I have a gig coming up but I haven’t really used the amp before can anyone recommend bass settings for Dreams and The Chain fleetwood mac, for a Boss Katana amp?
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Amp settings for fleetwood mac
- Thread starter L0zzA12
- Start date
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Don't worry about matching an exact eq from an album. Find what fits best in the band mix on stage.
Welcome to TB!
John McVie had a fair collection of basses in rotation. He used whatever was inspiring him at the time. Some have reported that John used an Alembic throughout the "Rumors" album, which is a bass with a very distinct voice.
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/the-many-basses-of-john-mcvie.1304875/
You can adjust your instrument's EQ and the EQ on your amp to give you a tone that's in the ballpark, but experimentation is going to be your best guide.
His tone is clear without hype, meaning no extreme EQ. Back off the bass a tad and find the right mid setting(s).
John McVie had a fair collection of basses in rotation. He used whatever was inspiring him at the time. Some have reported that John used an Alembic throughout the "Rumors" album, which is a bass with a very distinct voice.
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/the-many-basses-of-john-mcvie.1304875/
You can adjust your instrument's EQ and the EQ on your amp to give you a tone that's in the ballpark, but experimentation is going to be your best guide.
His tone is clear without hype, meaning no extreme EQ. Back off the bass a tad and find the right mid setting(s).
I agree, you should Go Your Own Way with eq settings. Be aware though, that too much extreme eq in The Chain could result in a Landslide of poor tone. Don’t Stop thinking about McVie’s gear, but look Everywhere for inspiration.
The short answer is it won't matter a damn to your audience. The most memorable things about the last incarnation of Fleetwood Mac were : (a) the melodies, (b) the female voices, and (c) the lyrics. IMO of course 
Use whatever EQ setting fits best in the mix with the other instrumentation in your band.
Use whatever EQ setting fits best in the mix with the other instrumentation in your band.
Just go for a solid straight-ahead bass sound - this is one situation where it is absolutely not rocket science. Also depends on what bass you're playing obviously but there's nothing terribly unique about his tone(s).
If you're going for accuracy play with your fingers and a pick depending on the tune if you're good with both - "Chain" is pickstyle, "Dreams" is fingerstyle(AFAIK)--that's a big part of his thing (but either works for these tunes honestly). Lock in with the drummer and mostly have fun--those are great tunes to play!
If you're going for accuracy play with your fingers and a pick depending on the tune if you're good with both - "Chain" is pickstyle, "Dreams" is fingerstyle(AFAIK)--that's a big part of his thing (but either works for these tunes honestly). Lock in with the drummer and mostly have fun--those are great tunes to play!
Last edited:
I would set ANY amp I've never used live, FLAT with no EQ adjustments, and wait until after a soundcheck in the particular room, then use your ears to help craft the sound as you hear and think it should be. Depending on the room, bass used, volume of the band, and pretty much EVERY other musical gig detail, take those things as a whole into account and make adjustments to the amp or bass and the placement of the amp and your vantage point and reference point of hearing the amp, and... and... and...
I think the most important thing is avoiding dialing in a sound you know Fleetwood Mac is NOT. So no Jaco Pastorius sound. No Flea/RHCP sound, No Mark King Level 42 sound. Get a good middle ground of usable tone in the moment. Finesse the tone in future gigs. Maybe ultimately you might be able, in your mind, to perfect it. Enjoy the journey and the hunt.
Just go for it, I’m in an FM tribute and have used a precision, jazz, and now a stingray because frankly it’s the best bass I have. Just pay attention to the groove and you’ll be fine.
I have gotten the closest to John’s tone with a 60’s jazz bass, flatwounds, and a pick.
Agree with the crowd could give rip. Just make sure you play the riff on The Chain properly, they will notice that more than your tone.
I've played both of those songs with a group. I use a Jazz bass with the V, V, T, controls turned all the way up. I use Eden and DNA amps which have very clear, clean, and warm sound with a focused (not boomy) bottom end. I run the Eden amps flat with the exception of a boost in the low-mids at 250Hz up to 1:30. With the DNA amp and the WTDI I run the same low-mids boost but it's at 550Hz. With the DNA amp I have to boost the bass to 1 o'clock to get the same sound I get out of my Eden amps when they are set flat because the Eden Bass EQ shelves at 30Hz and the DNA one shelves at 35Hz.
That slight boost in the low mids is what gives the bass presence and definition in the mix and John McVie's sound was always present and well defined.
More important than the sound is technique, play clean, play tight with the drums and stay in the groove.
The OP was asking for amp EQ and tonal suggestions, not ones on technique. So I responded accordingly. Thanks.
Just play what you got. Hit the right notes, make it groove and sound like you.
Nothing else matters.
Nothing else matters.
No offense intended, I though your response spot on
Latest posts
-
-
Vintage German parlour looks classical but needs steel strings?
- Latest: bass player 53
-
Adding J pup to P bass, should I go 60’s or 70’s spacing?- Latest: secondbestcody
-
