Ibanez Tube Screamer for Metal music?

Metafour · #1 08-07-2008, 08:52 PM

Hi all,
I am a bit of a bass newbie but want to pick up a pedal to help get a heavy metal type of sound. I was recommended to use a tube screamer guitar pedal to achieve this. Does anyone have experience with this or is there a better type of pedal that you can get a nice metal sound out of. Thanks!

diechris · #2 08-07-2008, 08:53 PM

last time i saw Down play... Rex was using a HBE hematoma and it was on pretty much the entire time.

the_fonz · #3 08-07-2008, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diechris

last time i saw Down play... Rex was using a HBE hematoma and it was on pretty much the entire time.

so THAT'S what he's using!

He had an article in Bass Player a few months back and wouldn't say what he was using.

I always hate when artists do that.

diechris · #4 08-07-2008, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_fonz

so THAT'S what he's using!

He had an article in Bass Player a few months back and wouldn't say what he was using.

I always hate when artists do that.

hey had a korg tuner... HBE hematoma...... Ashdown octave... and something else i think... i think it was a morley wah. i had birds eye view of the whole stage! i posted what i saw in a past post awhile back and my memory is fuzzy right now.

But i definitely know he had the hematoma on 99% of the time.

RedCoatMonster · #5 08-07-2008, 09:33 PM

Yeah thats what Ive always heard from people. IMO Rex and Justin Chancellor have the best bass tones in rock music.

Quote:

Originally Posted by diechris

hey had a korg tuner... HBE hematoma...... Ashdown octave... and something else i think... i think it was a morley wah. i had birds eye view of the whole stage! i posted what i saw in a past post awhile back and my memory is fuzzy right now.

But i definitely know he had the hematoma on 99% of the time.

the_fonz · #6 08-07-2008, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diechris

hey had a korg tuner... HBE hematoma...... Ashdown octave... and something else i think... i think it was a morley wah. i had birds eye view of the whole stage! i posted what i saw in a past post awhile back and my memory is fuzzy right now.

But i definitely know he had the hematoma on 99% of the time.

I just dug out the issue
Morley Dual Bass Wah
Ashdown Bass Chorus Plus
MXR Phase 90
Musician Sound Design Earthquake Bass Wah
and "an undisclosed distortion pedal"

sweetness

diechris · #7 08-08-2008, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_fonz

I just dug out the issue
Morley Dual Bass Wah
Ashdown Bass Chorus Plus
MXR Phase 90
Musician Sound Design Earthquake Bass Wah
and "an undisclosed distortion pedal"

sweetness

ahhhhhh it was the chorus! i remember the mxr now but i dont recall seeing the MSD Earthquake Wah. definitely the "an undisclosed distortion pedal" is the HBE Hematoma.

bassman1185 · #8 08-08-2008, 09:50 AM

The whole idea of a "metal sound" is kind of a can of worms. We all have our own definition of what it means to have a "metal sound." Describe what kind of a tone that you're looking for and we can help you more. Is there a particular bassist whose tone you really like that you're looking to emulate? Are you having trouble cutting through the mix? Are you looking to fill up more sonic space when the guitarist solos?

MoD_Scotty · #9 08-08-2008, 10:01 AM

^^^ Exactly.

In my band, since there are two b-tuned guitars running through all-tube halfstacks, the name of the game for me is cutting through...usually by cranking up the mids. I don't use any distortion.

If I was in a band with only one guitar, I'd probably use distortion...especially during solos.

Unrepresented · #10 08-08-2008, 10:11 AM

The Fulltone Bass Drive is also a tubescreamer based OD/distortion. I'm happy with mine, although I use it primarily for it's heaviest tones instead of as an "always on" grind, although that's certainly available too.

bongomania · #11 08-08-2008, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassman1185

The whole idea of a "metal sound" is kind of a can of worms. We all have our own definition of what it means to have a "metal sound." Describe what kind of a tone that you're looking for and we can help you more. Is there a particular bassist whose tone you really like that you're looking to emulate? Are you having trouble cutting through the mix? Are you looking to fill up more sonic space when the guitarist solos?

