Looking for specific sound/s, no idea where to start

[LiveWire424]

I've look at pedals since I've started playing bass but never had the courage to delve in and purchase anything. I want "old school" heavy sound, like early Sabbath, but I have no idea how to go about getting that sound. Obviously, bass and amp play a large role in sound but I know I need a little more of a push.

[Mushroo]

Tell us about your bass and amp, for starters.

"Old school" bass players usually didn't use a lot of pedals. I believe Geezer Butler has said in an interview that he just turned his crappy amp with busted speakers up really loud. Anyway I'm sure there are plenty of "Geezer Butler gear" pages here on talkbass if you're curious how he did it.

Geezer Butler.

[AdamR]

Tech 21 Oxford does a great Geezer Butler tone.

[scottfeldstein]

Originally Posted by AdamR

Tech 21 Oxford does a great Geezer Butler tone.

I bet you're right! I've heard it do an amazing job for the John Entwistle sound. Roll off some highs and you probably have a passable Geezer.

[garmenteros]

I play in a sabbath tribute band and just use a precision with flats and for the distortion of the first two albums I use an Electroharmonix bigbass muff. I also use an ebs valvedrive to fatten up my signal before sending the bass to FOH. Look at your technique as well. Use your fingers instead of a pick between the end of the neck and p pickup. You'll get reasonably close this way. I don't think geezer ever used delay but I have a lot of fun using slight delay in black sabbath and planet caravan and it helps for the mood of the songs.

[scottfeldstein]

Originally Posted by garmenteros

I also use an ebs valvedrive to fatten up my signal before sending the bass to FOH. Look at your technique as well. Use your fingers instead of a pick between the end of the neck and p pickup.

Yeah, I bet you do! The ValveDrive would be perfect. And he does have that finger-by-the-neck sound.

[blindrabbit]

W&C Tall Font Russian is kind of like Sabbath in a box. Give it a shot.