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How to get that chiming/metallic sound????

J

jonners98

Apr 23, 2013
168
101
England, UK
#1
I would like to get that chiming/metallic sound out of my bass when I play with a pick, similar to that heard on songs by Fall Out Boy and Sum 41, but with a little more low end power. Even though I don't play a huge amount of pop punk, I think that sound sits great in a rock mix and I really want to achieve it. I currently play a Fender Modern Player Jazz Bass (with two passive humbuckers and a rosewood fretboard), and i was wondering if anyone has any tips regarding amp and bass settings or playing techniques on how to get that sound?
 
#2
The obvious suggestion is some zingy new strings (maybe coated Elixirs or something bright like DR Highbeams or DR Marcus Miller Fatbeams) and also to boost the treble a little on your amp. Make sure you have some bass boost too and keep your mids flat unless you're not hearing yourself clearly. You can also raise your pickups for some more response - 3-4mm from the strings on the bridge pickup and 5-7mm on the neck pickup. Hope that helps.
 
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#3
OutToPlayJazz said:
The obvious suggestion is some zingy new strings (maybe coated Elixirs or something bright like DR Highbeams or DR Marcus Miller Fatbeams) and also to boost the treble a little on your amp. Make sure you have some bass boost too and keep your mids flat unless you're not hearing yourself clearly. You can also raise your pickups for some more response - 3-4mm from the strings on the bridge pickup and 5-7mm on the neck pickup. Hope that helps.
Click to expand...
Thanks, new strings are on the purchase list at the moment. I messed with the pickup height before, which seemed to add a little to the sound so I'll see what sounds i can get with new strings
 
#7
I spent the better half of my youth chasing a similar sound. Not those particular bands (they didn't exist then), but the sound you speak of was pretty common throughout the 90s in punk/hardcore/etc. It took me way longer than it should have to figure out that a Fender Precision is probably the key to the sound. A lot of that tone's body and presence seems to naturally fall in the midrange rather than just boosting the treble or going for a scooped sound (which can be close but doesn't have the same weight to it). Both bands you mentioned (and like, 90% of punk bands) seem to have one thing in common, which is a mere Precision Bass.

Alternately, a MusicMan or G&L L2000/ASAT has an even more growly take on that sound in spades.
While I don't know for sure this was recorded with it, the bass player was using a G&L ASAT during this time, and mostly played fingerstyle at that:


Although keep in mind I'm not saying you should toss the Jazz and run out and get a Precision instead. I ended up with a Rickenbacker 4001 at a young age and tried in vain to get that modern punk sound for a few years with various amps/cabs and it just never did it. In the process I fell in love with it for what it is, and 19 years later no amount of money in the world could buy me something I like more. I've literally grown up with it and have somewhat developed my own sound/tone rather than seek to emulate others.

That said, I bought a G&L L2000 Tribute a few years ago on a whim and it's downright hilarious how it just nails that sound without even trying to.
 
#8
Augment said:
I spent the better half of my youth chasing a similar sound. Not those particular bands (they didn't exist then), but the sound you speak of was pretty common throughout the 90s in punk/hardcore/etc. It took me way longer than it should have to figure out that a Fender Precision is probably the key to the sound. A lot of that tone's body and presence seems to naturally fall in the midrange rather than just boosting the treble or going for a scooped sound (which can be close but doesn't have the same weight to it). Both bands you mentioned (and like, 90% of punk bands) seem to have one thing in common, which is a mere Precision Bass.

Alternately, a MusicMan or G&L L2000/ASAT has an even more growly take on that sound in spades.
While I don't know for sure this was recorded with it, the bass player was using a G&L ASAT during this time, and mostly played fingerstyle at that:


Although keep in mind I'm not saying you should toss the Jazz and run out and get a Precision instead. I ended up with a Rickenbacker 4001 at a young age and tried in vain to get that modern punk sound for a few years with various amps/cabs and it just never did it. In the process I fell in love with it for what it is, and 19 years later no amount of money in the world could buy me something I like more. I've literally grown up with it and have somewhat developed my own sound/tone rather than seek to emulate others.

That said, I bought a G&L L2000 Tribute a few years ago on a whim and it's downright hilarious how it just nails that sound without even trying to.
Click to expand...

I have to admit, the only time i truly achieved that sound was with a maple fretboarded fender 50s p bass, which is my next planned bass purchase, but that's a while away. Before i lowered my action, raised my pickups and gave the strings a clean and i was alot closer
 
#9
Yeah, I meant to add that Fender basses in general seem to get pretty close regardless of the specific make/model, but ones with maple fretboards seem to really deliver the goods. My next bass is also going to be a Precision with a maple neck; my friend gave me a body and neck for Christmas so I can build my own once I get all the hardware rounded up for it.
 
#13
These are all good replies. Use the bright switch on your amp or boost 1.5 - 2k. That will get you some sparkle. I've noticed lighter picks can give more of "snap" which helps too. I use the yellow tortex picks with my P and L2000.
 
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#16
stainless steel strings, if you have a bass with passive humbuckers you can still get it, turn the vol on the bass all the way up, turn the high and low tones on the bass all the way up too, play with a sharp pick. one the amp, small dip in your low mids(250 to 800hz), raise up your high mids (1k to 2.5k) and your high(2k to 5k), slight bump in your low end. Its just that a P or P/J will produce that sound naturally with the tone on the bass almost all the way up, even with an amp set flat.
 

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