Help with bass tone please!

[Zaney]

Hi all,
My band are covering Duran Duran's Planet Earth. I know I won't get an exact sound but would like to get as near as possible. What sort of settings should I aim for on bass and amp?
I use a Sterling bass by Musicman and Markbass head with a Schroder cab.

Cheers for any help.

 

[rustymoped]

If memory serves, Taylor's tone is up in the high-mid area with a little bit of growl added. You should be able to achieve this with your gear, no problem.

 

[groove pump]

That's a good call in terms of the predominant frequencies you want to have out front - the high mids. Try to bump them on your head's eq, but compare that with a little boost in your on-board mids. If you can get it with the bass, then you can just dial in the sound on the fly with little down time between songs.

It might even happen if you do that along with a mild cut in both your low and high controls on the bass - sort of an on-board frown, right? Don't cut the lows too much if that makes the sound too thin. I have an old MM Sabre and it only has bass and treble eq, but if I tried to get that sound with it, I'd solo the bridge pickup and also goose the on-board lows a bit to give that nasally sound some more boldness.

I haven't seen him in a video lately, but it sounds like Taylor plays his strings rather close to the bridge with his right hand. That technique will get you half way there without even going crazy with your eq.

 

[MNAirHead]

Yes he plays a light touch close to the bridge.

I forget the title.. if you go on Netflix there's a "making of Rio" (GREAT video) where he is playing solo on a Cirrus.

You should be able to hear exactly his tone as it's tough to isolate in a full spectrum.

 

[Zaney]

Hi thanks guys but some of the jargon you use is not familar to me...I'm from the UK.
Am I right in thinking:
Cut back on bass & treble, boost low & high mids on both amp and guitar?

 

[staindbass]

i listened to the song. sounds like he is using only the bridge pickup.