Hey y’all! I’m new to bass and have been playing a fender jazz bass that I inherited. I have been trying to get it to sound more mellow and I actually read some really helpful things on this forum about playing closer to the neck, turning the bridge pu down, etc. I was wondering if y’all have any recommendations as to what amp settings would help maintain a mellow sound? I have been playing out of an amped ba 210 and haven’t liked the tone I’ve been able to get so far. Any advice would be much appreciated!!! Cheers!!
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Fender jazz tone
- Thread starter Lauradylan
- Start date
I’d try GHS pressure wound strings
and playing with both pickups on over the neck pickup
Tone control to 75%
and playing with both pickups on over the neck pickup
Tone control to 75%
Okay cool! It’s just the one neck pickup, but I’ll try that! I’m actually more curious in regards to if there are amp settings that tend to maximize a mellow tone, or if that is just wildly dependent on what sort of amp one is playing through...i feel like my ampeg is so, boomy and trebly, it sounds kind of wretched!
First, keep the string stock, 7250. Then you should try Fender Rumble 500 combo.
The vintage button + horn Off on it is the clue. Colour the overall tone with Bright button and bass tone knob.
Another option is Stage 800.
Go to Rumble Club ,bring your question on the table .
Hopehelp
The vintage button + horn Off on it is the clue. Colour the overall tone with Bright button and bass tone knob.
Another option is Stage 800.
Go to Rumble Club ,bring your question on the table .
Hopehelp
Laura,
I've been playing jazz basses since 1985, and a good way to start on getting a mellow sound out of your jazz is
to do the following:
1) Set all controls on your amp to 12 o'clock. No boost
2) Turn neck pickup volume on full
3) Turn bridge pickup volume all the way off
4) Turn tone pot down to approx 50%
5) Play between the neck pickup and the end of the fingerboard
Try that.
I'm not sure what kind of strings your using, but flat wounds sound inherently more 'mellow' than round-wounds, especially after they're broken in.
P.S. one poster suggested running both pickups on full with the tone dialed back and while this will sound mellow-ish, the middle frequencies will drop out of your tone and it won't sound as 'full' across the entire spectrum.
Now if you want the bass to sound REALLY mellow, do the above while adding a hunk of foam under the strings back by the bridge.
All the best.
I've been playing jazz basses since 1985, and a good way to start on getting a mellow sound out of your jazz is
to do the following:
1) Set all controls on your amp to 12 o'clock. No boost
2) Turn neck pickup volume on full
3) Turn bridge pickup volume all the way off
4) Turn tone pot down to approx 50%
5) Play between the neck pickup and the end of the fingerboard
Try that.
I'm not sure what kind of strings your using, but flat wounds sound inherently more 'mellow' than round-wounds, especially after they're broken in.
P.S. one poster suggested running both pickups on full with the tone dialed back and while this will sound mellow-ish, the middle frequencies will drop out of your tone and it won't sound as 'full' across the entire spectrum.
Now if you want the bass to sound REALLY mellow, do the above while adding a hunk of foam under the strings back by the bridge.
All the best.
Last edited:
I've got a BA 210, it's not really what I'd call a mellow amp, but some ideas
Only engage the decibel cut button if it's an active bass
Don't engage the Scrambler button, that's gonna be opposite of mellow
I leave the ultra hi and low buttons disengaged, but the HF mute button engaged
Play with the eq knobs, start with them all pointing straight up, try turning the bass down a bit, the mid up a bit, and the treble down a bit. Go from there, don't be afraid to mess with the eq knobs.
YMMV on the above ideas, play with everything and see if you can get where you want to be
Only engage the decibel cut button if it's an active bass
Don't engage the Scrambler button, that's gonna be opposite of mellow
I leave the ultra hi and low buttons disengaged, but the HF mute button engaged
Play with the eq knobs, start with them all pointing straight up, try turning the bass down a bit, the mid up a bit, and the treble down a bit. Go from there, don't be afraid to mess with the eq knobs.
