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Help me sound like Shavo live.

B

BUTTFROG

Apr 7, 2009
9
0
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www.myspace.com
#1
I dont have an Ashdown head or 8x10 cabs. nor do i have a Gibson Thunderbird.:(

I am currently using a Epiphone Thunderbird.
I am playing on a Hartke HA4000 which has a lot of eq abilities through a Peavey 1810 (1 18 and 2 10s(older 1820))

I am currently running it straight.
In Generally I am looking for any general EQ tips to make my bass config sound fairly similar to Shavo's (from SOAD) live.

I've been playing bass for a while but until recently have spent most of my time within bands using direct boxes, even in practice, and am not good at trying to match others sound/tones.

Be as vague or specific as you want. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!
-BUTTFROG-
 
#2
I am guessing everyone just hates Shavo's tone to much to answer!:D

Thats alright.

Any suggestions for best way to get alot more of a 10's sound out of this head and amp combo? :help: The 18 overpowers the 2 10's a bit. Any Specific Frequencies, or eq tricks, or possibly minor cab alterations, to get it to sound a little more "harsh" and get alittle more of a 10's sound?
Anyone had much experience with this cab or head?
(obviously i know i could try to get a couple bucks for it and go be a 6x10 or 8x10)

Thanks!
-BUTTFROG-
 
#3
Unless there's separate amps for the 18" and the two 10"s, the volumes of each speaker will be what they are. Maybe you could turn down the bass knob and boost the upper mids around 800 hz and the treble a bit and get a little more edginess to it.
 
#4
Here's an off-the-wall suggestion: Try blocking the ports. 8x10s are usually sealed boxes, and ports give a lot of low end that 8x10s aren't known for. FWIW, I don't see any reason that this might damage your cabinet, but not knowing the specifics, I can't guarantee it.
 
#5
be too stoned to play the fretted notes in the hammer on riffs, sit down to play anything that doesnt require two fingers.

lol only in jest i do like soad, but to quote john on the toxicity behind the scenes disk. "it took me a week to do my drums and this ***ker stll doing his bass tracks after two months"

hes better now hes had lessons, but i dont think him only playing on 2 tracks off of hypno/mesma and daron doing a billy corgen was the answer, there was a real guitarist playing bass feel that ruined it (for obvious reasons) imho

although i must send my love for pushing an 18"<3. he doesnt use much low.. and there is a more pronounced high mid sound.. use the neck pickup play wth a pick, roll off those lows a bit..

much love

hope they reform with a record where
1)daron shuts up.. (really grating auto tune is a no)
2)john is aloud to fill
3)shavo plays bass on it
 
#7
Thanks for the advice guys. I have been using a lot of EQ advice from this site over the last month or so. Trying different things... mostly just going flat and boosting a specific frequency to see what it does. Till eventually gaining a pretty good understanding of exactly what to boost or drop in what situations.
After playing a few more shows and a lot more rehearsals, I have relized that this amp and cab is actually very capable with the right EQ. I have been able to make this amp sound killer in live performances and practices(and thankfully quite a bit different then Shavos live tone)

This site has been great and extremely helpful!!

I do have another odd question though...
I currently play live 2 Epiphone Thunderbirds.. identically basses. 1 in C and 1 in C#.
One of them had been restrung right before I got it, and I personally think its too brite. The brightness of the strings also make it a little bit of a pain when I have to reEQ when i switch basses (although I've memerized basically what I change its not always the same depending on size and acustics of the room)

Anyway, I am cheap, and would like to know if there is a simple and free way to just take a little bit of the life outa my new strings in a hurry?
 
#8
Just playing new strings for a few hours will get rid of the brightness. Still though, I don't know why you want to sound like Shavo. Focus on sounding good yourself and forget achieving other people's tones. There are too many variables in replicating your favorite bassist's tones live and if you achieve that tone (or get close to it) - it may not even work well in your band's overall sound. It's literally impossible to have the same tone every night at every show - it's much more possible to play the same way every night. Your technique is hugely responsible for your tone.
 
#9
Get an Ampeg. Shavo made his sound using Ampegs for years. It's only recently that he's been using Ashdown.

I also remember back in '98 seeing them twice in small local clubs, he was playing a red Ibanez SR model bass.

But in general watch out for which sound you're actually looking for. Even Shavo says he uses different basses in the studio vs live.
 

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