THIS tone!

[bassslater19876]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHe8a-H1b-Q(1:10 in the video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbq2r...eature=related

I would kill to get my bass to sound this way! But, unfortunately, it sounds more like http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPJnGCV6634
Dull, theres no pop, no growl, its empty.

How do I get a tone similar to the first two videos?? It's beautiful.
Is it overdriven tubes? Specific pickups? Does anyone's bass here sound this way or am I chasing a pipe dream?
Both of those bands have no equipment details, otherwise I would look there.

Really, I am killing for that tone and have been.

[Tim Skaggs]

Looks like you need an SVT cabinet for sure. Can't tell much beyond that

[PJRL]

To me it sounds like a Jazz Bass, both p-ups. No a lot more really...

[bassslater19876]

Originally Posted by PJRL

To me it sounds like a Jazz Bass, both p-ups. No a lot more really...

I figured so, only problem I have is everything about my current bass is out of this world, minus the sound.
So, any soapbar sized, jazz sounding pickups you know about?

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by bassslater19876

I figured so, only problem I have is everything about my current bass is out of this world, minus the sound.
So, any soapbar sized, jazz sounding pickups you know about?

What kind of bass do you play?

None of those recordings sound like Jazz pickups... they aren't bright enough. They sound like bright humbuckers.

Kind of like this:

Neo Soapbars

I make all kinds of soapbars, even with Jazz sounding pickups inside.

Or even brighter:

Sidewinders+ soapbars

[Thunderthumbs73]

Originally Posted by bassslater19876

I would kill to get my bass to sound this way! How do I get a tone similar to the first two videos?? It's beautiful. Is it overdriven tubes? Specific pickups? Does anyone's bass here sound this way or am I chasing a pipe dream? Both of those bands have no equipment details, otherwise I would look there.

Really, I am killing for that tone and have been.

What are the details and specifics of YOUR gear?

[bassslater19876]

SGD, I was looking at your pickups awhile ago. They seemed pretty spot on, or atleast the closest I could come within the soapbar limits.
http://www.sgd-lutherie.com/pages/SW4-BC4.html
I have this bookmarked for a reason!
As for what I play, it's a stock Laguna Ocean TB70, Bartolini MK1 pup's, and an unnamed preamp. It's more than likley a Bartolini MK1 aswell, but theres an on/off switch for the preamp, its unlisted on the website, and its strung with flats.
I run it through an Acoustic B20 practice amp, would you guys like sound clips?

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by bassslater19876

SGD, I was looking at your pickups awhile ago. They seemed pretty spot on, or atleast the closest I could come within the soapbar limits.
http://www.sgd-lutherie.com/pages/SW4-BC4.html
I have this bookmarked for a reason!

Thanks!

...and its strung with flats.

Well that's part of the problem. The tone you are looking for in those clips is from round wounds.

That's where the dullness and lack of pop and growl is coming from. I like flats, but they are mellow.

You can hear the same bass, same pickups, that I posted with the rounds, with TI flats:

Neos with flats

Here's the Sidewinders I posted above, with D'Addario halfrounds. Same bass, same pickups.

Sidewinders with Halfrounds

So you can hear that it makes the bass and the pickups sound totally different.

So the first thing you should do is put some round wounds on the bass and see what you get.

[AMJBASS]

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

What kind of bass do you play?

None of those recordings sound like Jazz pickups... they aren't bright enough. They sound like bright humbuckers.

Kind of like this:

Neo Soapbars

I make all kinds of soapbars, even with Jazz sounding pickups inside.

Or even brighter:

Sidewinders+ soapbars

I agree sounds more like humbuckers(with roundwounds). I will say this, and don't take it the wrong way at all. Practicing a lot will get you a lot closer to the tone you hear in your head than buying gear. Good gear helps, but your hands are more important still.

[bassslater19876]

Thanks for the advice, but I went out and went from noon on all my setting, to throwing a whole lotta bass and mid range. That oomphed it up, and got it a good mix between the two tones I was going for. I did give the my rounds a try, defiantly brighter, but I'm sticking with my small investment.
I more or less find what I want in my EQ all the time, thanks for the help anyways though! And David, your if I ever decide I want need new pickups, your in the top of my list.

[KingRazor]

Can't hardly hear the bass in these videos. :P

[wonderjosh]

Originally Posted by KingRazor

Can't hardly hear the bass in these videos. :P

+1

Those recordings are quite the mess.

[dasheya]

Seems to me the lack of bass presence in the Motley Crue vid had a lot to do with the recording/mixing style (listening to this on studio monitors), and the coolness and fatness on the other videos had a lot to do with the kick/bass sync (beautiful looseness, actually). Just a thought. David, love the sound of the neo-soapbars!

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by dasheya

David, love the sound of the neo-soapbars!

Thanks!