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Is it just me that loves treble?

J

jharismaiden

Aug 5, 2008
129
26
United Kingdom
#1
I hope this is an appropriate place to post this..

I've been playing bass for about a year now, and I've realised something about the tone that I prefer. I really, really like a treble boost. My small Peavey practice amp has bass levels set between 7 and 8, mids set at 8, and highs set to 9 (maximum being 10 for each). On top of this, the tone knob of my precision bass is usually rolled off towards highs. The result is this very trebly "growl", yet a sound that sounds rather "clean" due to the bass cut, that I simply love hearing no matter what song I play. Best of all, it cuts through the mix when I go jamming, and, in my opinion, sounds great for the songs I play (rock and metal in general, but leaning towards the classic and not-so-heavy stuff). Furthermore, I play with low action and often the sound of the flat wound strings crashing against the frets (like Mr Steve Harris' playing) sound great to me.

Am I nuts or something? It would be comforting to know if there are other bassists like me, because.. I don't know. I feel like its weird that I enjoy so much treble as compared to most bassists? I know I shouldn't care so much.. But still.. Any of you TB'ers like the treble? :hmm:
 
#2
I love that tone also. I just got a TRB-10004 Yamaha. It is very bright but has the 3 knob boost-cut very easy tone changes.
I love Geddy and that Rush sound. He now uses the Fender but used a Rick for many years. I always read with his Rick which has the stereo outputs, he ran one out clean and the other dirty.
For treble lovers a Rickenbacker is the gold standard. I went with the Yami because it has more tone shaping options. But I would still love a Rick. A song that has that treble sound I love is the Pink Floyd song "One of these days" off the Meddle album.
Rock on!:bassist:
 
#5
filter said:
I love that tone also. I just got a TRB-10004 Yamaha. It is very bright but has the 3 knob boost-cut very easy tone changes.
I love Geddy and that Rush sound. He now uses the Fender but used a Rick for many years. I always read with his Rick which has the stereo outputs, he ran one out clean and the other dirty.
For treble lovers a Rickenbacker is the gold standard. I went with the Yami because it has more tone shaping options. But I would still love a Rick. A song that has that treble sound I love is the Pink Floyd song "One of these days" off the Meddle album.
Rock on!:bassist:
Click to expand...

Then again, Geddy has said he went back to his Jazz because he just wasn't getting enough low end out of his other basses... :hiding:
 
#8
My tastes have changed over the years. Years ago I liked a bright clanky grindy tone, but more recently I've toned down the overdrive and zing and focused more in the mids and low-mids. I don't like mud, though... I still need clarity and punch in the higher frequencies.
 
#9
Chris Squier, John Entwistle, Geddy Lee....yea your not the only one.
Ive been told in several bands to stop sounding like a guitar and sound like a Bass, and trust me I can get down and deep and grove....but when I put on the 8 string....well all bets are off!!!!
 
#13
I'm one of those older bass players who started on upright, and whose electric bass idols emphasized the bass end of the sound spectrum and rolled of the highs. I find too much treble both painful and aesthetically objectionable; the sound of a lot of slapping, popping and fret clatter feel like someone is assaulting my ears with an ice pick. Not intended as a slam, just my POV.
 
#14
Jazzdogg said:
I'm one of those older bass players who started on upright, and whose electric bass idols emphasized the bass end of the sound spectrum and rolled of the highs. I find too much treble both painful and aesthetically objectionable; the sound of a lot of slapping, popping and fret clatter feel like someone is assaulting my ears with an ice pick. Not intended as a slam, just my POV.
Click to expand...

And I'm one of those young dudes who feels exactly the same way.

I mean, it's not called treble guitar... :ninja:
 

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