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How do you get this tone?

#61
Slater said:
People aren’t crediting the bass much because the OP stated that he switches basses and gets the same tone.
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TWO. He mentioned TWO basses. One of which is the signature model of the guy the tone in question is a dead ringer for. I'm also willing to posit that a given OP is not always a reliable witness. Especially on something as subjective and transient as tone. So maybe the tone with the other bass WASN'T quite the same? Oh, and then he actually posted that the guy playing the other non-JP bass doesn't sound the same. When a guy says "how does he get this tone that sounds just like John Pattitucci, and oh, by the way he plays a Pattitucci model some of the time", to me, that's a significant piece of information in solving the puzzle.

Anyway, that Boss video confirms my suspicions on technique. He's barely gently caressing the strings. The guy definitely knows how to get more out of doing less. That also points to lighter strings, because it gets harder to excite heavier strings with a lighter touch (not impossible, but physics is working against you). Although to some extent that could also be playing into the warmer tone. So you'd have to experiment with various combinations to find the right balance that would get you there.
 
#62
Omega Monkey said:
TWO. He mentioned TWO basses. One of which is the signature model of the guy the tone in question is a dead ringer for. I'm also willing to posit that a given OP is not always a reliable witness. Especially on something as subjective and transient as tone. So maybe the tone with the other bass WASN'T quite the same? Oh, and then he actually posted that the guy playing the other non-JP bass doesn't sound the same. When a guy says "how does he get this tone that sounds just like John Pattitucci, and oh, by the way he plays a Pattitucci model some of the time", to me, that's a significant piece of information in solving the puzzle.

Anyway, that Boss video confirms my suspicions on technique. He's barely gently caressing the strings. The guy definitely knows how to get more out of doing less. That also points to lighter strings, because it gets harder to excite heavier strings with a lighter touch (not impossible, but physics is working against you). Although to some extent that could also be playing into the warmer tone. So you'd have to experiment with various combinations to find the right balance that would get you there.
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I saw him play live dozens of times with both basses. I'm not a noob, been playing over 40 years, so I think I can decipher if there was a noticeable difference between the 2 basses. The custom bass replaced the JP and it still sounded the same. The video proves that it was either pedals or amp since he was going through a Roland not an Eden in the video. Also I know he was a big Patitucci fan. I also love the old Chick Corea Elektric Band tunes. They sound similar, but not the same. I know that some of it is his style of playing, but there was something else giving him the percussive thump rather than the typical slap tone. I'm leaning towards the Eden or a compressor or both. The majority here seem to think it's the amp.
 
#63
I'm voting for any Eden w/ the enhance knob as well. They have a specific bass boost w/ a coresponding treble boost that is perfect. Then you can EQ as needed. Once i bought the pedal i stopped carrying around a heavy amp. Now i have an Eden head...and btw i am also a slapping 6 stringer...
 
#64
nooffswitch said:
I'm voting for any Eden w/ the enhance knob as well. They have a specific bass boost w/ a coresponding treble boost that is perfect. Then you can EQ as needed. Once i bought the pedal i stopped carrying around a heavy amp. Now i have an Eden head...and btw i am also a slapping 6 stringer...
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I'm talking to a TBer about buying his WTDI. I'm looking forward to see just what it does, I tried a Sansamp and re-sold it. Hoping the WTDI will be a keeper and get me close. Now if I can get a compressor in trade for one of my bodies in my sig, I can see which one or both gets me there.
 
#67
We're talking about separate memories from 15+ years ago. I'm guessing you didn't somehow A/B his tone from various gigs. So it probably sounded similar but not identical. You thought it was a lot more recent, etc... That's what I mean about "unreliable witness".

Anyway, it's definitely primarily a technique, setup, and EQ thing (which are all basically free to experiment with), with little indication that the amp is a primary factor (and we don't even know what amp the guy was using to begin with, the Eden is just a wild ass guess). But if you want to just spend money, go for it. And I don't think Pattitucci ever used Eden (and I know he was using Bag End back in the day, as was Chick). So what did HE use to get that tone?
 
#68
Omega Monkey said:
We're talking about separate memories from 15+ years ago. I'm guessing you didn't somehow A/B his tone from various gigs. So it probably sounded similar but not identical. You thought it was a lot more recent, etc... That's what I mean about "unreliable witness".

