HOW DO I EMULATE PRIMUS' BASS SOUND?

[Immigrant]

Les doesn't have ONE particular sound. Green Naugahyde is so heavily processed it's hard to tell if it's really a bass. You'd think he obsesses over gear and getting "the right" bass sound, but he claims to spend hardly any time on bass sounds because he obsesses over the sound of the drums.

His style isn't for everyone. I've never heard of a bass player not having respect for what Claypool does even if they hate the music until now. Beiber fans.

 

[bassinplace]

Practice!!!

Yep. The answer to all how do I sound like (fill in bassist's name) questions. Next.

 

[ravenhawk82]

Digitech makes a Synth-Wah pedal that will help you get closer to his sound if you're looking for the more wet slap sound that Les uses in his more recent music. His older stuff was much less processing with just a bright bridge pickup. Again though, a lot of it is practice. You may be able to make your bass sound like his with effects, but you won't be able to play it like him without the practice doing so.

 

[Slough Feg Bass]

turn down the lows, boost the highs & high mids.
and yes, bridge pickup all the way.
maybe even a touch of dirt
use a fretless bass

 

[Ezmar]

A little bit of Grindy Overdrive will go a long way. Other than that and the EQ stuff others have mentioned, it's mostly in how you play, try fingerstyle closer to the bridge, and maybe try some compression on your slap sound. Also steel strings.

 

[India_Sierra]

Slightly overdriven tone.

This, with some glassy EMG pickups given a little grit. Some light strings and a naturally 'woody' sounding bass will go the rest of the way to getting that sound but hard practice is what is needed.

 

[Rev J]

Also on the Primus albums at least up to Seas of Cheese on his 4 string he was using 2 A strings and 2 G strings and tuning to standard tuning. Extra floppage.

C/S,
Rev J

 

[zphreaky1]

These guys came through Tucson this weekend and played two sets at a small venue. Very fun show. Not sure the last time I saw them but its been at least 15 years. They still groove

Gluck with your quest!

 

[maxiegrant]

Ugh, it is NOT THE EQUIPMENT it is NEVER THE EQUIPMENT. It's not how you set your pickups, it's not what your amp is, it is not the strings, none of those things are as distinctive to your sound as how you use your fingers.

If you want to sound like Les Claypool, spend thousands of hours practicing the way he does it. Then, you can sound like him with practically any gear you use.

I've been doing a lot of tone work lately. I put on a metronome and I just thump notes, 8ths, for 10-20 minutes at a time, and while I do that I fiddle with the attack of my right hand and listen to how things change, depending on the angle.

I took the DR hi-beams off my Jazz bass, and put on some GHS brite flats. I still sound like me, though the difference between the strings is night and day. It's just a different color of crayon. I also know more what "me" is supposed to sound like because I spend so much time just listening to my 8th notes, hearing the shape and weight of each of them.

If you want to sound like another player, listen to the shape, weight, articulation of the notes he makes. Forget about the gear. Within reason, almost any gear will do, especially if the person you're emulating is your "hero" so to speak, you're likely to have gear that will do the things you want it to do, or close enough.

The singer's voice is not in the microphone, or the pre-amp, or the reverb. Why would the bassist's voice be in the strings, or the pickups? Those are just vehicles the player uses to get at what he wants to hear.

 

[lowgun]

^^^^ that was really well said. somebody mentioned humor also. to sound "claypool-esque" put yourself in the mindset that anything goes....practice at making mistakes sound intentional. don't take that in a condescending way, totally honest that's how I emulate him. maybe its cuz they suck so bad

 

[lowgun]

btw im new here also, can somebody direct me to the introductions forum? couldn't find it, even tho this forum is nearly identical to a few others im on.