrokern · #5 10-04-2008, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by filter

I love that tone also. I just got a TRB-10004 Yamaha. It is very bright but has the 3 knob boost-cut very easy tone changes.
I love Geddy and that Rush sound. He now uses the Fender but used a Rick for many years. I always read with his Rick which has the stereo outputs, he ran one out clean and the other dirty.
For treble lovers a Rickenbacker is the gold standard. I went with the Yami because it has more tone shaping options. But I would still love a Rick. A song that has that treble sound I love is the Pink Floyd song "One of these days" off the Meddle album.
Rock on!

Then again, Geddy has said he went back to his Jazz because he just wasn't getting enough low end out of his other basses...

Munjibunga · #6 10-04-2008, 11:05 PM

JKambing · #7 10-05-2008, 12:31 AM

Hahaha. I see most people so far have negative sentiments towards treble. I'll pretend I didn't start this thread or something. Heh.

keb · #8 10-05-2008, 07:44 AM

My tastes have changed over the years. Years ago I liked a bright clanky grindy tone, but more recently I've toned down the overdrive and zing and focused more in the mids and low-mids. I don't like mud, though... I still need clarity and punch in the higher frequencies.

8guy · #9 10-05-2008, 08:09 AM

Chris Squier, John Entwistle, Geddy Lee....yea your not the only one.
Ive been told in several bands to stop sounding like a guitar and sound like a Bass, and trust me I can get down and deep and grove....but when I put on the 8 string....well all bets are off!!!!

Ric5 · #10 10-05-2008, 08:15 AM

I love treble, mids, and bass ... they are all necessary!

Unrepresented · #11 10-05-2008, 10:57 AM

I am accused of not knowing what a bass is supposed to sound like by my band mates for similar tastes.

Matt Freeman, Geddy Lee, Steve Harris, Tim C... those are the grinding tones I'm after, at least in this point in my musical life.

CrazyArcher · #12 10-05-2008, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ric5

I love treble, mids, and bass ... they are all necessary!

Well... Yes!

It all depends how much treble you have in your sound. Cut off all the treble in the EQ, and the sound will suck. I rarely actaully boost the trebles, but they have their place. After all, why do bass amps have tweeters?

Jazzdogg · #13 10-05-2008, 11:57 AM

I'm one of those older bass players who started on upright, and whose electric bass idols emphasized the bass end of the sound spectrum and rolled of the highs. I find too much treble both painful and aesthetically objectionable; the sound of a lot of slapping, popping and fret clatter feel like someone is assaulting my ears with an ice pick. Not intended as a slam, just my POV.

Deluge Of Sound · #14 10-05-2008, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazzdogg

I'm one of those older bass players who started on upright, and whose electric bass idols emphasized the bass end of the sound spectrum and rolled of the highs. I find too much treble both painful and aesthetically objectionable; the sound of a lot of slapping, popping and fret clatter feel like someone is assaulting my ears with an ice pick. Not intended as a slam, just my POV.

And I'm one of those young dudes who feels exactly the same way.

I mean, it's not called treble guitar...