What a terrible affliction.Considering that every instrument I've ever picked up sounded like a train wreck, I have to agree.
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Is it just me...
- Thread starter MisterMagician
- Start date
"Is it just me...
... or do you find that you sound the same no matter what rig you play through?"
It's not just you. The unintentional comedy which passes for my 'technique' drew a mixture of awe and awww no matter what I plugged into.
A change of clothes can make a guy look different, but as soon as he starts talkin'...
... or do you find that you sound the same no matter what rig you play through?"
It's not just you. The unintentional comedy which passes for my 'technique' drew a mixture of awe and awww no matter what I plugged into.
A change of clothes can make a guy look different, but as soon as he starts talkin'...
I think that most players have a general sound that they believe bass should sound like. Typically we adjust the eq and our playing to make it sound good to us. As a result, any basses we play sound similar because we make a conscious effort to make them sound right.
Everyone says "tone is in the fingers" - I disagree with this. Technique is in the fingers, attack is in the fingers, not tone. Fingers affect tone, but they are not tone.
For me the biggest difference in tone comes with the amp. Got to be a 15" speaker and have solid electronics to really have great tone. Tone out of a 12" speaker is very different and not as solid for my sound.
Key phrase being *my sound* - what works for me is going to be different for others. But tone is in the amp. Use your fingers to make the amp sing your style.
For me the biggest difference in tone comes with the amp. Got to be a 15" speaker and have solid electronics to really have great tone. Tone out of a 12" speaker is very different and not as solid for my sound.
Key phrase being *my sound* - what works for me is going to be different for others. But tone is in the amp. Use your fingers to make the amp sing your style.
Heh, I sound different if I change channels on my amp, never mind a different amp, add in different basses, I can sound completly different, from one day to the next.
This is somewhat like something I mentioned in another thread. Some bassists require their amp to be an integral part of their sound, and set the eq and filters etc to get that sound. Others (like myself) require the amp to make the bass louder, and just tweak the eq for the room.
As I fall into the later category, I do tend to sound the same through every amp, as I dial it in to sound 'right'.
Different basses however have their own 'voice'. Although I have one main gig bass, my other have particular voices and play differently that they lend themselves to different styles better than other and I use those strengths. For instance, my Thumb sounds a lot better for some disco grooves than my Attitude due to the tight, MM type punchy growl. The neck on the Thumb just feels 'funkier' too, and that comes out in my playing.
However, I've yet to find a bass that really does it all, and I don't think I will but the Attitude comes close and gets me through a mixed bag function set without any grumbles.
As I fall into the later category, I do tend to sound the same through every amp, as I dial it in to sound 'right'.
Different basses however have their own 'voice'. Although I have one main gig bass, my other have particular voices and play differently that they lend themselves to different styles better than other and I use those strengths. For instance, my Thumb sounds a lot better for some disco grooves than my Attitude due to the tight, MM type punchy growl. The neck on the Thumb just feels 'funkier' too, and that comes out in my playing.
However, I've yet to find a bass that really does it all, and I don't think I will but the Attitude comes close and gets me through a mixed bag function set without any grumbles.
Lots of valid points and input. There are about 3 or 4 "tones" that I look for, or should I say listen for, with bass and amp to use either continuously, or change up a bit for some different songs. Power, EQ, speakers and choice of bass all play into that formula. All of those contribute to locating my perception for my sound/tone, and in many instances, I think that we all take what we have and adjust accordingly to the point closest to our preferred sounds/tones. 
I would agree. I think after more than 20 years, I have to admit that most all of the gear swapping and tinkering is just part of the hobby. It really isn't relevent to how I sound.
The sound that I think the Bass should sound like when I'm playing is the sound I get on all rigs (different Basses do sound a little different, smoother, punchier, more "Hi Fi" and the like, you know, the character of the Bass it's self). I discovered this after programing about 40 different "patches" on 3 different modeling rigs. (Bass Pod, Berhinger table top and rack mount Bass things.. the last mounted in a rack with a power amp for my live rig)
So..... my answer is yes !
So..... my answer is yes !
i know my playing style/ approach enough at this point to really notice the differences in basses and amps that i play.
same difference...
same difference...
One of the oldest sayings: the sound is in the fingers.
If you DON'T sound similar regardless of the rig, something's wrong.
If you DON'T sound similar regardless of the rig, something's wrong.
If you DO sound similar regardless of the rig, I submit you're not getting everything out of it. I most def do NOT sound the same through a hobby amp and a B-15. Why? Because I can get out of a B-15 what it has that other amps don't. So if you always sound the same, then you're not exploiting the potential of a good amp (or bass).
Doesn't that come down to just how an amp "colors" your tone, not how it completely changes your sound?
No it's not just you it's a bunch of people that have a similar interest in discussing something that really doesn't matter. And there is a really simple answer to all of this...
If your asking if the inflections and nuances of my playing transcend the gear I'm using I agree 100%. But that's not tone.
If your asking if I sound the same playing my P bass with flats and my J with SS strings 100% no way.
If your asking if the inflections and nuances of my playing transcend the gear I'm using I agree 100%. But that's not tone.
If your asking if I sound the same playing my P bass with flats and my J with SS strings 100% no way.
Easy there.
Actually, that isn't what I said at all.
That is what I was saying.
I know it sounds out there, which is why I made the thread in the first place. I was not talking about the nuances of my playing passing from instrument to instrument.
I didn't mean to sound confrontational I was just making a point.
In any case it sounds like you are doing something very different then maybe rolling off all of the highs? Using effects? Maybe a practice amp?
Could you delete it though?
I think it has run its course.
Maybe.
I tend to try and EQ all my amps the same (Mids at +15, Bass at ~+8, Treble at ~+4), but nothing besides that. I am just surprised that completely different amp/Bass combinations sound at least somewhat similar when I play them (but entirely different when someone else uses the exact same gear).