+1

If all you mean is you want to sound metal when playing by yourself, then yeah a Tubescreamer (especially one designed or modded for bass) is a fine choice. If OTOH you're actually playing in a band, then you'll need to give us a lot more details about the sound you're trying to achieve.

rratajski · #12 08-08-2008, 11:56 AM

I don't know man...I've built a few tubescreamer versions and personally, on bass, they're pretty weak. If you want to do clean solos with a little bit of crunch and a lot of hig-pitched gain, then go for it...When it comes to playing "metal" or anything heavy, heavier overdrives/distortion pedals or a big muff works waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better.

Like everyone always says here...try it out and if you don't like it, try something else. The search may be frustrating, but you'll eventually find what suits your needs best!

rratajski · #13 08-08-2008, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

+1

If all you mean is you want to sound metal when playing by yourself, then yeah a Tubescreamer (especially one designed or modded for bass) is a fine choice. If OTOH you're actually playing in a band, then you'll need to give us a lot more details about the sound you're trying to achieve.

Bongo, are you talking about the Keeley mod or the similar ones for the "fat boost"/bass boost?

I haven't found those to be "heavy", just better bass response, but a dry bass response along w/ the clean gain.

bongomania · #14 08-08-2008, 12:14 PM

All I mean is a couple of tweaks to allow more of the low frequencies through the circuit. Everything else is superfluous.

nickbear · #15 08-08-2008, 02:42 PM

i use a turbo tubescreamer in turbo mode for heavy music.. it fills the sound out nicely without getting too overdriven. cuts through very well with my rickenbacker

Metafour · #16 08-08-2008, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassman1185

The whole idea of a "metal sound" is kind of a can of worms. We all have our own definition of what it means to have a "metal sound." Describe what kind of a tone that you're looking for and we can help you more. Is there a particular bassist whose tone you really like that you're looking to emulate? Are you having trouble cutting through the mix? Are you looking to fill up more sonic space when the guitarist solos?

You're absolutely. Sorry I was kind of vague. I am looking for a sound similar to the one achieved by ICS Vortex of Dimmu Borgir. Does anyone know what kind of pedals he is using exactly? The bass I am currently playing metal music with is an ESP Tom Araya. Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks all!

bongomania · #17 08-08-2008, 06:27 PM

I believe we have some Dimmu fans here... try PM'ing Daniel Tulip, I think he was into them for a while.

If you post an MP3 or Youtube link to the exact sound you're after, we can make some suggestions.

barium · #18 08-08-2008, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metafour

You're absolutely. Sorry I was kind of vague. I am looking for a sound similar to the one achieved by ICS Vortex of Dimmu Borgir. Does anyone know what kind of pedals he is using exactly? The bass I am currently playing metal music with is an ESP Tom Araya. Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks all!

I don't know what he uses in Dimmu Borgir (don't really fancy circus metal), but in Borknagar he used a bass through a good amp. Sounds about the same in Dimmu (the little you can hear beneath the wall of synth). Pretty much a clean tone with a lot of bass eq'd in.

Metafour · #19 08-08-2008, 09:43 PM

Heres a clip where you can hear some of the bass sound I am looking for.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRSsx...eature=related
I'm not even a big fan of black metal but I like the tone he gets I am wondering if he uses a pedal of any sorts. I guess since its not a strong tone is why I have been recommended a tube screamer although I am not sure it would be the best. Thanks for all the comments guys!

bongomania · #20 08-09-2008, 01:03 AM

Sounds to me like the bass is recorded on at least two tracks (clean and distorted) and it is doubling the low-tuned guitars, so it is nearly impossible to say which is which. IOW the distortion you hear might not even be on the bass.

If I was trying to get that sound on my own, I would get a blender loop (search on "blender") and run a grindy distortion like a GK Diesel Dawg in the loop. The blender allows you to run your clean and effected sounds in parallel and mix them to taste.

I wouldn't get a Tubescreamer, they are too smooth sounding, not gravelly enough for that type of distortion.