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Are we ever satisfied with our tone?

#63
I never cared about my tone. It changes everytime. I used to study music a lot and so my tone was my last thing on my mind. All I wanted is clarity, enough clarity so I could tell if I'm wrong or not and of course that it fits a little bit at least.

I sure do not chase recording tone either, those are impossible to get since all the compression and studio magic...
 
#65
bumperbass said:
Isn't this tone thing an endless cycle? Personally, I keep seeking tone nirvana and I'm not sure if there's ever an end to it, and I don't think I'm alone. There are some nights that what I hear is nearly, 'kind of pretty close' to what's in my head, but more times than not, the room doesn't cooperate. There is ONE place I've played where I live that actually makes my bass sound ALMOST exactly what I want it to sound but still, I feel there's something missing. I can't even describe what's missing most of the time, but that's what makes this endless 'holy grail tone' thing an endless search. Couple that with all these descriptions of tone bass players tend to use, such as 'grunt' 'punch', 'tight', 'tubey', etc. and I go into a tailspin trying to figure out what gadget, amp, cab, string, is going to get me "closer".

I also feel that, of all instruments in a typical cover band, the bass is the hardest to get a good tone from, only slightly rivaled by getting a good kick tone, but bass is definitely harder.
I might be saying this because I'm not a guitar player, but in my mind they can easily get a pretty decent tone with most any well-repected amp-speaker setup.
I wish I had the chance to take 3 amps and/or 3 cabs to a gig to compare through the night.
It's frustrating because music stores typically have very few brands/models to choose from in stock and even if you try them out in a store, that's nowhere near how they'll sound on a gig.
Now I see why so many people are trading in the classifieds. Youtube videos don't seem to help, either.
Guess I'm going to exercise the 'if you don't like it, send it back' option some online retailers offer. I never have done this because I feel like if I try something and send it back, it's typically USED, right? And the retailer takes a hit, right or wrong?

Maybe this search for tone is part of the journey, and I should just enjoy the trip rather than find the destination.
Click to expand...
ive been playing bass for 22 years now. The gear stuff is a journey. And it can be a fun journey as long as you're not stressing yourself out financially. My taste in "flavors" has changed throughout the years.

I think the number one thing is just to practice. So much of "tone" with bass comes from the player. sure there's a bunch of gear to get different "flavors". For example Roundwound strings vs flatwounds or tapewounds, a P bass vs a Fodera, or an all tube SVT vs hi fi clean SWR, even speakers can have different characteristics. And you may prefer different gear depending on taste and that's what makes gear fun. But good/bad tone in general most of the time comes down to the player from my experience. A really good bass player can make even average gear sound better than an amateur with the most expensive gear money can buy.
 
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#66
I have discovered where I pick on the strings makes a big difference, and gets me similar tones between different basses and rigs. What held me back was the tendency to pick where it was comfortable, where I had a place to rest my thumb. When I apply the discipline to let tone results determine where I strike the strings, I like what I hear.
 
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#67
Once in a while, the sound in my ears is really good, tye stage is shaking, and all is right with tge world. Next gig, sometimes at the same place...what happened?

I think sometimes I play really well when the sound sucks, though - through sheer power of will I drag notes out of the bass, and I think most of the time it sounds good through FOH.
 
#71
I think you have to jeep riminding yourself that the studio is not live. And live is not the studio. What works in one environment may not (and often doesn't) work in the other. The studio is the place to pursue absolute and uncompromising sonic excellence. Live is a series of compromises with the aim of attaining the best possible overall balance and mix.

So when speaking of things like 'tone' it's important to remind yourself which environment you're in and what the goal is.

I'm generally happy with my "road sound" and almost always happy with my recorded sound.
 
#72
I found my guitar sound (strat and mesa) right away and never will gas for guitar gear again. But bass is a Neverending Story of never good enough. Maybe that's why I'm a better bass guy.
 
