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Help me get an awesome bass tone!
- Thread starter StayEzio
- Start date
Sometimes the owner's manual that comes with the amp or can be found on line has some starting points for different genres. Just play with it, you are the only one who can hear what it is doing. Start with all the EQ knobs at 12:00 (straight up), and move one or two or three in one direction or the other to see what happens to the sound. After a while you will get your own feel for how each EQ knob interacts with each other and with your bass.
Leave the knobs in their neutral positions and then tweak them a little if you're not happy with the standard sound. No one here knows what you think sounds good. There are people who gleefully spend $$$$$$ on distortion pedals for their basses. I think they're all clinically insane and would never even remotely try to suggest what might sound good to them.
90% of times, the best tone is when you have the bass and amp flat. So start flat and go from there, like other have already said it!
...anyone have suggestions for what i can turn my knobs to to get an awesome bass tone?
Good God.
It's really all about tweaking and listening to the effect each control has. If there was an ideal "awesome tone" setting, manufacturers would simply build that tone in and not bother including EQ controls.
Beware the "balcony people" StayEzio, anonymity tends to engender unwarranted boldness.
Each bass has it's own tone characteristic, even two identical made by the same manufacturer will vary slightly.
This is also true of each amp and speaker combination.
Then you have the acoustics of the space in which you are playing complicated by the mood your drummer or the guitar player trying a new effect setting. It is enough to drive the humble bass player to madness.
Apply culinary philosophy; start flat, season to taste.
Each bass has it's own tone characteristic, even two identical made by the same manufacturer will vary slightly.
This is also true of each amp and speaker combination.
Then you have the acoustics of the space in which you are playing complicated by the mood your drummer or the guitar player trying a new effect setting. It is enough to drive the humble bass player to madness.
Apply culinary philosophy; start flat, season to taste.
Oh come on... there's no anonymity here...that's me, right on the left. You need my name and address now?
Not to be argumentative, but the OP asked such a subjective question, offered no criteria, and we're supposed to tell him (convince him?) settings for his amp (turning his knobs...really?), not knowing his bass of choice, or what his tastes are, and somehow arrive at that which will give an 'awesome tone'? Awesome to whom? Get what I'm saying? OP, did you actually BUY this amp before you discerned whether or not it provided an awesome tone, or do buy blindly because someone suggested the amp to you too? It's a fools errand.
These questions come up so often I should just ignore them, but my 6a.m. lack of self control got the best of me.
To the OP, good luck letting others convince you on your quest for tone, instead of experimenting and trusting your own ears.
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To much emphasis on pedals making your tone, if you sound bad a pedals won't help you. I play clean 95% of the time, and always get compliments on my tone. My secret RH hand position, touch, and a dash of pickup blending to taste. ymmv
Awesome tone starts with the bass first. A bass amp can only amplify what tonal characteristics are given to it by the instrument.
BurningSkies
CRAZY BALDHEAD
- Feb 20, 2005
- 27,956
- 20,348
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
I agree, most of it is technique. One thing I've noticed, (especially on DB) is conditioning is a factor. Callouses effect tone, ((no pick, right hand) effect the way your fingers hit and leave the string.
So someone starting out, with soft fingertips, may NEVER achieve a tone that sounds like their favorite pro, until their fingers toughen up.
As you will find out in a hurry on here that tone is subjective. The laymen's suggestion and you will find this a lot set the amp flat as a starting point
then tweak it till you hear want you think is a awesome tone to your ears. That being said 70% is player and 30% is gear I can pick up a bunch of basses and still sound like me. You may have your bass tone sounding awesome to you and I sit in on your gig and it sounds nothing like you heard when you played it. Or has happen to me I had a tone I hated and someone picked up my bass and the tone was as you say awesome! Many new players are trying to sound like (?) add your favorite player and have found their gear info online ran out bought everything on the list set up everything to the letter and have come up disappointed by the results. What you think is great Joe Blow bass player my think doesn't have enough mids of it is to muddy for them. Tone is what works for you and fits well in the mix period. 47 years of playing bass has taught me you are the tone you are getting just amplified accept it learn to love it. RTS
then tweak it till you hear want you think is a awesome tone to your ears. That being said 70% is player and 30% is gear I can pick up a bunch of basses and still sound like me. You may have your bass tone sounding awesome to you and I sit in on your gig and it sounds nothing like you heard when you played it. Or has happen to me I had a tone I hated and someone picked up my bass and the tone was as you say awesome! Many new players are trying to sound like (?) add your favorite player and have found their gear info online ran out bought everything on the list set up everything to the letter and have come up disappointed by the results. What you think is great Joe Blow bass player my think doesn't have enough mids of it is to muddy for them. Tone is what works for you and fits well in the mix period. 47 years of playing bass has taught me you are the tone you are getting just amplified accept it learn to love it. RTS
To much emphasis in pedals and forgot the bassics. Sometimes a good tone comes with a flat eq, a good bass setup, a good set of strings and a proper fingering technique. Just my 2 cents.
BurningSkies
CRAZY BALDHEAD
- Feb 20, 2005
- 27,956
- 20,348
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
The TB obsession with 'flat' is perplexing to me.
Especially so, given the OP doesn't even discuss the tone or genre he plays in. I'd get fired from my band if I 'set it flat'.
Amps have tone control so people can use them. If they all sounded best 'flat' it would have a switch and a volume knob and that's it. Also, 'knobs at noon' by far doesn't mean 'flat'.
Especially so, given the OP doesn't even discuss the tone or genre he plays in. I'd get fired from my band if I 'set it flat'.
Amps have tone control so people can use them. If they all sounded best 'flat' it would have a switch and a volume knob and that's it. Also, 'knobs at noon' by far doesn't mean 'flat'.
