I don't get it

Geddyfleaharris · #1 10-01-2007, 03:57 PM

I don't get it.

I really enjoy reading the effects forum and I know that everyone is looking for certain sounds with the pedals that they purchase. What I don't understand is the people that say they want to "sound like XYZ bass player. What effects does he use?"

Even if you could figure it out exactly, why do you want to sound like someone else? Why not sound like you or invent your sound? Whatever that sound might be. I am not dissing anyone or trying to be disrespectful; I am just curious.

Plus I can have the exact same set up as Justin Chancellor but chances are I will not sound exactly like him. A lot of a player's sound, IMO, is how the individual attacks his instrument.

I love the sound of the basses in Tool, Rush, Iron Maiden, Chili Peppers but I don't want to sound exactly like any of those players.

I think I sound like me.

OhThePeacock · #2 10-01-2007, 04:09 PM

Huge +1, create your own identity, after all thats why all the bass players said above are famous today.

incognito89x · #3 10-01-2007, 04:21 PM

There's nothing wrong with a little inspiration.

Using myself as an example, I have a pretty good mock-up of Justin Chancellor's pedalboard. For playing Tool songs, naturally it's a good fit as I can replicate the sounds he makes in Tool's music.

However I've been very satisfied with the pedals I've purchased in other situations as well. For a large part, most of the effects that may be inspired by one are useful in other situations. When you're talking distortion/fuzz, there are plenty of applications for that. Delay/Flange/Chorus again, all useful in many other applications.

Even the Bass Whammy I find great fun to experiment with in other applications outside of Tool.

I'm not trying to sound like Justin Chancellor, but in the process of building a pedalboard similar to his, I've multiplied my creativity by quite a bit. From subtle to in-your-face effected parts.

The main point is that I didn't buy these pedals just to emulate Justin, but because I really like the sounds I get out of each pedal in my own applications as well, I was just introduced to many of them through his use of them in his music.

OhThePeacock · #4 10-01-2007, 04:24 PM

I didn't say it was wrong to be strongly influenced by a certain player because everyone has someone who they're strongly influenced by, I was just saying that there's really no point in going for someones tone exactly because there's already one of that person in the world and people like that need to quit crampin their style.

Asa Samuel · #5 10-01-2007, 04:25 PM

i think untill you've got loads of your own ideas its handy to listen to what sort of music your going to be playing and replicate that sound so its easier to fit in basslines.

like i was trying to get duff mckagans tone (just cause its great anyway) and also because i was playing very similar music.

so untill you've sorted out your own tone its just nice to use someone elses so you dont have to worry about it fitting.

OhThePeacock · #6 10-01-2007, 04:28 PM

Very good point, I suppose an argument could be made for either side but I don't support 100% copying someone.

Asa Samuel · #7 10-01-2007, 04:30 PM

i surport copying someone to an extent, i think once you've settled into this new band/project you should start finding your own tone, but when starting off its just nice to have a sort of 'comfort' with your tone while working on impressing everyone to stay in the band.

Matt R. · #8 10-01-2007, 04:31 PM

Its not about copying anyone. It's just about hearing a tone you dig or maybe a sound that's in your head, and if you have trouble making it happen, it's nice to be able to find out how to achieve it.

KarateKid25 · #9 10-01-2007, 07:21 PM

Im not a working bass player (99% of the time). I mainly play bass and collect equipment as a hobby / second life. I like to experiment and find my own unique sounds, but at the same time, as a hobbyist and big music fan, sometimes I hear something and think, "sounds good, I wonder how they got that sound". When I find out how they did, I'll just blatantly rip the sound off and play around with it myself

I guess it depends on what you want out of your bass playing. If you want to be the next big thing, then it probably makes more sense to get your own identity and just be yourself in the hope people will take notice and like what you do. If like me, its purely for fun and somewhere to blow your hard earned cash, then sometimes its just a bit of fun to experiment with your favorite bands sounds!

Another reason people might ask, is because they are in a cover band and want to get as close to the original as possible? I personally prefer covers that have been made the bands own if you like, but some bands really want to be faithful to the original.

There are heaps of reasons why people would wonder what signal chain certain bassists are using.

Lowpro · #10 10-01-2007, 07:28 PM

Maybe it's the lawyer family I've lived in but I have to contradict this kind of thought process.

When it comes to "mimicking" someone's sound that doesn't sound detrimental to your growth as a bassist. If anything it helps expand. Take me for instance, I connect with jazz about as well as a deaf guy laughs in a comedy club, but I try VERY hard to mimic my bass teacher (Funkometer on these forums) in order to learn that style. What it's lead is a fusion of a slap style metal loud sound that guys I gig with like a lot, they never hear it anywhere else. Also been trying to mimic the old Mudvayne bassist; i never got into their music but watche da live video and this guys sound can't cut thru for ****, but im seeing him play and it's pretty cool. . (Im sure there's tons of other guys play that sound, I compare it to Myuung personally) but it's all because I mimic.

Oh, and doing a GOOD cover of a Tool song gets you REALLY ****in' pumped.