#75
I guess I found my perfect tone. I usually play at low volume or in headphones because 99% of my playing is practicing. it sounds nice. When I play at higher volumes, it sounds better, the bass is more powerful, and I'm very happy with it. I've played with a few stage sound systems and it really sounded killer because the sound was fuller and louder.

Overall I'm happy and not looking for anything. I'm going to purchase my second pedal, an octave pedal. Nothing else.
 
#77
Thanks for all the replies, people. Sometimes I think what we hear on a favorite recording cannot be perfectly modeled playing live. Over the years you hear recordings and when a song comes on with that tone you like, you identify with it and try to get the same type of flavor. I think it's impossible to attain the same tone that has been captured in a recording studio, i.e. an Ampeg B-15 mic'd, DI signal from something else, compressed to the hilt, EQ'd on the mixer, mixed for hours on mixdown, etc. I really am almost there. What bothers me is the GAS. Will I sound better with "X" amp? "Y" speakers, "Z" strings?
Right now I use a Sansamp RPM (I tend to like the "Ampeg sound" because my blend is ALWAYS dimed) with a Crown Xli 1500 power amp. I use DR nickel lo-riders (which was a drastic improvement) on a Pbass with '62 pickups. I have a GK 212-II Neo and a 112-II Neo (which has a 16 ohm speaker in it so all 3 speakers get the same power) stacked. I think the bass is fine as it is. I just can't quit looking at heads. Drives me crazy. Bassman 500? GK MB800 Fusion, Mesa Subway D800 (+)......
I think I should stay away from this forum and just play.
 
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#78
bumperbass said:
Isn't this tone thing an endless cycle? Personally, I keep seeking tone nirvana and I'm not sure if there's ever an end to it, and I don't think I'm alone. There are some nights that what I hear is nearly, 'kind of pretty close' to what's in my head, but more times than not, the room doesn't cooperate. There is ONE place I've played where I live that actually makes my bass sound ALMOST exactly what I want it to sound but still, I feel there's something missing. I can't even describe what's missing most of the time, but that's what makes this endless 'holy grail tone' thing an endless search. Couple that with all these descriptions of tone bass players tend to use, such as 'grunt' 'punch', 'tight', 'tubey', etc. and I go into a tailspin trying to figure out what gadget, amp, cab, string, is going to get me "closer".

I also feel that, of all instruments in a typical cover band, the bass is the hardest to get a good tone from, only slightly rivaled by getting a good kick tone, but bass is definitely harder.
I might be saying this because I'm not a guitar player, but in my mind they can easily get a pretty decent tone with most any well-repected amp-speaker setup.
I wish I had the chance to take 3 amps and/or 3 cabs to a gig to compare through the night.
It's frustrating because music stores typically have very few brands/models to choose from in stock and even if you try them out in a store, that's nowhere near how they'll sound on a gig.
Now I see why so many people are trading in the classifieds. Youtube videos don't seem to help, either.
Guess I'm going to exercise the 'if you don't like it, send it back' option some online retailers offer. I never have done this because I feel like if I try something and send it back, it's typically USED, right? And the retailer takes a hit, right or wrong?

Maybe this search for tone is part of the journey, and I should just enjoy the trip rather than find the destination.
Click to expand...


It's a Catch 22.

We take up bass because we like the sound and tone of a bass.

But the minute we buy it and play it...there's this "something" that we need in the tone that isn't there.

I am in this place. It is a living Hell.
 
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#80
I understand completely and have the same issue. My problem is I can't have a ton of gear laying around, so I keep only 2 rigs. I love and play lots of different music, so I don't always have the right gear for the project. After coming out of a rock band where I was 98% satisfied, now I'm starting a metal/hard rock project and the gear gets me about 45% of what I need. With the introduction of the Tech21 signature sansamp of Geddy Lee, i think i may be able get where I need for multiple genres. That's what I keep telling myself anyway :laugh:
 

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