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How long did it take you to find YOUR sound?

#21
I think this quest for ULTIMATE TONE was probably cooked up by the manufacturers to sell more guitars.

I routinely get a sound I like from a Squier bass into whatever backline I have available. Perhaps I'm not discerning enough but I've only owned about ten basses in over twenty years of playing, and five different amps.
 
#23
10 is years to complete the trifecta (bass, amp, cab)

I continue to come back to Warwick basses no matter what I own/play/borrow/try.

I found heaven in a box in a Bergantino NV215

After many heads (all you can imagine) I settled on two:
Carvin B1500 and Thunderfunk 550B

Oh yeah.........gotta run my Avalon U5 when playing large venues

My "sound" might not be your "sound" but I am recognizable to myself and others I have played with.

Take your time and don't go nuts. It's easy to go crazy because there is a flood of new products every year. If you have the time and money..........run through a bunch of different stuff.........I know I sure spent alot of time money and energy chasing my own illusive version of "TONE" or "SOUND"

I believe I have it.........for the moment at least.
 
#24
WilliamSandoval said:
I'm always messing with my EQ, I don't think I'll ever find it!
Click to expand...

I think that the perfect sound is a journey, not a destination. Although there are exceptions, I think that in general most players' sound changes over the years with their tastes and musical maturity. In the seventies I played a Ric 4001 through an SVT head, 8X10 cabinet and 4X12 cabinet. I had basically the same sound for 10 years and loved it. After a long layoff, I find my tastes have changed drastically.

Although I tweak, I find that I'm tweaking less and less and being more and more satisfied with my sound, although I know I can always improve.

I guess this thread will eventually devolve into the "sound like the original" police and the "any way is good" crowd. My opinion is that you should establish what your goal is and work towards the sound that fulfills that goal. If you want to sound like the original, there's nothing wrong with that. If you want to put your own spin on it, there is nothing wrong with that either. YOUR goals should guide your sound.
 
#25
I have always had my sound. Took me 15 years to figure out MY setup though. A lot of what you get does come from how you play it but my rig compliments the way i play. I am really an aggressive player and when I'm not playing an amp thats as aggressive i don't feel comfortable and feel the need to hold back. I rarely mess with my EQ. I think the only time i do is when i change rooms and its always not much. Playing bass is way more fun when your not constantly looking at your rig in disgust and your not always holding the rest of the band up turning knobs. I get to be that guy that just plugs in and forgets everything else. Its nice just being able to walk in the room and just play my guts out.
 
#30
I set my sound for every gig so three of the most bass intensive songs we do will sound their best at one setting. At the moment those are Voodoo by Godsmack, Boot Scootin' Boogie by Brooks and Dunn, and Luckenbach Texas by Waylon & Willie. (yeah, we run the gamut) and I believe I've gotten as close to "my sound" as I'll ever get. But then, I'll probably say that again real soon, new amp and all.
 
#31
Art Araya said:
True story. My first real bass teacher was David Overthrow. Loved his tone and his playing. So like a typical newbie I had to own the same bass and same amp and cab as him to get "that sound". So spent lots of money but never really sounded like him - how frustrating....
Click to expand...

LOL - had a similar experience. Instructor played my bass and it sounded great. His attack was much more articulate than mine due to some right finger callouses. Its quite demoralizing because there is nothing I could do about it. :)

dmusic148 said:
About 25 years. After countless expensive amps and basses I finally caved and bought a plain 'ol P bass. I'm done. I think.
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ditto. After 10 years fooling around with the bass I tried out a '57 p reissue with flats and said "that is what a bass is supposed to sound like" (to me anyway). However, I'm still searching for my Fender jazz bass sound. However it is a combination of bass, amp, timing and technique IMHO.
 
#33
kevteop said:
I think this quest for ULTIMATE TONE was probably cooked up by the manufacturers to sell more guitars.

I routinely get a sound I like from a Squier bass into whatever backline I have available. Perhaps I'm not discerning enough but I've only owned about ten basses in over twenty years of playing, and five different amps.
Click to expand...

You can't imagine how much I envy you!
 

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