• 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.

Good live tone...tried and true methods!

E

extreme

Mar 20, 2000
902
1,561
#1
What makes for a good live tone? I've slowly drifted over the years as I've listened to others and gotten to try things out in different contexts. I hear lots of bands where the bass is just a boomy undefined mess or trebly and lacking bottom on the other end of the spectrum. What makes for a good, supportive bass tone in a live context? Feel free to post a clip of something you like and we can talk about it and try to break it down.



What is good about this tone? What's bad about it? Does this tone fit in the context?

I think the secret to a good live bass tone lies in the low mids. I prefer some energy in the 180-240 Hz range. Of course, this can vary based on the style and instrumentation of the group.
 
#2
Here's an example of an amazing live tone that's totally different from the clip above. There's so much space in this music that a much fatter tone doesn't sound "muddy" as it can still be clearly heard.

 
#3
I'm no expert, I have a slight different tone at every occasion. But I agree on the low mids, and that it depends on many factors; many more than what you listed. One of the most important factors is how you play, and how many notes you play. The bass line in the 2nd post is much less crowded than what you are playing (I'm assuming that's you in the 1st video?), and like you said there's lots of space so it doesn't really compare.

I like your tone and would keep the mids. If I change anything I would add some more highs; more highs doesn't mean less lows so wouldn't sound thin. Maybe some more lows as well but it's hard to judge the lows from YouTube videos; the camera and the compression while uploading changes the lows a bit.
 
Last edited:
#4
Yeah, I like what you're doing. I pursued that really aggressive tone for so many years, maybe because I was playing in dense mixes. I used to always roll off some lows and then boost low mids. I now try to really push more lows and sit underneath the other instruments rather than trying to "cut through" the mix. Of course, this won't work if you have a guitar player that is too loud and/or pushes a lot of lows. Here's where I've kind of been tonally as of late:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I also think you can kind of get away with more using a fatter tone. Like, you can overplay a bit during a section to add energy and it doesn't get in the way of the vocals or detract from what others are doing.
 
#6
That but extend the concept to guitars and keys... As primarily a live guy, backing up other people, I try not to get wound up about my tone in isolation. I'm more after the tone that works in the context of the context as it were...

I've said for years that I am aiming for the compliment, great sounding band, not good sounding bass. If I get both, I've done my part and the TEAM gets a W. That W is what I'm after...
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: extreme
#9
extreme said:
What makes for a good live tone?
Click to expand...

One tip is that the amount of overdrive you use at home or in practice is probably more than you need live. The other is too much low content can be muddy and without mids it can sound like an awful sine wave out in the audience. Plus standing waves with dual subs can be worse in that circumstances.
 
#10
UnfortunateTony said:
For rock and metal especially: MIDS!

There's nothing worse than a super scooped bass tone. It sounds fine on it's own (although that's debatable) but once the other instruments come in, you get lost completely.
Click to expand...

Also guitar sounds can often stand being thinned out more than sounds good solo. Goes for recordings too - there are a lot of great guitar sounds on record that are actually very thin. But if the guitar sound is going to be on its own at points, compromise may be in order.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back