tone hammer/ xciter etc..

bacehead · #1 05-16-2009, 10:39 AM

I have an SVT III that I like sometimes. Ive been looking at the aguilar tone hammer and the Aphex bass xciter to add some punch and hi-fi sound to my rig (410 cab) I have a bass overdrive that I built so the dirt side is covered. I played a G_K 700 rb and really liked the sound but Im afraid if i get rid of the ampeg i will begin to miss some of it characteristic sound. Any suggestions or advice? I play mostly slap and fingerstyle... any suggestions for a good 410 to help with this problem are appreciated.
thanks s

bacehead · #2 05-17-2009, 11:55 AM

Come on give me a comparison

stflbn · #3 05-18-2009, 12:28 PM

Ummm, I'm not sure what you're asking to have compared. The original post seems like just a statement about what he's looking to get and then a request for suggestions for a good 410 to help with a problem that he doesn't mention.

Probably just me.

RickenBoogie · #4 05-18-2009, 01:38 PM

+1 confusing first post. Maybe tighten it up a bit, or try again.

bacehead · #5 05-18-2009, 01:55 PM

sorry, Im looking for a comparison between the tone hammer and the xciter.. tyring to get this slap tone...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kqXic5aY4

Im using a SVT III, 410, MM or Jazz MIA... can it eq out to the above?

bacehead · #6 05-18-2009, 02:05 PM

here it is

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2kqXic5aY4

bacehead · #7 05-18-2009, 02:06 PM

I seem to have to much treble or something...

stflbn · #8 05-18-2009, 02:31 PM

IMHO, and from looking at your profile and posts in the past regarding getting slap tone, it seems you should do some searching regarding how to get good slap tone out of your bass and amp, strings that can help, etc.

But the vast majority of it comes down to technique and EQ settings.

RHFusillo · #9 05-18-2009, 02:56 PM

I have owned the bass xciter, and what it does can best be described (with my limited vocabulary) as making a small amp sound big. That does not sound like what what you need. I have not owned the Tone Hammer -- just ordered one -- but it's a 3-band EQ pedal that can add some grit to your sound.

As for optimizing your slap tone, I can offer no advice.

bacehead · #10 05-19-2009, 04:37 PM

EQing I think is my problem... I use nickle round wound strings SIT or Slow Wound Diaddario.... and yes I have had equipment issues but have come to the conclusion that theres nothing wrong with an Ampeg SVT III and that my 410 may be a bit limiting... I started on bass then went to guitar for years and am now revisiting bass, IM not saying I have the best slap technique but I can pull off some Miller, Flea, Jaquo, etc.. I just cant get that sound Im looking for and I cant describe it, its not the pop but the thump, if that makes sense.???

bacehead · #11 05-19-2009, 06:06 PM

I really like the clip of vivi rama on the aguilar site... thats whats in my head..

seacouch · #12 05-19-2009, 11:15 PM

I'm doubting you're going to find what you're looking for in a pedal. Having said that, you might like the xotic rc bass booster. It's basically a very well-tuned tone control - works well for slap tone.
An awful lot of the slap and pop tone comes from your bass, and the sound characteristics of the materials. Obviously this is always true, but IMO especially so with slap/pop techniques, which really expose the basic characteristic sound of the wood your bass is made of. Nothing beats that one-in-a-million mutant bass, made of the right combination of woods, the right densities, hardware, etc. Rings like a bell. You can't get that with a pedal or amp. You can enhance it, but you really can't simulate it if it's not there to begin with.

bongomania · #13 05-20-2009, 12:12 AM

I don't really want to disagree with that, it sounds reasonable, but OTOH I have heard great slap tones come from the crappiest "toy"/beginner basses, in the hands of a really skilled player. After seeing and hearing what a serious-chops slapper can do with even the cheapest of basses and amps, I firmly believe that good slap tone is almost exclusively technique. I would only recommend gear such as EQ, compression, exciters, etc. to somebody who was already getting great slap tones from their hands, and just wanting to dial it in to an even more professional level.

FreaqyFrequency · #14 05-20-2009, 12:27 AM

Bongo bingo.

Otherwise known as, +1.

newbold · #15 05-20-2009, 12:27 AM

It seems as though the tonehammer would be able to get better overall tone, not just a better slap tone.

FreaqyFrequency · #16 05-20-2009, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newbold

It seems as though the tonehammer would be able to get better overall tone, not just a better slap tone.

Better is subjective. If you dig the Aguilar drive tone, if you dig the Aguilar tone-shaping circuit, if you dig the Aguilar gain stage and the tone it presents to your signal, then I would say it is better. If you don't, then it will only impede your search for your personal "holy grail" of tone.

seacouch · #17 05-20-2009, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

I don't really want to disagree with that, it sounds reasonable, but OTOH I have heard great slap tones come from the crappiest "toy"/beginner basses, in the hands of a really skilled player. After seeing and hearing what a serious-chops slapper can do with even the cheapest of basses and amps, I firmly believe that good slap tone is almost exclusively technique. I would only recommend gear such as EQ, compression, exciters, etc. to somebody who was already getting great slap tones from their hands, and just wanting to dial it in to an even more professional level.

I agree that technique is probably the most important element. Without that, frankly you're going to sound like crap no matter what instrument you play. But I've had my share of experience both trying to coax a decent sound out of an uncooperative bass, and playing someone else's bass that sounded so much better, and made me sound better. I think the most magical funk bass I ever played was a jazz bass that Kai Eckhardt brought to Boston with him from Germany. Of course it sounded great when he played it, but when I played it, it made me sound MUCH better than I'd ever sounded. It was a revelation. The nicest sounding funk bass I've owned was an early EB Musicman Stingray 4. She was a beauty - I kick myself for letting her go.

bacehead · #18 05-20-2009, 02:04 PM

gonna give a comp a try and am still looking at the xciter or tone hammer.....

seacouch · #19 05-20-2009, 02:08 PM

Good luck! Let us know what you think.