I'm in a band which plays a lot of psychedelic music and I can't seem to get my tone right for it. I'm looking for that Phil Lesh or Mike Gordon tone. I've looked into the equiptment they use and can't figure out what would be necessary and what woulnd't. Any suggestions on how I can go about getting this tone?
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Having trouble getting the tone I want...
- Thread starter BassPlayer3187
- Start date
I appreciate the reply... i do use a pick and that has helped a lot, but it's still not quite there. As far as gear goes then, what would you recommend or what would be the most essential things I should get.
With a couple rare exceptions, Phil has been playing a six string Modulus for about 20 years. This may be part of the sound you are looking for if you are talking about current tone.
He also played a Ken Smith for a bit, currently brings out a new Ritter, and rarely brings out the big guns - the Osage Orange Alembic and Godfather (Starfire/Alembic).
He also played a Ken Smith for a bit, currently brings out a new Ritter, and rarely brings out the big guns - the Osage Orange Alembic and Godfather (Starfire/Alembic).
as for Lesh...like baba said..it depends on the era
I play Alembic with flats and a pick for the 70's lesh tone
a modulus Q bass for a modern tone
you'll want a hi-fi type rig as well
I play Alembic with flats and a pick for the 70's lesh tone
a modulus Q bass for a modern tone
you'll want a hi-fi type rig as well
i'm thinking more along the lines of rigs and and tone changing gear rather than an actual bass. I do plan on getting a modulus eventual but the tone I really love of Phil's is throughout 74 and around that time. His tone at all times has been really great and yes I understand his bass and unique electronics installed into them take a large roll. But Mike Gordon besides using a modulus on occasion still gets that really crisp and full bass tone like Phil had. I just can't seem to figure out what it is that gives both of them that. Is it one of the preamps?
lesh 74
that would be a quad Alembic Series 4 string bass with flats and the wall of sound PA
Lesh used multi amps (McIntosh) and many drivers all separated and in quad.
you'll never get that sound because the wall of sound is not do-able and you probably won't get your hands on a quad Alembic.
that said, Alembic electronics with flat wounds, tube front end like the Alembic F2B..or I think Lesh used the GT Trio pre and very powerful SS amps driving top, mid and sub cabs...will get you close.
that would be a quad Alembic Series 4 string bass with flats and the wall of sound PA
Lesh used multi amps (McIntosh) and many drivers all separated and in quad.
you'll never get that sound because the wall of sound is not do-able and you probably won't get your hands on a quad Alembic.
that said, Alembic electronics with flat wounds, tube front end like the Alembic F2B..or I think Lesh used the GT Trio pre and very powerful SS amps driving top, mid and sub cabs...will get you close.
the Modulus sound ..he used Q6's(Barts) with midi, Eden heads (WT800) and Meyer sound powered full range cabs.
EQ is very important to the sound too. Don't boost the low mids, just enough to give your sound some definition. Boost the high mids for that crisp sound. Cut lows below 50 or 80 hz. Lows around 140-180 should be boosted a little for the pillowy goodness.
Hmmm ... Phil Lesh and Mike Gordon sound like Phil Lesh and Mike Gordon becaue they're Phil Lesh and Mike Gordon!!. I tried many basses and amps over the years to try and sound like Jerry Jemmot, Chris Squire, Gary Thain (Uria Heep), Mark King, Nile Rodgers (or did he play the Guitar in Chic??) etc... and whilst I got close - see my post on how much do you fiddle with your bass's EQ - deep down I always sounded like me and it drove me mad - although no-one I played with could see my problem "it sounds fine to me" was always the response!!. You'll always sound like you and these guys sound like themselves. Think of Guitar players (painful I know 
), but wouldn't you recognise Clapton with your eyes closed?, even when he played an SG with Cream rather than a Strat as he did later?. If you're close, but not quite there, then I would humbly submit that that is close enough. A thought - if you sound like you maybe at some point in the future another Bass player will be posting on this forum, wanting to sound like you??.
Be cool my friend!!
), but wouldn't you recognise Clapton with your eyes closed?, even when he played an SG with Cream rather than a Strat as he did later?. If you're close, but not quite there, then I would humbly submit that that is close enough. A thought - if you sound like you maybe at some point in the future another Bass player will be posting on this forum, wanting to sound like you??.Be cool my friend!!
Let me start by saying thanks to everyone for taking the time to share your input with me! I'm not saying I want my playing to sound like them... I want my TONE to sound like them. There's a huge difference. I know exactly what you mean, I own a Jaco relic bass but it doesn't make me sound like Jaco (that's not why I bought it either). I also understand what your saying about Phil Alembic Player. I don't want to focus specifically on Phil or Mike's tone, and especially not at any specific time. I just want to find out some gear (besides basses and amps) and other suggestions of what I can do to help enhance my tone more in this direction. Would compression be more essential than pre-amps? How should the EQ's on my amps be set? What type of compressors or pre-amps or other gear would help? Things along that line. Thanks again everyone who's replied I appreciate your input!
