Bass tone? (Isolated bass youtube link)

[Gord]

Hi Guys,
What I have here is a bass sample from thrice's cd "the artist in the ambulance" from the track of the same name. Their bassist, ed, plays, as far as I can remember, a gibson grabber into an Ampeg SVT. In this short clip, he goes up higher on the neck, and I'm completely in love with the tone he comes up with. How does he do this? Does this sound like an effect that you guys are familiar with? Is it just the amp?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ns7ufT2MHnU

[BassmanAd]

Sounds like a maple-board Fender P into a Sansamp with lots of drive to me.

[improvpwnd]

Originally Posted by BassmanAd

Sounds like a maple-board Fender P

I dunno, I definitely hear some rosewood warmth in there...

[Jimbob Jones]

I would say it's a combination of a P with some kind of rounds, and some tube grind (either the real deal or emulated, for example the sansamp BDDI)

oh, and the finish is DEFINATELY honey blonde.
No idea about the fingerboard though

[Sean S]

It's definitely silver-plated tuning pegs on an SX.

[Oreomeister365]

In all seriousness, some overdrive (not super extreme amounts) on a P sounds about right.

[Mytola]

Originally Posted by Oreomeister365

In all seriousness, some overdrive (not super extreme amounts) on a P sounds about right.

Yep. And a pick.

[JGT]

He definitely recorded a lot of stuff with a P bass and Ampeg stuff. Definitely one of my favorite bassists, if not my favorite. Some of the tones on the Alchemy Index amaze me. They have some pictures on their site out of the studio:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/152/3...4597ba0245.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/124/3...4510e325fb.jpg

Showing several P Bass' and an Ampeg Classic/810. I know this is for a different album but shows what he uses.

[Micolao]

Originally Posted by Jimbob Jones

oh, and the finish is DEFINATELY honey blonde.

sounds like sunburst to me

[bongomania]

I love how in like 90% of the "OMG how can I get this amazing tone from my favorite artist" threads the answer is "P bass into Ampeg, with a pick".

[Micolao]

and you're absolutely right

[nad]

Originally Posted by bongomania

I love how in like 90% of the "OMG how can I get this amazing tone from my favorite artist" threads the answer is "P bass into Ampeg, with a pick".

Yeah, nobody asks for real complex tones that require a wall of synths, two basses, and a dash of pixie dust for good measure.

Anyhow, sounds like new strings, a pick, and said SVT to me. Oh, with a black limba bodied bass of course.

[bongomania]

Of course they do ask for the pixie dust and synths, but that's the other 10%. Maybe my percentages are way off, but it just seemed less funny when I wrote it with a lower percentage.

[nad]

Originally Posted by bongomania

I love how in like 37% of the "OMG how can I get this amazing tone from my favorite artist" threads the answer is "P bass into Ampeg, with a pick".

It's true, this isn't nearly as funny.

[bassman1185]

I'm not sure why everyone jumped on BassmanAD about the maple fretboard thing. I don't think I have superhuman ears (quite the opposite, really) and I can tell a fairly distinct difference between rosewood and maple fretboards.

[vegas532]

There are really subtle components to gear that people can claim to hear, but the difference between the sound of a Maple and Rosewood fingerboard is hardly what I'd call subtle. Anyone who says they can't hear that difference needs to go to their local store and hear it for themselves...huge tonal difference.

[JanusZarate]

Originally Posted by bongomania

I love how in like 90% of the "OMG how can I get this amazing tone from my favorite artist" threads the answer is "P bass into Ampeg, with a pick".

I believe there are three reasons for that:

1) Some bassists are still in denial that an instrument as "basic" and "simple" as a P-bass is so omnipresent in every genre

2) Most beginners think there are pedals for anything - including ones that give you the exact tones of other artist in a tiny box, regardless of what gear you're using

3) A lot of bassists still believe that a true bassist never plays with pick.

[southshoreconor]

they also play in Drop C (sometimes D standard) and i remember reading his low string is usually a 105. the floppyness of the strings and a little buzz also affects his sound. i've only seen thrice a few times but he was using a jazz bass the first few times and a grabber the most recent.

also the bassline in the verses of "Stare At The Sun"

[improvpwnd]

Originally Posted by southshoreconor

they also play in Drop C (sometimes D standard) and i remember reading his low string is usually a 105. the floppyness of the strings and a little buzz also affects his sound:

+1 ..and to you fingerboard nazi's, I agree that there are tonal differences, but things like string buzz, grit, and playing with a pick are going to get you there quicker--I mean, the OP isn't ****-outta-luck if he has a rosewood P, SVT, and drop tunes, now is he?

[JGT]

Originally Posted by southshoreconor

they also play in Drop C (sometimes D standard) and i remember reading his low string is usually a 105. the floppyness of the strings and a little buzz also affects his sound. i've only seen thrice a few times but he was using a jazz bass the first few times and a grabber the most recent.

also the bassline in the verses of "Stare At The Sun"

Thrice plays stuff from standard down to drop b and everything in between.

Oh and like a Grabber is used most often and I've seen lot's of pictures with a rack setup and what appears to be a SVT3 or something similar.