DMB Everyday tone -- how's he get it?

bassist11 · #1 11-19-2009, 01:19 PM

I'm just wondering if anyone has any insight in getting the sort of tone that you hear on DMB Everyday album, especially the song Everyday.

That sort of growl, mwah sound he gets. Does he use any pedals to get it or is it merely the right bass/EQ that he has?

Sorry if this is in the wrong section or not allowed. Tried searching, couldn't find anything..

andvari7 · #2 11-19-2009, 05:22 PM

Could he (and by he, I mean Stefan Lessard, or however he spells it) have used a fretless? I am going on description only (I don't listen to the Dave Mathews Band, but I know Lessard's name, because my dorm neighbor explained the band to me in great detail), but those characteristics you've listed lead me to say fretless.

warwick.hoy · #3 11-19-2009, 05:30 PM

It's usually helpful to include a clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMBgSfQI49E

Sounds like a clean Warwick growl (very similar to Don't Drink the Water) to me and some very expensive studio gear, but down quote me on that..

bassist11 · #4 11-19-2009, 05:36 PM

Yeah thanks for the video. That's what I'm talking about.

I'm pretty sure it's not a fretless, but it's definitely got that fretless sound to it sorta. Any ideas on how he gets that sort of tone?

warwick.hoy · #5 11-19-2009, 05:44 PM

Not being familiar at all with Lessard's gear I think it's all bass (Warwick Thumb or Dolphin) and hifi preamps (Eden perhaps)/studio trickery. It's a killer tone (as is his tone on the album version of Don't Drink the Water) but I've never been able to reproduce with my live setup. You may be able to get something close with a pedal preamp,...but which one I don't know.

stretch80 · #6 11-19-2009, 05:56 PM

He was playing a Modulus 5-string Flea bass at the time, which is definitely a growling bass..

CTbass613 · #7 11-20-2009, 07:46 AM

that would also explain that fretless tone they are hearing a little bit because of the graphite neck, while still delivery some growl also is very clear sounding

Floridabwoy · #8 11-20-2009, 07:50 AM

Yeah... Modulus Growl mos def.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twkkC...om=PL&index=55

**Eric Perry** · #9 11-20-2009, 07:52 AM

As has been said, he was using a Dolphin and a Modulus pretty consistently during that time frame. Great tone. An AWESOME example is during the opening guitar rff for Stay (Wasting Time), he whacks a few notes and does a descending slide. It's an angry bass tone. I love it, and tried to emulate it (with moderate success at best) during my stint in a jam oriented cover band that did lots of Dave stuff.

Mo'Phat · #10 11-20-2009, 11:21 AM

Well...he IS using a Modulus Flea 5 in the video. Case closed.

/probably played an SX P bass in the studio.