How Do I get This Sound?

G

gotmule?

Apr 24, 2008

223

2

May 19, 2008

#1

• May 19, 2008

• #1

I am buying some strings tomorrow and was wondering what strings I should buy to get close to this tone. I have a Squier 70's Jazz Bass. Thanks!

 

P

Parabolic Box

Mar 9, 2008

1,238

7

Burnaby, BC, Canada

May 20, 2008

#2

• May 20, 2008

• #2

Sounds like flatwound strings. And probably solo the neck pickup... but that 'cause a bit of undesired hum.

 

B

Buskman

Apr 13, 2007

2,164

44

Jersey Shore, USA

May 20, 2008

#3

• May 20, 2008

• #3

Parabolic Box said:

Sounds like flatwound strings. And probably solo the neck pickup... but that 'cause a bit of undesired hum.

Click to expand...

I agree. Flats (I'd recommend Chromes, since they're slightly brighter overall), but I wouldn't solo the neck pickup, just roll the bridge pickup slightly back (about 25% or so). Tone knob back about 1/4 also. All IMHO, of course.

BTW - Andy Hess groooves!

 

Davo-London

Sep 17, 2007

1,367

62

London, England

May 20, 2008

#4

• May 20, 2008

• #4

Play the neck PU and turn down the tone pot.

Davo

 

slejhamer

Aug 1, 2006

207

38

Winston-Salem, NC

May 20, 2008

#5

• May 20, 2008

• #5

According to this site:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

He does indeed use "D'addario flatties" which of course would be Chromes.

 

G

gotmule?

Apr 24, 2008

223

2

May 20, 2008

#6

• May 20, 2008

• #6

slejhamer said:

According to this site:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

He does indeed use "D'addario flatties" which of course would be Chromes.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the link. I will probably go with these then.

 

Tom Howland

Gold Supporting Member

Feb 11, 2003

9,971

1,297

May 23, 2008

#7

• May 23, 2008

• #7

60's P-bass.
Flats.
two SVT heads
Two 8x10 cabs.

And a great band to play with.

 

Chris Breese

Dec 12, 1999

1,549

486

54

Middle of IL USA

May 23, 2008

#8

• May 23, 2008

• #8

I don't really care for his tone, but that's just me. I've seen the Mule twice, the first time with Allen Woody and the second with Hess. Hess is a great player, but without any top end, he got lost in the mix the time I saw him.

The quality in that vid is pretty good, so it's easy to see his tone not cutting through when the band starts to get heavy.

 

One Drop

Oct 10, 2004

6,081

3,789

Swiss Alps

May 24, 2008

#9

• May 24, 2008

• #9

+1 to everything above.

Rolling up the tone knob on a bit more or dialling in some more trble on the head would get a lot more cut with Chromes, but I doubt that's the sound he wants.

Cut is overrated sometimes, but our ears have become accustomed to hearing the bass more clearly these days, I guess. Blend is my friend.

 

Thangfish

...overly qualified for janitorical deployment...

Sep 3, 2006

1,223

37

Carthage, NC USA 28327

May 24, 2008

#10

• May 24, 2008

• #10

Just a couple shots I got at a Mule show in April 2008

 

Bassist4Life

Dec 17, 2004

3,581

50

52

Buffalo, NY

May 24, 2008

#11

• May 24, 2008

• #11

I'm thinking:

1. P-Bass
2. Flats (Maybe some sweet TI Jazz Flats)
3. Tube amp

In that order.

 

ljazz

Dec 10, 2002

2,236

860

Cookeville, TN

May 26, 2008

#12

• May 26, 2008

• #12

Those don't look or sound like chromes to me. The dark blue silks stand out like a sore thumb against the maple headstock...... these look like there is no silk.

Anyway, I think his sound is awesome. I'm sure I'll get shot down for this, but I dig his sound and playing much better than Allen Woody's.

And Gov't Mule is a great band.

Ljazz

 

B

Bluesbreaker5

Mar 24, 2006

269

0

May 26, 2008

#13

• May 26, 2008

• #13

I've got the same bass and put Fender Tapewounds on it. Using the neck pickup only I get just about the same sound. And the black tapewounds look awesome on that bass!