Frank Bello/Persistence of Time bass sound

[jcburn]

Hey guys - bit of an obscure example but I really like Frank Bello's (Anthrax/Helmet) sound on this album. I know he used ESP P's with EMG's but to get the sound on that album am I correct in saying it sounds like a combo of a little overdrive and chorus?

[JanusZarate]

AFAIK, the grit's from his cranked tube amp (an SVT-CL at the time, I believe), and there's no chorus (there MIGHT be a little post-recording reverb added, though, or it might just be natural room ambience).

Bello has a great heavy pickstyle tone, though. I especially love the cover of "Got the Time".

Bello has generally been a bass-to-amp player, but TBH, I haven't had a chance to listen to his work in Helmet... so I'm not sure how that may have changed. All my exposure to his work is through Anthrax (which I'm a big fan of).

[jcburn]

Cool man thanks for your take on that. Im alsoa fan of Bill Goulds tone, especially on The Real Thing, and I know he used OD and chorus - think The Morning After. Interesting you mention Bello's pick tone (i.e. the start of Got The Time) as I think he is usually thought of as a fingerstyle player.

[meatwad]

Bello's tone has always been one of my favorites. I always thought of him as a Jazz Bass player though. Love his sound on "Among The Living"!

Bill Gould's tone on "Falling To Pieces" is fantastic as well. Very edgy. I think he was using all Peavey gear back then.

[jcburn]

I'm pretty sure he has nearly always used P style basses. An ESP with EMG's in the '80s, moved up to some Fender P's and then only recently switched to his own sig. Fender Jazz style bass(a take on the Aerodyne) with a Noiseless J pickup at the bridge, SD Quarter Pounder P in the neck and passive EQ. I haven't been a huge fan since The Sound Of White Noise but always admired his playing. I really dig metal players that play fingerstyle, Steve Harris being my fav, but still really like Bello and Gould.