YMMV on the above ideas, play with everything and see if you can get where you want to be
Personally, always thought a jazz sounded the smoothest both pick ups all the way on
turn the treble and bass all the way down and the tone knob all the way back and add a little at a time until you get close to what you like
turn the treble and bass all the way down and the tone knob all the way back and add a little at a time until you get close to what you like
Bent you're right, it does, albeit in a mid-scooped kind of way.
Tube amp, 15" speaker, tone down, bridge down or off, switch to an underwound pickup.
Modern pickups will have more heat, underwound pickups will have more of a natural frowny eq to them.
Old Bart's are my fave for this.
Modern pickups will have more heat, underwound pickups will have more of a natural frowny eq to them.
Old Bart's are my fave for this.
For mellow tones turn the tone knob down on the bass, turn treble and high mids down on the amp. If that doesn't work try some flat wound strings.
My best piece of advice is this: Try turning all of your knobs before you spend any money.
My best piece of advice is this: Try turning all of your knobs before you spend any money.
Your problem is not the amp.
It's likely your settings or the type of strings you're using.
Make sure you're using nickel strings. Try flats. I'm using LaBella low tension flexible flats on one of my J Basses and my P Bass. Pretty mellow.
It's likely your settings or the type of strings you're using.
Make sure you're using nickel strings. Try flats. I'm using LaBella low tension flexible flats on one of my J Basses and my P Bass. Pretty mellow.
Two steps can be easily implemented:
1. Switch to flatwound strings —> don’t loose time and money in this regard, TI JF344 and you won’t regret.
2. Play the bass with neck pickup at full volume, bridge pickup at about half volume and tone at 2/3.
If, after that, the tone hasn’t mellowed out, then you’d better think about changing the bass’ electronics package (pickups and harness).
I typically despise this sort of response, but here goes...
Mellow can be done with the hands. Really. Even with a high-gain, hi-fi sort of modern sound, if you back off your attack, play closer to the neck, and use the biggest part of the pads of your fingers, you’ll get mellow. Mellow has almost everything to do with your right hand (if you’re a typical righty, with your right hand doing the plucking duties).
As for the left hand: a light vibrato on sustained notes, and a soft lift on staccato notes to emulate that double bass feel. That works for me.
Mellow can be done with the hands. Really. Even with a high-gain, hi-fi sort of modern sound, if you back off your attack, play closer to the neck, and use the biggest part of the pads of your fingers, you’ll get mellow. Mellow has almost everything to do with your right hand (if you’re a typical righty, with your right hand doing the plucking duties).
As for the left hand: a light vibrato on sustained notes, and a soft lift on staccato notes to emulate that double bass feel. That works for me.
what kind of mellow tone you need ?,..d'addario or dunlop flatwound will do,...but if you need more vintage classic mellow tone,..try labella black tapewound
Compared to a P Bass a J Bass is mellow.. Bring the the tone back a bit and favor the neck pickup for Volume... Stay closer to the neck when striking the strings.. 
A bit of both actually, but the amp setting and your playing style has a lot to do with it.
An amp with two 10s is going to tend to be a little tight and punchy sounding. So you’re going to want to rein that in as best you can with your EQ.
With bass, most of what’s of musical interest is found in how you shape the mids. Cranking up the bass knob isn’t going to make you sound warmer or bassier. But it will make you sound boomy and muddy. Other big offenders are the low mids hovering around 200Hz.
On the BA-210 I’d suggest starting by making sure the HF mute switch on the back panel is engaged and slightly boosting your bass and mids. Since center is flat on that amp, try putting both on 6, and set your treble to 4 for starters. Leave the Scrambler off.
On a JB I always set both pickups up around 80% and dial in the tone somewhere between 30 and 60 percent depending on the bass and what strings it has.
So with the above as a starting point, give it a go. Then try experimenting with the ultra high and low switches and tweak the bass and mid knobs a bit.
Happy tone hunting!
Last edited:
