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2 Basses, 2 Tunings, 1 Sound?

P

Phry

May 3, 2010
46
0
#1
I have a Schecter Studio 5 and an Ibanez BTB455. I play in a Rock/Progressive/Metal band and we use 2 different tunings in the songs we play that requires me to have 2 basses just cuz the tunings are so far apart. Anyways, I want to be able to match the same tone on both my basses but right now I'm finding it impossible. So my plan here is to sell the Ibanez because I do enjoy the tone of the schecter pretty much the same as the ibanez even though it's quite different. But it's pretty much how light and easy to play the schecter is that makes me want to keep that one more.

So I want to find another Bass that will produce a very similiar tone to the Shecter Studio 5 without having to mess with the EQ and crap on my Amp cuz that takes way too much time in a Live Setting.

So what exactly determines the sound of the Bass? The wood on the body and the pickups? Thanks.

PS. Any recommendations?
 
#2
Well, I'd vote 'strings' as being the biggest factor in sound when it's the same bassist.

What might work, unless you really want to flip the Ibanez, is to get an EQ pedal & use that to get the Ibanez' tone more towards the Schecter's. Stomp your tuner/mute, change basses, stomp the tuner/mute & the EQ & you're ready.
 
#6
savit260 said:
How about another Schecter Studio 5, just tuned differently?

Shouldn't have to mess with e/q much, if at all if it's the same model, with the same strings.

This is why my main and backup are both P basses with the same brand and gauge strings.
Click to expand...

Yeah I've actually thought about that. It just seems kind of funny is all, haha.
 
#7
It won't sound just the same without EQing, even if you get 2 equal basses, because each tuning generates different harmonics and a drop tuning, for instance, will sound bassier than A440 tuning. Just remember how SRV's strat sounds different than other strats, that´s PARTLY due to the 1/2 step down drop tuning (I'm just saying gear wise, with no account on one's playing).
my 2c
 
#8
Only way your really going to get same sound with both is buy another of the same bass. Perhaps diff color if desired, but otherwise same bass. Strings as main factor in sound makes no sense at all. Put same strings on a J a P a couple diff humbucker/soapbar basses and all 4 will sound diff when played by same person. As anyone whose owned diff basses strung with same fave strings allready knows.
 
#9
Yeah, both my basses run Rotosound 77s. I would love to get another Studio 5 cuz I love that bass. Knowing me though, I'm not someone who buys things new, eBay and Craigslist are my friends. It's been impossible to find a Studio 5 in the Black Satin finish, which sucks cuz it looks way better than the one I have.

Maybe I'll look into the Samsamp BDDI.
 
#10
savit260 said:
How about another Schecter Studio 5, just tuned differently?

Shouldn't have to mess with e/q much, if at all if it's the same model, with the same strings.

This is why my main and backup are both P basses with the same brand and gauge strings.
Click to expand...

I would agree with this to a degree. To really do it right, you'd have to experiment with string diameter, using heavier gauge strings on tuned down notes to try to better match tone.

But quite frankly I think that going at it all backwards! If you've got two basic sounds, you should try to KEEP those two basic sounds! Hence the problem isn't trying to get basses to sound alike but rather to find a way to set each up independently for each to give it's own sound as you switch. Hence what you really want is not two identical basses, but rather two identical preamps with enough EQ and options so that each can be set up to give you the tone you want for that bass. Then switch POST EQ rather than before.
 

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