Cover Band Bass Tone?

Kickin'Fruit · #1 08-22-2006, 08:14 AM

Alright, now that I'm just hungover instead of giddy drunk, I'll ask a question. Being that the band I may be playing in plans on playing some covers of a band I don't really listen to, although it's still in the same genre so I'm sure I won't hate it... Should I try to match that bassists tone? Or can I stick with my own and maybe add some of my own flavor to it. Is that acceptable or against Cover Band Etiquette?

badstonebass · #2 08-22-2006, 08:21 AM

Depends on the band. The band I am currently in desires that songs be played as closely as possible to the original. Not exactly my theory but you cannot argue with our success. In the past I liked playing fast and loose with cover tunes. I found success that way as well. You should take it up with your bandmates.

vindy500 · #3 08-22-2006, 08:21 AM

your tone, as long your one is not some heavily overdriven going through a million differnt filters and 10 seconds of delay

Kickin'Fruit · #4 08-22-2006, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vindy500

your tone, as long your one is not some heavily overdriven going through a million differnt filters and 10 seconds of delay

Aw, dang!

just kidding. I just don't want to feel like I have to eq my amp like hell (or maybe it won't be that hard) to dial in this particular bassists tone. Or if the bassist is the one who uses a lot of effects that I might end up feeling like I'll never be able to cover the song because I don't have the right equipment. Is this something I shouldn't worry about?

I will talk it up with them, I haven't started jamming with them yet (see my post on "I got into a band") but I wanted to get a lot of information under my belt before I do meet up with them. This is also really driving me to learn a lot more real quick which I believe is a great thing. So as I understand it, it may also be acceptable to go with a different but similar bassline? Unless of course the bass is the most recognizable feature of the song, right?

fullrangebass · #5 08-22-2006, 08:44 AM

it's really a question of reproducing as close as possible the original or making a cover of the song. In the former you need to identify the chain of bass-strings-amp settings-cabs used (more or less) in order to produce that sound. In the latter case, you may go for your own voice.

Another question (in the last case) is if you are an equal member of the band or a lesser member of the band. If you are an equal member you may try YOUR tone and have the whole of the band try to find the balance in the people involved. If you are a lesser member (or a sub in the bass chair), you need to go by what the others tell you soundwise.

Still if you are known for your voice on the bass, then people ask you to join in for who you are no matter if it's a faithful reproduction or a new cover of a song (remember to always respect the song in every case!!!)

Kickin'Fruit · #6 08-22-2006, 09:00 AM

Well, the friend of mine who invited me to fill the bassist position went about it after learning I played bass that they were in fact looking for a bassist so I should come play with them. He said they will do cover songs but moreover write their own songs. I informed him that I have only been playing several months and he said that's absolutely fine and I didn't need to be "good." Would you interpret this as me not really having to worry about going out and matching cabs and pedals to a bassist I'm not even familiar with for my first band?

I would. However, he did say he and the other bandmembers have been in other bands so are serious about this. I am serious as well. Although I don't have much experience under my belt I am very determined and passionate about Bass as a hobby. I am willing to devote time and effort to making this work as long as I'm still having fun and liking it. The idea of buying equipment that might not appeal to me is not something... appealing. Thanks for the replies.

hartke20g · #7 08-22-2006, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kickin'Fruit

he said that's absolutely fine and I didn't need to be "good."

i interpret that as "stick to the root so i can solo". but that's just me

.
anyway, if they want you to be their fulltime bassist so that you become part of the band, then use your own tone. if you're just subbing, then do what they want. unless you want your own tone anyway. for example, if i were to try out for a band now, i would definately use my own tone and effects (i like to have a LOT of effects) because i don't really like too many other tones. that's also what i do in my current band.

Sundogue · #8 08-22-2006, 04:21 PM

I play in a cover band that plays many styles of music (but for bars, it's mainly rock music).

I have "my" tone, but because of the nature of what I do I like to be able to change my tone for particular pieces. I've got a passive custom made bass (I made cheaply myself) that has P-Bass and Humbucker pickups with a blend control.

We do Twilight Zone, so I use the bridge Humbucker full up, crank the treble and play it with a pick next to the bridge. We do some AC/DC, so I cut the treble a bit, mute the strings next to the bridge and pound the strings with a pick. We sometimes play "...Funky Music..." and I'll do some slap and pop with the mids cut and highs boosted. We do "Never Been Any Reason" by Head East sometimes, and I'll move the blend pot all the way over to my P-Bass pickup and use a pick near the neck, with more treble. Other songs just call for some straight up, mellow fingerstyle.

The are so many styles you can cover simply by altering your technique and the tone controls on the bass itself, without having to resort to expensive gear.

Having said that, there is no rule saying you can't just have the same tone all night long either.

vindy500 · #9 08-22-2006, 04:36 PM

definately play your tone. youll enjoy it more and most punters wouldnt notice the differnce between a ric and a p anyway

nofrets5 · #10 08-22-2006, 04:51 PM

As far as "your tone" goes, as long as you don't play such a unique bass (old Gibson, one pick up with flatwounds, etc) you are probably safe. When I joined a cover group recently, I had to purchase a bass that I thought would cover a lot of ground (I generally only play a fretless 5 string) as some songs just NEED a certain sound. In my case, I knew I need frets for some things, a "familiar" slap tone, as an example. Being that a vast majority of bass guitar ever recorded is "Fender-esque" or hybrids of a Fender design, I ended up purchasing a Korean made G & L Tribute 4 string. It can sound like a P bass type instrument, a Jazz bass type instrument as possibly a Music Man Stingray type tone (depending on opinions) This bass has a lot of options that are VERY useful, and between 3 pickup settings and just rolling off the tone knob, you just about have all you would ever need, for a cover situation, and the soundman RAVED about the good clean tone, I got as well. (Also used the fretless when I could get away with it "Rock This Town" Stray Cats, "Flake" Jack Johnson, "1985" Bowling For Soup. Fretted G & L "Little Miss Can't be Wrong" "Melt With You" "Train In Vain", etc. Bass cost me $500, with a gig bag.