Anyway, it's definitely primarily a technique, setup, and EQ thing (which are all basically free to experiment with), with little indication that the amp is a primary factor (and we don't even know what amp the guy was using to begin with, the Eden is just a wild ass guess). But if you want to just spend money, go for it. And I don't think Pattitucci ever used Eden (and I know he was using Bag End back in the day, as was Chick). So what did HE use to get that tone?
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Even if it sounded "similar" that would get me where I want to be. I thought the album was a lot more recent, not seeing them play live. First time I saw them was around 2000. He did use a 210 Eden combo, I assume a Metro. So the model is a "wild ass guess", not the brand. After all of the replies and listening to multiple Youtube and Soundcloud demos of the Eden WTDI, I bought one. From everything I heard, it is definitely the Eden tone with perhaps some compression. All I know is that my EA Doubler through my Epifani 410UL was not getting me there even though it is an excellent amp and sounds great. Hopefully the pedal does. If not, I'll do some more amp trading. Most here on TB go through or have several basses while I have only the 2 I built. I, however, seem to change amps often. Been through 15-20 in the last year. All were ones that most would GAS for. None had "that" sound to me. We'll see what happens with the pedal. Even though I don't agree with most of your comments, I appreciate your input as well as everyone else's. Thanks.
 
#69
So 15-20 amps weren't right, but surely the next one is and the idea that maybe it was the bass and/or your technique was never considered? That's an insane amount of amps to go through in a year. If you only have the thing for a week or 2, you're not even at the point yet where you really know how to use it.

In the guitar world, I could be playing an SG, trying to sound like Hendrix, and try every amp on the planet and sail right past Marshall because the other variables are not dialed in yet. But Hendrix would have sounded like himself on just about any high gain (for the 60s) amp, but the strat is a huge part of his signature sound.

So perhaps what you really need to do is pick up a well made 6 string similar to a Ken Smith or the Yamaha, because if you're only basses are homemade, no one here has any idea what they sound like or if they're capable of what you're after. Even just a pickup change might make all the difference in the world. But we KNOW that a Ken Smith will probably get that sound (or other well made similarly designed 6 string).
 
#70
Omega Monkey said:
So 15-20 amps weren't right, but surely the next one is and the idea that maybe it was the bass and/or your technique was never considered? That's an insane amount of amps to go through in a year. If you only have the thing for a week or 2, you're not even at the point yet where you really know how to use it.

In the guitar world, I could be playing an SG, trying to sound like Hendrix, and try every amp on the planet and sail right past Marshall because the other variables are not dialed in yet. But Hendrix would have sounded like himself on just about any high gain (for the 60s) amp, but the strat is a huge part of his signature sound.

So perhaps what you really need to do is pick up a well made 6 string similar to a Ken Smith or the Yamaha, because if you're only basses are homemade, no one here has any idea what they sound like or if they're capable of what you're after. Even just a pickup change might make all the difference in the world. But we KNOW that a Ken Smith will probably get that sound (or other well made similarly designed 6 string).
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OK, you're right. I suck and have no idea what I'm doing.:p I've only been playing for over 40 years, so that explains it. I happen to like trying different amps and like the tone of many of them and I have the ability to do so. I have been curious of how to get the tone in my first post, just because I have never had it. When you get to be 60 years old, you tend to go back and try to do things you didn't in the past. I know my technique is different from the bassist in the recording. I know my bass is different as well.

As for my bass. I design and built it from scratch with all top of the line parts. It is as good as any Smith, Zon or other high end bass. I actually met Zon and played one of his $6000 6 strings and mine played and sounded better IMHO and has better hardware. Setting all of this aside, the videos of the Eden WTDI had basses from cheap SX to Fender to some high end basses. The tone I've been seeking was there in all of them. It seems to be a combination of the Enhance and Compression. For all I know, maybe a good compressor would have got me there. You seem to make a lot of assumptions with absolutely no knowledge of me, my equipment or my abilities, but you know what? I still appreciate your input.
 
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#71
Update:
I want to thank all for your input. I purchased an Eden WTDI from a fellow TBer and have to say that it got me 95% of where I wanted to be. With my amp, bass and WTDI all set flat and the Enhance knob between 8:30-9:00 and the Comp between 9:00-12:00. it was the closest I've ever got. Couldn't get the grin off my face.:D The bass boost button was also pretty sweet. With that on, I'm glad I have HPF. When turned up, my 410 about blew me out of the room. Who needs air conditioning.:laugh: Now I'll start tweaking the EQ to see what else I can get. It amazed me that with all of that smooth low end, it still cut through the mix. Even my guitarist was amazed. He said it was the best tone I've ever had.:bassist:
 
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