Getting really fat, Jazz fusion bass tone?

[Cammy511]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GedhY2KbM8I I want to get a tone much like this one. I figured my attack wasn't good enough so I worked on my playing for quite while and I got a little closer but still it sounds to harsh and not smooth enough.

My equipment:

Ibanez SR 705 With Bartolini MK-1

Genz.Benz Shuttle 3.0 with a 12 inch cab.

[Swipter]

Some may be your setup. The farther the strings from the fret board the more difficult that growl is. My Pedulla sounds a lot like that and plays like butter, I was told by someone I once played with. My fender on the other hand? I cannot get the strings as close and have more issues with that tone. I did change my approach some on that bass due to this. I think the guy in the video has a super close setup as he is not hitting strings very hard. This will lead to greater flexibility for finger type effects.

[spz8]

Yeah, that tone is pretty sweet, plus having killer skills sure doesn't hurt! Try panning your P/U balance in favor of the bridge pickup. Boost EQ at 250Hz for some added burp, and trim a little at 800Hz to 1kHz to tame harshness. Treble sizzle to taste, but too much can add to the harshness.

[colcifer]

Technique is a big part of it. Pluck near the bridge, use a light touch.

[john m]

Low mids and mids are boosted and playing close to the bridge is important to get this sound.

Interesting that the player in the video only has a neck pickup although the sound is very "bridgie".

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Originally Posted by john m

Interesting that the player in the video only has a neck pickup although the sound is very "bridgie".

It's dark in the video, but there's definitely two pickups and it sounds like a bridge pickup to me, or favoured in that direction if there's a pan/blend.

I wouldn't describe this tone as fat, but it does suit the music. Great playing all around.

[rimbaud]

The first thing to do is to burn those @"'(é!àç_è(-" MK-1 and to replace them ... that's the first thing to do when you receive a Cor-Tek built bass that says having barts pickups...

[socialleper]

Originally Posted by Swipter

Some may be your setup. The farther the strings from the fret board the more difficult that growl is. My Pedulla sounds a lot like that and plays like butter, I was told by someone I once played with. My fender on the other hand? I cannot get the strings as close and have more issues with that tone. I did change my approach some on that bass due to this. I think the guy in the video has a super close setup as he is not hitting strings very hard. This will lead to greater flexibility for finger type effects.

For whatever its worth I took some lessons from Ric in the late 90's and he played a Pedulla at the time. I can't remember if it was a a Thunder Bolt or Thunder Bass. He is definitely a fan of that low growly tone. He is a great bass player; its unfortunate that's he's never really "made it big."

[brendanbassist]

Originally Posted by john m

...
Interesting that the player in the video only has a neck pickup although the sound is very "bridgie".

There are two pickups.

["Q"]

I can't say for certain but, the bridge pickup looks like a Bartolini MM. And he's playing on top of it or even behind it sometimes. Not surprising he's getting the sound he is and not really a sound you can get from just any setup either.

[narud]

Originally Posted by "Q"

I can't say for certain but, the bridge pickup looks like a Bartolini MM. And he's playing on top of it or even behind it sometimes. Not surprising he's getting the sound he is and not really a sound you can get from just any setup either.

theres another video he did for xotic that shows this bass. its two kent armstrong humbuckers.

["Q"]

Is this the one?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9mJxftqGtQ

[narud]

Originally Posted by "Q"

Is this the one?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9mJxftqGtQ

looks like the video. fwiw, when ive seen him live playing the pedulla with emg's, his sound was pretty similar. low mid burpy with that tight playing by the bridge sound.