What's YOUR "secret weapon?" (tone/gear talk)

DanielleMuscato · May 17, 2006

What's your "secret weapon?" Everybody's got their one thing that really *makes* your tone... I'd love to put together a collection of ideas for great tone tweaks.

Personally, I would have to say my Aphex Bass Xciter pedal. I wrote a review in the Gear Review section. It's punch and clarity in a box - highly recommended and doubles as a DI.

Secondly, I would say GrooveTubes' Fat Finger. It's just a chrome-plated brass clamp that attaches to your headstock and adds mass to your instrument. I have two of them on my main bass and I'd say it increases my sustain at least 50%. They are really amazing.

So, what's your secret weapon?

P.S. Looking for gear suggestions, folks... we all know tone is in your fingers, but let's go beyond that too

DanielleMuscato · May 17, 2006

I posed this question to local guitar hero (and my old teacher) Tom Williams. He swears by this stuff...

Link Removed

Finger Ease - read some of the reviews below.

flatwoundfender · May 17, 2006

My fingers/hands.

elros · May 17, 2006

In terms of gear: The Invalid Link Removed. It has some mods of my own, and in combination with how I play the bass, it can replicate some elements of the Tony Levin style super-fat tone. It has that extra-punchy attack, and a moderate increase in sustain. I've had nothing but good compliments on my tone whenever I use it.

Peter McFerrin · May 17, 2006

flatwoundfender said:
My fingers/hands.

Well, duh.

Peter McFerrin · May 17, 2006

For me, I'd say it's Fodera Diamond stainless steel strings, .050-.135. The super-heavy gauge makes for a delightfully punchy, articulate tone that records beautifully.

The BurgerMeister · May 17, 2006

i'd say, first of all.... my '74 jazz. it all starts there. and then, my programmable sansamp bddi. i have a whole crappybuttload of other pedals, but all of their sounds are based on the bddi.

the amp is an svt2. but whatever. that's just to amplify the sound.

Pacman · May 17, 2006

My ears.

nonohmic · May 17, 2006

At the moment I get the best tone i can get out of my me-50b, but obviously in the scheme of things it aint that great.

But i have a good time ahead of me in finding a tone, new amp is next and the more i hear about the bass xciter the more i want one.

bmc · May 17, 2006

Sadowsky Outboard Preamp. Lost without it.

BurningSkies · May 17, 2006

flatwoundfender said:
My fingers/hands.

Interesting tip. I've never tried these before. Maybe that's the problem with my tone.

Indi86 · May 17, 2006

My AG500, or DR Strings. Probably a tie.

Adam Barkley · May 17, 2006

My BJF Blueberry.

ric1312 · May 17, 2006

Bongo Musicman Bass EQ'd as per style of song / straight in + Bose 2bass module PAS = Me in bass tone heaven.

bajistapromedio · May 17, 2006

For me it is my strings. Many guys who play the same mid grade (cheap) bass as me have come up to me after a show and said "howcome my bass dosn't sound so good?" Since I got my Sadowsky DI/Pre I think it makes a bigger difference than the strings.

Folmeister · May 17, 2006

The voices in my head that tell me what to do. That, or elfin magic.

Stubb · May 17, 2006

The lack of frets. A lot of people don't notice I'm playing fretless at first, but then some of those little tasty slides start coming out.

Craig Garfinkel · May 17, 2006

My secret weapon is a secret.

Slater · May 17, 2006

Um, it's a secret! :hiding:

Marcus · May 17, 2006

While these are no secret to any of you guys, the secret to my sound comes from DR strings. I've tried others but they just can't match the longevity and tone of DRs.

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What's YOUR "secret weapon?" (tone/gear talk)

More options

DanielleMuscato

DanielleMuscato

flatwoundfender

elros

Peter McFerrin

Peter McFerrin

The BurgerMeister

musician.

Pacman

Layin' Down Time

nonohmic

bmc

BurningSkies

CRAZY BALDHEAD

Indi86

Adam Barkley

Mayday!

ric1312

bajistapromedio

Folmeister

Knowledge is Good - Emile Faber

Stubb

Craig Garfinkel

Slater

Leave that thing alone.

Marcus

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