Howard K said:This topic as as old as the BG itself I'm sure
A quality amp and bass will, in my opinion, make it easier for you to find that killer tone, because, more often than not, it will be more responsive to subtleties in your technique. However, it will highlight any poor areas of technique to an equal degree.
Very true. I've always said that Rickenbacker's are the litman's test for bad technique. If you have bad technique, and you pick up a Ric, it's like a kid with acne walking around with a huge magnifying glass to their face. But then, Rics sound beautiful when in the hands of skilled musicians.
There's always a big debate on gear versus techinque. I would say it's 70% tech, 30% gear. I always think I sound better with a new set of strings; they seem to be more responsive to my playing style, and I like the increased output. But my main gigging rig is an Ibanez SR305, and a Crate combo that I run direct into the PA. (two pieces of gear that aren't very respected here at TB) I work with this one sound engineer who always praises my touch and techinique at the end of a gig.
I usually don't walk into a club with a certain expectation of what I'm going to sound like that night, because, every room is different. The most I can do is plug in, dial in my stage tone, and let the soundman take care of the rest. I'm a bit of a tone freak, but you can spend hours dialing in the "right tone". When it comes down to it, you just have to EQ something in, and just play your ass off.