Swift713 · #11 10-01-2007, 07:48 PM

For me trying to cop someone else's tone is a matter of inspiration and appreciation. I've always wanted to do my own thing. I never learned many covers but I've wanted to "play like" certain people. Experimenting, and trying to get a sound like so and so can lead to a sound that's ones own. David Byrne said that when he was starting out he would try to write songs like say Niel Young for example and it would come out like the Talking Heads.

shostkontrabass · #12 10-01-2007, 07:56 PM

A lot of artists start off by trying to replicate the works of famous painters. Through doing this, they start to slowly add their own flare and nuance, and eventually have developed their own unique style.

(just drawing some parallels here)

Geddyfleaharris · #13 10-01-2007, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by incognito89x

There's nothing wrong with a little inspiration.

Using myself as an example, I have a pretty good mock-up of Justin Chancellor's pedalboard. For playing Tool songs, naturally it's a good fit as I can replicate the sounds he makes in Tool's music.

However I've been very satisfied with the pedals I've purchased in other situations as well. For a large part, most of the effects that may be inspired by one are useful in other situations. When you're talking distortion/fuzz, there are plenty of applications for that. Delay/Flange/Chorus again, all useful in many other applications.

Even the Bass Whammy I find great fun to experiment with in other applications outside of Tool.

I'm not trying to sound like Justin Chancellor, but in the process of building a pedalboard similar to his, I've multiplied my creativity by quite a bit. From subtle to in-your-face effected parts.

The main point is that I didn't buy these pedals just to emulate Justin, but because I really like the sounds I get out of each pedal in my own applications as well, I was just introduced to many of them through his use of them in his music.

This is exactly one response that I was hoping for.....to take the tone you want to copy and then expand from there. I would hate to think that someone copies a tone and then just goes "well...that's it" without experimenting and pushing their own sound forward.

I agree with other posters that have said copying a famous bass player's sound is a good starting point for finding your own.

Unrepresented · #14 10-01-2007, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geddyfleaharris

I agree with other posters that have said copying a famous bass player's sound is a good starting point for finding your own.

+1

Also, just because you might use a similar setup to try and get an affected tone like someone doesn't mean you have to use it the same way.

Maybe you love Bootsy's envelope madness but always "heard" it sounding better with a bluegrass group playing walking basslines in your head?

That's the way things get developed: exposure leads to duplication which leads to repackaging and innovention.

69nites · #15 10-01-2007, 09:51 PM

they are listening for what they like and learning how to make those sounds.

the more sounds you know how to make the more likely it is that you can recreate the sounds in your head later.

Lowpro · #16 10-02-2007, 11:21 AM

I'm so glad this lil argument didn't crash and burn. Every time someone starts with the "picks are bad" thread in the Technique forum, lemme tell ya this, Baby Jesus cries. It gets bloody in there.

EricF · #17 10-02-2007, 11:43 AM

What about people playing cover songs? Trying to re-create the sound of a particular player in order to play his/her songs is a very reasonable thing to do.

I certainly agree that finding your own voice is important, but sometimes you hear someone using the ideal tone that's in your head (or close to it). Figuring out what equipment they're using can get you a long way down the road to finding your tone.

I'm still trying to figure out what Eugene from Autolux uses for some of his sounds. He has a warm distortion sound that is spectacular.

assboglin · #18 10-02-2007, 12:24 PM

Your influences affect what "your voice" will be when you're still trying to find it, but you still need to have your own voice. Not everyone does and I don't think everyone can, but it's something I strive for. When my musician friends listen to something I did, like session work for another artist even, they tell me they can recognize my "voice". It's the way I play and the way I write bass lines. I take that as a huge compliment because I would rather have my own recognizable "voice" than be technically perfect on my instrument. I don't think you can really "say" anything with your instrument until you have your "voice".

A lot of bands do cover songs in their own flavor, for better or for worse. I personally would rather hear that than somebody trying to cop the exact sound of the original, because it shows that they've looked at the music and said, how can we inject our own personality into this? Music isn't as fun without the personality.

cybersnyder · #19 10-02-2007, 01:43 PM

Effects help out a lot with a particular tone that is defined largely by effects. I can play my Strat through my Line 6 POD XT's 5150 setting and, even though it's a Strat, it still sounds a lot like EVH. Now, if I practiced my butt off, maybe I could play like him (in the day).

jellymax · #20 10-02-2007, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geddyfleaharris

I don't get it.

I really enjoy reading the effects forum and I know that everyone is looking for certain sounds with the pedals that they purchase. What I don't understand is the people that say they want to "sound like XYZ bass player. What effects does he use?"

Even if you could figure it out exactly, why do you want to sound like someone else? Why not sound like you or invent your sound? Whatever that sound might be. I am not dissing anyone or trying to be disrespectful; I am just curious.

Plus I can have the exact same set up as Justin Chancellor but chances are I will not sound exactly like him. A lot of a player's sound, IMO, is how the individual attacks his instrument.

I love the sound of the basses in Tool, Rush, Iron Maiden, Chili Peppers but I don't want to sound exactly like any of those players.

I think I sound like me.

congrats for sounding like yourself.... good for you. before you
became so advanced, as a beginner, did you emulate others
even a little bit? if so, did that ruin your ability to progress
to where you are?

also maybe there are TB members that play in tribute bands...