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enhance my clean tone

#62
When going direct I use the now discontinued Markbass Comperssore and Super Booster, which can be found on GC used for a decent price. Between the two of these and my passive basses I get a nice clean warm tone.
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#63
Doner Designs said:
In my mind the things impacting clean tone the most are roughly in the order shown below. This is why I have commented about the rig you are playing through:
  1. Amp voicing and EQ settings
  2. Cab voicing and driver size
  3. String type
  4. String quality (assuming sucky strings are not used)
  5. Pickup type
  6. Pickup quality (assuming sucky pickups are not used)
  7. Neck wood
  8. Body wood
Now excuse me while I run for cover. :)
Click to expand...

A good list with one serious omission - pickup height adjustment/setting. Even the 'best' pickups will sound terrible if not set correctly - too far away and output, dynamics fullness of tone are lost. Too close and the pickup will interfere with the string vibration. Get this right and give the amp something nice to work then work through this list with before looking for pedal panacea.
 
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#64
sonic boom said:
hi tbers!
i'm well served with dirty,but i feel like my clean tone its a bit thin,weak.
what pedals out there can "open"my clean tone?make it more present,with more "punch"?sorry don't know how to describe sounds...
maybe an eq pedal?i've tried a boss eq before but did'nt like it.
maybe compressor?i'm using a boss limiter and its just meh.
maybe a clean boost?
btw i play a pbass with flats,fingers and pick style,the amp is whatever they have in the pratice studio.
help me with your experience!
thanks!
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I may be just repeating what others are saying, but flats are known for "punch" if we are talking about hi-mids/articulation. P basses (if its a Fender) are usually pretty good a packing a punch, but it can vary a little depending on the woods and electronics.
Try some round wound strings. GHS boomers are nice without being too bright is that's what bothers you about rounds. A coated string like DR Black Beauties might work too.
Look at the EQ first on these amps and make sure they aren't all scooped out. A lot of guys for the "smiley face" EQ which I think will hurt what you might be after. The most audible part of your tone is actually in your mids.
An EQ is an EQ. Sure they might hit at slightly different frequencies, but the idea is the same. Something like a Aguilar Tone Hammer pedal that has a mid sweep might be good for you.
Compression can add a little snap to your attack and even out the peaks of your instrument's wave form, but that doesn't sound like what you are after if you don't have enough "punch" to begin with. Zero times anything is still zero if you follow me.
A lot of "boost" pedals tend to lean more towards dirt IMO, because I believe they are designed to give your amp a little kick in the @$$. If you aren't thrilled with what is hitting the amp already, I don't know if that will help. The Wren and Cuff might work, or you can try to track down a Fuzzrocious Broken D!ck Peanut Gallery.

PS: a soft clip OD with a lot of tonal options like the Pork Loin might be worth looking at as well. It has similar dirt capabilities of a pre-gain pedal and some tone shaping.
 
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#67
I have been playing bass for 5 years now, convert from guitar. I play a short scale (Gretsch Jr Jet). When I got it I put Rotosound flats on it & used them for about 3 years. Seemed to have a dull tone. My son told me to get round wounds. It made such a difference my bandmates commented on how much better I sounded. I don't use dirt pedals, I try for a clean sound. The Markbass Compressore also helps with warming the tone & levelling the gain. Tried guitar compressors with my rig & they seemed squish my tone too much. My amp is an Eden WTX500 into a single 12 Ashdown cab.
 

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