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Best Fender Bass Tone Ever

#125
1. As mentioned, Wetton w/ '72-'74 Crimso (although much of that tone was the fuzz/wah (likely either a Jen or a fOXX) coupled with his Hi Watts).

2. Freebo's fretless P sound on the early Bonnie Raitt recordings.

3. Tom Fowler in the '73-'74 Zappa bands. In the first part of '73 he used a Fender Jazz; in later '73 (i.e., Roxy) and early parts of '74 he had a P-bass, but I'm not positive it was a Fender. It looked to have a matching black headstock. Later in '74 (after he broke his arm, I believe) he got an Alembic.
 
#127
FretlessMainly said:
1. As mentioned, Wetton w/ '72-'74 Crimso (although much of that tone was the fuzz/wah (likely either a Jen or a fOXX) coupled with his Hi Watts).

2. Freebo's fretless P sound on the early Bonnie Raitt recordings.

3. Tom Fowler in the '73-'74 Zappa bands. In the first part of '73 he used a Fender Jazz; in later '73 (i.e., Roxy) and early parts of '74 he had a P-bass, but I'm not positive it was a Fender. It looked to have a matching black headstock. Later in '74 (after he broke his arm, I believe) he got an Alembic.
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I heard them in Waterbury CT in late '74; and indeed, he was playing an Alembic. 2nd one I ever saw. Sounded magnificent.
 
#128
Joe Osborn Jazz Bass--The Age of Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In

Joseph "Lucky" Scott Jazz Bass--Superfly, Pusherman

Bruce Thomas P-Bass--Goon Squad (Elvis Costello Armed Forces album)

But my favorite performance and tone: A Rickenbaker (with J bass pickups ;) ) Prakash John, Intro to Sweet Jane from Lou Reed Rock and Roll Animal. :hiding:
 
#129
M.R. Ogle said:
I always liked the sound Dave Hope from Kansas got on "Carry on, wayward Son." It's the main melody instrument during the verses. Deep, crisp, great sounding!
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Amen now your talking. Hope was amazing and so underrated. I once got a email from Kerry Livgren who said Dave used SVTs and P basses early on but changed around later.

It seemed he often used a fast decay vs. long sustaining notes in a lot of his playing.
 
#133
The ox on Live At Leeds is simply monstrous, I'll add my vote to those who've already mentioned it.

At the start you can hear him just doing a tuning check across the strings and it sounds ..... Ok-ish ..... then Heaven and Hell starts and that big fat sound just floors me :)

Mike
 
#134
Best Fender bass tone? Easy:



1966 Fender Jazz Bass, Lake Placid Blue, with Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound pups, Badass II bridge, dunno about the strings. I believe it was recorded on either an Acoustic 150b or a Traynor Mono Block II, through a 2x15 cab loaded with some JBL's. He has a similar tone live, but without the serious punch, but I guess that could be due to bootleg recording techniques of live shows.

Klaus Fluoride, the man that made me play bass, the bass that made me play a Fender (albeit a P-Bass) with a QP pup, the amp that made me play an Acoustic.
 

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