Achieving the "Would?" tone...

BassFace01 · #1 12-30-2009, 06:29 PM

I would hope most of you have heard the first few seconds of Would" by Alice In Chains.

If not, here's a link. It'll only take a few seconds because the part i'm talking about is in the intro.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3FnQMSD4Zg

I want this tone really badly. I've tried just about everything.

Right now, I'm using an EBS OctaBass, a BOSS LMB limiter and an ODB-3 overdrive.

My amp also has a shape knob for tone shaping.

I'm using a MIM fender jazz and an ibanez SoundGear.

If anyone has ANY suggestions as to how I can achieve this tone, please post!

RickenBoogie · #2 12-30-2009, 06:35 PM

It's the amp. What are you using? That sounds like a growling hot tube amp.

BassFace01 · #3 12-30-2009, 06:37 PM

Solid state behringer ultrabass bx600

ThunderV · #4 12-30-2009, 06:42 PM

Sounds like an application for a Tech 21 VT Bass pedal.

Darkstrike · #5 12-30-2009, 06:42 PM

Gonna be very hard to get that sound with a Ultrabass and a Jazz. What pickups has the Soundgear?

He uses a Spector P/J, with EMG's, and a Ampeg tube rig, not to mention, the bass is doubled by an acoustic bass, IIRC.

BassFace01 · #6 12-30-2009, 06:45 PM

I honestly don't know what soundgear model this is, the pickups are ibanez. I can't find a model on google that looks the same. It has a 2 band preamp, a volume knob, a pup blend knob. The bridge is very unique, i havent seen one like it on any other ibanez, it's quite large. The pickups are two humbuckers. Using D'Addario nickel rounds

**jmattbassplaya** · #7 12-30-2009, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

Gonna be very hard to get that sound with a Ultrabass and a Jazz. What pickups has the Soundgear?

He uses a Spector P/J, with EMG's, and a Ampeg tube rig, not to mention, the bass is doubled by an acoustic bass, IIRC.

+1

Although I will say that a Warwick Streamer gets the tone with little problem.

Holy War · #8 12-30-2009, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

Gonna be very hard to get that sound with a Ultrabass and a Jazz. What pickups has the Soundgear?

He uses a Spector P/J, with EMG's, and a Ampeg tube rig, not to mention, the bass is doubled by an acoustic bass, IIRC.

I never thought about that before, but now that you mentioned it, it does make sense. I know he used everything else you mentioned though and that now he uses Ampeg SVT-2s

Darkstrike · #9 12-30-2009, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holy War

I never thought about that before, but now that you mentioned it, it does make sense. I know he used everything else you mentioned though and that now he uses Ampeg SVT-2s

Exactly, and I believe Inez uses Warwicks, and a pick, which is odd, as he matches Mike Starrs tone perfectly, and he used Spectors, and fingerstyle.

The best example of the acoustic doubling, IIRC, is Down In A Hole, as he plays a few bars of just acoustic before the electric kicks in.

dav_tm · #10 12-30-2009, 09:00 PM

really heavy picks, high mids, little bit of OD or Distortion. that usually seems to do the trick

gibsualdo · #11 12-31-2009, 04:48 AM

I can nail this tone with my VT Bass and Spector Euro LX.

Helps to apply some treble with the Spector's preamp or maybe I just need new strings.

shmoo! · #12 12-31-2009, 05:00 AM

I too nailed this tone last weekend with my vt bass pedal.running p-bass with quarter pounders through return of my yorkie xm200.this pedal is insanely versatile.we play everything from beatles to kiss to journey to van halen to iron maiden and of course alice in chains.....does it all...as jimmym would say pedal of the future...oh yeah jimmym was my decision to get this pedal in the first place. glad i didnt get a pbddi instead...thanks jimmym

RHCP250 · #13 12-31-2009, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

Exactly, and I believe Inez uses Warwicks, and a pick, which is odd, as he matches Mike Starrs tone perfectly, and he used Spectors, and fingerstyle.

The best example of the acoustic doubling, IIRC, is Down In A Hole, as he plays a few bars of just acoustic before the electric kicks in.

Maybe cause I've always heard Spectors as high-mid heavy, where Warwicks have the low-mids. The pick vs fingerstyle thing probably levels the playing field.

ryansalmond · #14 12-31-2009, 12:56 PM

You will, at minimum, need a bass with a precision-style pickup in it. Preferably a P-J bass, but at least a p-bass of some kind. Humbuckers, regardless of what amp you use, will not get that sound.

WalterBush · #15 12-31-2009, 01:28 PM

Use a heavy pick, and crank the mids on your bass.

I have to disagree with ryansalmond, the pick and lots of lower mids (800 or so?) will get you most of the way there, regardless of pickup type. I've come close to nailing that tone with more than one type of bass.

A Spector wouldn't hurt, though. They seem to sound that way regardless.

j.kernodle · #16 12-31-2009, 01:41 PM

I can get it with my Spector NSCR4FM and VT bass set with character about 10oclock, drive about 12oclock, eq's set fairly close to flat, both pickups full on the spector, touch of bass and treble boost on the spector preamp.

I'm pretty sure Mike Starr played this song with a pick as well. Pick attack is important, I try to hold the pick a little canted so that the edge of the pick scrapes against the string windings a bit with each attack. Helps add a little bit of that grit Mike got on that intro. I didn't realize he doubled it on acoustic. thats really interesting.

Darkstrike · #17 12-31-2009, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j.kernodle

I'm pretty sure Mike Starr played this song with a pick as well. Pick attack is important, I try to hold the pick a little canted so that the edge of the pick scrapes against the string windings a bit with each attack. Helps add a little bit of that grit Mike got on that intro. I didn't realize he doubled it on acoustic. thats really interesting.

I checked the video today, and to be sure, Starr is playing it with a pick, in the vid at least, so I'd be say it was done studio with one too.

KojakCurtis · #18 12-31-2009, 06:07 PM

He used a pick on this song. Awesome show in December of 1992. Or was it 1993. Can't remember very well, too much smokey.

TUEP · #19 01-05-2010, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

Exactly, and I believe Inez uses Warwicks, and a pick, which is odd, as he matches Mike Starrs tone perfectly, and he used Spectors, and fingerstyle.

The best example of the acoustic doubling, IIRC, is Down In A Hole, as he plays a few bars of just acoustic before the electric kicks in.

Actually Inez's tone is nothing like Starr's. He is a bit deeper in the low mids, and tends to play on top of the rhythm, where Starr did more runs, and played outside the box more. Starr had the high mids and more growl in his tone, plus he is a finger/pick player and uses both techniques. Listen to the bass tone on Facelift and Dirt, and compare it to Inez era Tripod and the new album. Different tone and style.

Darkstrike · #20 01-06-2010, 05:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TUEP

Actually Inez's tone is nothing like Starr's. He is a bit deeper in the low mids, and tends to play on top of the rhythm, where Starr did more runs, and played outside the box more. Starr had the high mids and more growl in his tone, plus he is a finger/pick player and uses both techniques. Listen to the bass tone on Facelift and Dirt, and compare it to Inez era Tripod and the new album. Different tone and style.

Uh, I ment on the old songs, when he's doing Starr's stuff, he pulls off the tone fantastically.