David Ellefson Tone

[TheBassPicker]

Hello All;

Just created a Megadeth Tribute band i want to have exact tone as David Ellefson. Which preamp and guitar equalizer setting do i need to use? Tried lots of things but not satisfied.

My equipement is Jackson Js3 and Sansamp Steve Harris signiture

Thanks .

 

[Fuzzbass]

Congrats on the band. Difficult question because all parts of the signal chain matter. It starts with your technique - using a pick will help, of course. Don't overlook your strings: fresh roundwounds.

Unfortunately, a lot of trial and error will be involved. My advice is not to get hung up on "exact" -- just go for "reasonably close". What's more important for your band is that you are playing like Dave, not sounding exactly like him.

 

[Mike Rowland]

800 RB and a pick would be a good start

 

[JW56789]

I'd echo Fuzzbass: First you need to get the parts down cold (. . . . IF the rest of the band is as studious in THEIR homework, never a certainty . . . .), then shoot for a tone that's your version of DE.

You can't get too hung up on 'sounding just like _____________', it can lead you down quite the rabbit hole. If you could show up at Dave's next gig, and after sound check, you go out and play his axe through his rig . . . . chances are you won't sound exactly like him. Pretty close . . . . is good enough.

 

[HelpImaRock]

Pick, roundwounds, maybe a chorus pedal.

 

[GTHintz]

I'd say try some sit power wound nickel or something in that ballpark. His tone isn't too insanely hard to emulate and if the sans amp doesn't work for you then you could try a gk Plex preamp. It'll get that RB tone as well as having lots of ways to tweak your eq. Run the sans amp from that even and you're getting the sweet sans amp grit with the Plex eq options. But like everyone is saying I'd definitely say first thing is get really tight on his dynamics and dial in on the songs. Another thing to bare in mind is that do you want to sound like rust in peace or like his modern day sound is? He's been through some rig changes as well as different mixing and studio engineers over the years. I'd say pick your favorite album and learn what they did to make that album and base your sound on that. I have my favorite tones that I tend to gravitate towards. Good luck and have fun!

 

[Jett Litt]

If money is no object, sell the Steve Harris and grab this while you can still get one.

https://reverb.com/item/39509922-is...efson-beta-bass-dsp-preamp-pedal-debetabassd3

 

[crguti]

Pick, EMG DC/CS, Hartke.

 

[roller]

I would describe Dave Ellefson's tone as very quiet these days.

 

[crapusername]

Hartke lh1000
Hydrive 810 cabs.

 

[Kenova]

Involve grooming of Jackson basses and Hartke amps.

 

[themickster]

I saw a t-shirt that said 'If you want to be somebody, be yourself'

 

[dax21]

Lots and lots of palm muting.

 

[Nuage420]

https://www.khdkelectronics.com/products/detail/fallout-bass-overdrive/

Well there is this... "Signature Ellefson bass tone in a single pedal"

 

[Mosfed]

https://www.khdkelectronics.com/products/detail/fallout-bass-overdrive/

Well there is this... "Signature Ellefson bass tone in a single pedal"

Nicely done.

looking around on line it looks like playing with a pick, g&k 800rb or pedal that emulates that amp OR a hartke lh1000 amp and fresh d’addario xls750 stainless steel roundwounds. It looks like when he uses a chorus it’s the MXR stereo chorus.

 

[Dave W]

I've seen Dave play a number of times, both in concert and in clinics. For the clinics, he takes his bass (usually whatever he was endorsing at the time) and plugs into whatever amp the venue/store/etc. has. No pedals. Guess what? He always sounded like him. Certainly a little less processed and polished, but still very much him. His recipe? Rounds, a pick, and play close to the bridge.

He always said that Megadeth guitars take up all the midrange, so to get a wall of sound effect he cuts his mids and boosts highs/lows to slot himself in well but I'm not convinced that he (or better yet, the recording engineer) actually does. His older tone is mid laden...

To echo what everyone else is saying, I'd concentrate on getting the parts down and playing rounds with a pick. Once you start playing the same way that he does, I think you'll find that the tone just comes out. Tone is in the hands!

 

[sxaxsx]

I mean he's changed his gear affiliation so many times without it drastically changing his tone I think this is a "sound is in the fingers" situation. Pick, round wounds, solid state amp, overdrive. active pickups would all help but then its just a matter of playing his parts. I don't think anyone in the audience is going to notice whether you are playing a Hartke or a GK so I think learning the fills and lines is more important to sounding like him than having the exact gear.

 

[Jim Burkland]

KHDKelectronics.com

They have a David Ellefson pedal. I use it on my bass pedalboard. Check it out!

 

[crguti]

 

[Corigan]

I would describe Dave Ellefson's tone as very quiet these days.

Dave's in a new band called the Lucid and still making noise.