Back when I played with pedals, my fave chorus tone was actually a BOSS BF-2 turned down to minimum levels, made a great chorus. Duff's tone is all new roundwounds, aggressive pick playing and a bright amp. A Jazz will get close depending on the player, but could lack a bit of meat without the P pickup leading the charge.
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Duff Mckagan Sound
- Thread starter Bass Boy J
- Start date
You missed the point of what @two fingers meant...
No, you will not get what you're after with a jazz with different p'ups...
Duff's sound IS his P bass special, with his p'ups, and with his GK gear... and an amazing pick hand... one of the best in Rock n roll
wintremute
mediocrity at its finest
- Oct 16, 2014
- 6,943
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- Endorsing Artist: Langstrom Carrot Farms
As a counterpoint to the people saying that you need to use a PJ, this guy seems to be getting Duff's tone with a Jazz.
The tbx control is really just a mid scoop control. So it sounds like trebly and bass are getting boosted. They're not though. Maybe trying taking out some mid-mids say around 500 and adding some high mids around 1k to 1.5k
Trade me for this: 
For Sale/Trade - 1987 Jazz Bass Special ALL ORIGINAL w/ Fender Hard Shell Case
PM me if any interest.
For Sale/Trade - 1987 Jazz Bass Special ALL ORIGINAL w/ Fender Hard Shell Case
PM me if any interest.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
I don't think anyone has answered my original question. Would that setup I described get a similar tone?
I'd say you'd be in the ballpark but not quite on base without a P pickup in the neck.
Agree with the above post. I think you'll be as close as one can get without a PJ and having Duff's right arm and attitude. Honestly, I'd wait to spend the $ on Sansamp or other item you reference in OP until you try out the pickup you're describing. With your bass, the 800RB and the 2 1x15's I think you'd be set. And, I'd be interested in hearing how the Jazz sounds with the set up you're thinking of.
I'm a huge Duff fan and this topic always interests me. Fan of his music, but also as a person. My family and I met him and hung out backstage with him before a show in Seattle. One of the warmest people I've ever met. At the time, our daughter was the same age he was when he first saw The Clash. I had tears in my eyes when he told her that story and acted out how Paul Simonon chopped down the barrier between audience and band. I really wish I would've asked him some gear questions! Closest I got was giving him an Okko Motorbass pedal since he was about to resume GnR from his solo tour and I'd read he was looking forward to rocking out again. He laughed about that. It's off to the left in the pic. About a month later, I got a Duff bass showed up on my door direct from Fender. Needless to say, I'll treasure that always.
I'm a huge Duff fan and this topic always interests me. Fan of his music, but also as a person. My family and I met him and hung out backstage with him before a show in Seattle. One of the warmest people I've ever met. At the time, our daughter was the same age he was when he first saw The Clash. I had tears in my eyes when he told her that story and acted out how Paul Simonon chopped down the barrier between audience and band. I really wish I would've asked him some gear questions! Closest I got was giving him an Okko Motorbass pedal since he was about to resume GnR from his solo tour and I'd read he was looking forward to rocking out again. He laughed about that. It's off to the left in the pic. About a month later, I got a Duff bass showed up on my door direct from Fender. Needless to say, I'll treasure that always.
I get easily his tone with the following basic:
- Fender Jazz Bass special serie E (84-86) bass. It's the only bass can give you that clacky punchy sound. Don't know why but that tone cannot be reached even using his signature.... get the original. Take all the way up the tbx and both the pick ups.
- GallienKrueger amp. I have a small MB110 I guess.... it does the job. My settings are Treble at 2 o clock, bass 2 o clock and both the middle all the way up.
- Chorus. I ve a Corona setted this way Speed and Depth at 12 o clock. Tone and fx level to the max.
Obs! I even have a Gibson LPB3 bass ..... but I cannot get the tone he got with his les Paul bass (93 leg of the use your illusion tour). And I cannot grasp why.
- Fender Jazz Bass special serie E (84-86) bass. It's the only bass can give you that clacky punchy sound. Don't know why but that tone cannot be reached even using his signature.... get the original. Take all the way up the tbx and both the pick ups.
- GallienKrueger amp. I have a small MB110 I guess.... it does the job. My settings are Treble at 2 o clock, bass 2 o clock and both the middle all the way up.
- Chorus. I ve a Corona setted this way Speed and Depth at 12 o clock. Tone and fx level to the max.
Obs! I even have a Gibson LPB3 bass ..... but I cannot get the tone he got with his les Paul bass (93 leg of the use your illusion tour). And I cannot grasp why.
Can you get a similar tone to his with your current gear? Yes. With the right settings, the right technique, the right strings, the right pick, and adding a compressor and a little bit of distortion.
It really isn't rocket surgery. He's good at what he does, but if you play aggressively with fresh round wounds and a hard pick, sling your bass low and twirl the knobs until you sound Duff-like, you'll be in the ballpark before long.
I think the secret to his tone is that it sounds obnoxious soloed so people don't go there, even when they're trying to go there.
I think the secret to his tone is that it sounds obnoxious soloed so people don't go there, even when they're trying to go there.
I'm pretty sure Duff never used anything other than a standard 0.73mm Dunlop Tortex (medium gauge, the yellow one). And IMHO, that's the only reason it's included in the Bass Pick Variety Pack, where all other selected picks are 0.96mm to 1.14mm (heavy to extra-heavy gauge).
In my experience, soft picks favor highs over lows, giving the impression of a clearer, brighter, and more aggressive sound, especially if you're edge picking above the bridge pickup.
Hi all...
I'm in a GnR tribute band and I use a couple of Fender Jazz Bass Specials from around '84-'87 and the Chorus in the Yamaha SPX90II rack mounted effects unit....that really what nails the tone for me...
Amp....Trace Elliot GP12 AH1000-12 in bi-amp mode and a couple of TE 1048H (4x10" + Horn) cabinets + a couple of TE 1518T (1x15") cabinets....
I'm in a GnR tribute band and I use a couple of Fender Jazz Bass Specials from around '84-'87 and the Chorus in the Yamaha SPX90II rack mounted effects unit....that really what nails the tone for me...
Amp....Trace Elliot GP12 AH1000-12 in bi-amp mode and a couple of TE 1048H (4x10" + Horn) cabinets + a couple of TE 1518T (1x15") cabinets....
I play Sweet Child a lot. Lakland USA Joe Osborn with neck pickup only, with the treble wheel dimed. Medium pick. And attitude. 'Cause I enjoy playing it. In 7 years, no one has objected. But I know you guys, you're a tough crowd. I'd love it if one of you showed up at a gig so you could dress me down about my inaccurate Duff Tone. I'd buy you a beer. Maybe a couple!
