How would you describe/achieve John Mcvie's tone on Fleetwood Mac's "The Dance?"

[xj98jeep]

Holy cow it's just so good. I'm also still learning to define a lot of tone terminology (I saw someone describe a "boxy" bass tone the other day? *** is that?) so I figured this would be a good exercise for me. It sounds pretty punchy in the low mids with good bass but still really defined, and some vintage treble roll off to boot. And pretty good growl too. Am I missing any descriptors here?

I've got a Warwick thumb going into a TH500, into an Epifani ps115 and despite all of my tonal tomfoolery, can't get that growl out of it. Been looking at upgrading my cab anyway, the 115 is fine but not stellar.

Any advice? does anyone know what his setup was for that album? I know he's used a ton of different basses throughout the years.

 

[dlb1001]

Check this old thread:
John McVie
John was probably using a Tobias.

 

[bastoe]

do you pluck with fingers or a pick? you might have to position your plucking hand in different spots. did you try flattening the eq all around? i think the growl that comes in to sit in the mix is @700-750mhz, I can get close with my P/J bass and that sound he gets is my preferred sound (attempt at it anyway lol)

dude was a great example of tasty groove lines that we fun to play. in the pocket like a wad of cash.

 

[dlb1001]

Also, Mick Fleetwood isn't a busy drummer and Lindsay's sound wasn't heavily distorted, which left room for McVie's bass to stick out.

 

[xj98jeep]

do you pluck with fingers or a pick? you might have to position your plucking hand in different spots. did you try flattening the eq all around? i think the growl that comes in to sit in the mix is @700-750mhz, I can get close with my P/J bass and that sound he gets is my preferred sound (attempt at it anyway lol)

dude was a great example of tasty groove lines that we fun to play. in the pocket like a wad of cash.

I agree completely, he nails it. I have played around with my EQ, I can emphasize what growl I have but it's still not as present as it is in his tone. Toying with upgrading the pickups in my thumb, I'm just not getting the tone everyone raves about out of the MECs.