About that vintage tone...

[hennessybass]

I didn't really care for the tone in the first video. To me, the diff was flats. That first video sounded like brand new rounds, tone wide open. In the other videos, the dudes were also using lots of technique - palm muting, etc, and probably rolling back the tone knob a little.

Other thin is the rig... Turn your tweeter off, or way down. Roll off those highs. Etc...

DR flats are great and not mentioned very often. Very similar to LaBellas, but IME and IMO, a little easier to play and almost no break in time.

 

[P. Aaron]

I like the Fender Pure Nickle...after break in they dont have the bright, twangy edge that most rounds do, and are a bit higher tensioned.

DR Low Rider Nickels work well too. Plus, they last.

 

[MRDOOM]

A good example of a vintage tone machine. mmm hmm

 

[taylor16]

P + Chromes + tube amp = good.

 

[4andnomore]

Hello,

So what's the secret :
using flatwounds ? using a vintage pickup ? palm muting ? playing with a pick ?

I'm planning to buy an american standard precision bass, but I'm afraid to be disappointed by the tone...I'm really digging that vintage tone which is pretty uncommon on youtube!

Thank you

Yup, that's pretty much the formula. Plus a decent vintage sounding amp and or DI - Ampeg, Mesa Walkabout, and REDDI come to mind (there are others I'm sure).

You'll be way more than fine with the American Standard and some flats (I prefer LaBellas but again there are plenty of viable options). People tend to overcomplicate these things, ya know?

 

[4andnomore]

Yes, I learned this ahead of time about Labella's so I am leaving them on for a while before I judge. They still have a bit of harshness to them and my fingers stick a bit to the polished surface, but I can hear that they are slowly mellowing out. They are on a new P Bass which is my first (Am Special FSR Nitro Honey Burst) so I like the fact that I get to age them, break them in and funck-ify myself on my own instrument.

Glad to hear you are sticking with them. From my experience, its not the just the break in. When I went from rounds to flats it took me a while to figure out how to coax the tone out of them - lots of subtle differences in technique, tone settings, amp settings etc. Palm muting with a pick will get you into a whole other universe tone-wise.

And that is what I love about the p-bass: no matter what I am trying to achieve it will ALWAYS meet me half way - the other half is up to me. It's a very simple and honest arrangement. Leo was an effing genius.

 

[sxaxsx]

So what's the secret

I'm surprised the obvious hasn't been brought up more? FOAM MUTE! Every video that you said you like (so not the first one) involved a foam mute, except the last one which the guy was palm muting.
The sound you are looking for is flats with a foam mute stuck under the strings.

 

[LowEndWooly]

I thoroughly enjoyed each of those videos.

 

[Rayjay]

I'm surprised the obvious hasn't been brought up more? FOAM MUTE! Every video that you said you like (so not the first one) involved a foam mute, except the last one which the guy was palm muting.
The sound you are looking for is flats with a foam mute stuck under the strings.

Finally, foam, foam, foam at the bridge. Not very much, and not too dense. Scoops and filters out overtones that muddy up the sound a little.

A P bass with old flats and high action is a good place to start, but none of these are necessary.
Foam bridge mutes are another very effective tool.

Its great advice though

 

[Buzz E]

My p bass sounds much better since I introduced it to Gallien Krueger.

 

[TTPbass1]

It depends on the player, technique, strings, and equipment.

I have a brand new 2014 MIM P-Bass, rosewood fretboard and still with the stock Fender NOS strings. Put that thing through my EDEN WTDI, roll off the tone 75% closed and palm mute... Jemerson is in the house...

I'm planning on some Chromes for it, or maybe I'll try with an old set of EB Flats that I have around...

 

[One Drop]

Very little sustain seems to be a hallmark. Could be the bent plate bridge, but more likely broken in flats clogged with skin oils and gunk. I just bought back one of my beauties, and the guy had a set of Sadowsky Black Label Flats in the case. Strung 'em up. Made by Richard Cocco. Sound good right out of the box! Better than any LaBella or other flats I have tried.

I'm a big fan of those strings, I have a beautifully broken in set that came on my '66 P and another on a passive J.

I do believe they are made by LaBella to Sadowsky specs, though.

 

[deeruss]

I'm surprised the obvious hasn't been brought up more? FOAM MUTE! Every video that you said you like (so not the first one) involved a foam mute, except the last one which the guy was palm muting.
The sound you are looking for is flats with a foam mute stuck under the strings.

Hi, how do you know that ? I don't see any foam ??

 

[Mastermold]

Ive always played a Jazz and/or a traditional Stingray, but had always loved the classic P bass tone you hear on so many older recordings, Duck Dunn, etc. I am playing in a classic rock band now and recently bought my first P bass. Initially yes it was somewhat harsh/bright out of the box when played alone. I experimented with different strings and set up, moving from rounds, to pressure wound and currently to La Bella Flats (which I am still breaking in and adjusting to). What Ive discovered is that the P bass tone is best in a band/group setting rather than played alone. What you hear as being a bit harsh or too mid range-y when played alone, blends great when your in a band setting.

I love the P-bass sound, alone or otherwise. YMMV.

 

[sigmafloyd]

check out the GHS demos Dave Pomeroy did, starting with the one on Precision flats:

These vids are a master class on the balance between gear and playing style and are, IMO, the best gear demos on the Internet. I watch his review of the flats and think, that is the sound I want! Then I watch the demo of the pressure wounds and think: that is the sound I want! Same for boomers all the way up to the steels. It shows how versitle Dave is and how versitle a P can be.

 

[TonyP-]

Hello,

Let's be honest, on youtube a Pbass sounds (almost always) like that

Basically I agree...

 

[PSR B1919+21]

Your examples are all flatwound, thats the key. Actually I'm pretty bored with all that vintage fat tone, sometimes my tone is so fat (all tubish here and there) that it start to resonate (due to hollow body) into something like godzilla movie's sound haha

 

[Bodeanly]

IME, I usually get the sound from the first video when I go direct or use headphones. It doesn't matter which bass I am using. If I want a sweet, vintage tone, I rely on my amp/ preamp, regardless of strings/ pup.

 

[PSR B1919+21]

Use monique preamp to get that tone through the headphones (I use tube headphones amp to make it even more fat)

 

[Grant Lockwood]

Always remember 60% of your tone is in your hands. Spend time trying to capture that sound. Also making sure the bass is setup correctly is a major bonus. A well setup squire will play and sound better then a badly set up US bass.

I love my 72' Pbass, in the mix and nothing blends better with the kick drum. Out of the mix not so much but I have my jazz bass for that!

For getting that vintage tone, practice, think Motown, Jackson five, listen to how those players hold the notes and hit the strings. Work on hand position moving your plucking hand closer to the neck and using your thumb. Sure you can spend tons on gear and I have but 60-80% of your tone is in your hands. Finally keep the tone rolled back 50% min