Kickin'Fruit · #11 08-22-2006, 07:40 PM

Cool input. I have a MIM Fender Jazz, I think I can get some different tones out of it by soloing pickups and altering the tone knob. I use Ashdown equipment and I think it's pretty versatile. Just my luck the cover songs have a similar tone (jazz bass) so I think I'm gonna be good.

I don't mind holding the root down, just for now anyway until I build confidence and ability.

Thanks again for the replies

bassbully43 · #12 08-23-2006, 08:45 AM

I play in a classic rock cover band and we cover tunes from the 60-early 80's from stones ,steppenwolf,zevon,bad co, Led Zep. Skynard and even oldies....Beatles,Jonny Rivers, Chuck Berry, Hollies...talk about diffrent tones. I play a MIM Fender V and dumped roundwounds use groundwounds... played with amp eqs and dialed in a classic sound that covers the basic ranges for this era of music. I also adjust my tone pot for some songs and play at diffrent spots on the strings such as near the fretboard or near the bridge to get different tones.You dont have to tone up to each song and i hate petals so this is how i get my sound and i works for me and my band.

Burg · #13 08-23-2006, 09:06 AM

Let's face it, if you're playing covers in a band, 99.9% of the audience isn't going to even notice if your tone is the same as on the original or not.

I say, go with what you like.

Baryonyx · #14 08-23-2006, 09:10 AM

I would stick with using your own take on the original tone. Like if you're covering Level 42 tunes, a P bass through an ampeg is not going to cut it. But try to get a tone that works for you in a live setting. As a whole, the audience will focus on the song, and not the bass tone, which is often indecipherable to the common listener anyway and takes a bit of training to pick out!

The issue is slightly more complicated if you have to use certain instruments. For instance, no Shadows cover band would suceed if the lead player used a Les paul instead of a Strat! However, concentrating on playing the parts right is more important that fiddling with your parametic just to try and emulate "that" sound...

Crazyeelboy · #15 08-23-2006, 09:18 AM

Kickin'-

Unless you are famous for your specific sound (or want to be famous for a specific sound), I say try out a lot of tone variations to see what works. By trying a lot of different things, you will learn how to control the sound better.

That said, though, don't just try to mimic the tone of the original song just to sound like the record. Learn different tones and then apply them as you see fit in your own artistic way. It is a lot more fun that way.

tim99 · #16 08-23-2006, 09:34 AM

I would adjust my overdrive/distortion level to be within range of what that band or typical bands within that type of music do. I might fuss with my pickup blend or my eq a little.

And remember. Tonight, somewhere, the bass player on that recording is playing that song on stage, with a different bass, a different amp, and different effects. Pay attention to interviews of bass players and they will often talk about using a bass that was in the studio or borrowing someone elses bass for that session, and plugging directly into the board, and the producer added the effects later, etc. Stuff that we just can not copy on a song by song basis. Even the diagrams in magazines do not show exact settings for each song, and are usually touring rigs, not studio setups.

Be careful of agreeing to sound exactly like or to play exactly like like the recording. Most of the people who are very very fussy about other people's playing are also very very difficult to please.

Tell your band mates you will try to play the song like on the recording but they need to allow you to play at your level with what equipment you have.

There are some songs that are fairly bass specific, like cumbersome and headstrong. I think we should strive more on those songs to be like the original.

tim99 · #17 08-23-2006, 09:48 AM

The Fulltone Bassdrive pedal has two foot switches that allows for (off - straight to amp basically clean), (switch one - a overdrive) and (switch one and two - distortion). You can adjust the volume levels of these settings.

The new Sansamp Programmable Bass Driver DI by TECH 21 allows for three different volume/overdrive/distortion leves in addition to off/clean.

One of those pedals would give you different distortion levels and different volume levels based on just stepping on switches. It is great to be able to just step on a switch at the beginning of the loud/distorted portion of the song, and step on that switch again at the end when the part gets quieter and less distorted.

B-NoteCowboy · #18 08-25-2006, 11:52 PM

Can't believe nobody has asked who is the bassist you are trying to cover. That might help put the question in context, at least for the slow witted like me.

FrigginChris · #19 08-26-2006, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-NoteCowboy

Can't believe nobody has asked who is the bassist you are trying to cover. That might help put the question in context, at least for the slow witted like me.

I'm getting the idea that they do multiple covers by different bands. A specific players tone might not be needed.

Dkerwood · #20 08-26-2006, 01:17 PM

Heck, most famous original bands don't even match their live tone to their studio tone. As they record more albums and play their "old stuff", do you think they go back and try to emulate the tone they may have been in love with ten years ago? Heck, no!

Personally, I HATE bands who do things live exactly the way that the song sounds in studio. If I want to hear the studio version, I'll stay home, save some bucks, and listen to my CD. I want to hear it played without 5 layers of overdub, without the synth and string sections tracks on top of the 4 piece band, and without the choir singing in the background. Come on, now. Give me something REAL instead of a fictionally constructed soundscape.

(Rant over. FWIW, the rant was directed at Matchbox 20 - the worst, overpaid concert I've ever been to.)

To answer your question - do it your way. That's my opinion at least.