Jason Newsted's Tone

[bassistofdoom]

I love Metallica...

I would like to know how to get Jason Newsted's tone out of any amp. I don't want people giving me links to his gear list, trust me, I've already looked at those.

I would like to know how he got his sound. What should I boost, what should I cut.

I love the tone on the intro to My Friend Of Misery and on Wherever I May Roam (can't say anything about the Justice album cause, there's no bass). Also, his tone on Enter seems to cut through a freight train. I know James is all about a full guitar sound, so how did Jason cut through like that? That question has always been beyond me.

 

[Levin Hannaford]

I know Jason used many different basses, but I mostly remember his Sadowskys, which are known for 'cutting through'. Also, he uses lots of various models of Ampeg amps, particularly SVT IIs I believe.

I hear his tone in my head as compressed as well. Probably due to his picking technique being so aggressive. I also hear it as 'clacky', again, probably due to his technique.

I'd start with a VT Bass pedal, a pick, and possibly a compressor. I'm sure you'll hear from other members who know more than me too

 

[bassistofdoom]

I know Jason used many different basses, but I mostly remember his Sadowskys, which are known for 'cutting through'. Also, he uses lots of various models of Ampeg amps, particularly SVT IIs I believe.

I hear his tone in my head as compressed as well. Probably due to his picking technique being so aggressive. I also hear it as 'clacky', again, probably due to his technique.

I'd start with a VT Bass pedal, a pick, and possibly a compressor. I'm sure you'll hear from other members who know more than me too

Thanks

 

[patas75]

I've read article where he stated that on the black album he used Spector basses and SWR amps. He used a crossover to split the signal: highs to one amp, lows to another. Then for live he went back to Ampegs and Alembic basses.

Truth is to get his tone you have to have his attack.

 

[Kink Rimson]

On the Black album, Jason played Spector and Wal basses. It's a great tone but not difficult to achieve - an active, 2 pickup bass played with a pick will get you there. Keep the amp nice and clean too.

To me, Jason's never really had a distinctive tone, rather he uses one to fit the songs and production - but that's probably as much the work of Bob Rock. And as far as I know, his Sadowskys only made it onto Reload and Garage Inc, and he goes for quite a bassy tone on those albums, with not a lot of treble.

 

[Tituscrow]

If you want to hear how good he REALLY sounds, you should check out his work on the Flotsam and Jetsam album 'Doomsday For The Deceiver'. His finest hour, IMO.

 

[beebassdude]

if you wanna get his justice for all tone, just turn your amp off.

 

[packhowitzer]

if you wanna get his justice for all tone, just turn your amp off.

haha

 

[beebassdude]

heres a big list of all the stuff hes used over the years:

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doesnt mention spectors in there, but if you watch Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica, you can see he at least tried spectors (and stingrays) for the Black Album, but whether those made it on to the record, who knows. his tone has always been a background thing, but it always sounds good and works well.

 

[grendle]

yeah those tunes were a brooklyn era spector ns2. You really have to do a lot to make that bass sound that horrible imo. no real tricks.... too good of a bass, too much gear crap tastic knob set to hi.

 

[jkingbass]

jason seems to have his mids boosted, try settings with mids from 2 to 5 o clock, bass from 12 to 2 o clock and treble 10 to 2 o clock on your amp, use heavy right hand attack and blend the tone until it sounds desireable, jason sometimes uses his pinky wrapped around the G string to anchor his hand over the bridge to acheive more consistent downward picking and easier palm muting, also stainless steel strings sound more "bright/trebley" that nickel so stainless strings would be more accurate to his tone.

 

[millsbass5]

To capture his tone for "AND JUSTICE FOR ALL". Use a Sony Earbud-type headphone, mic'd with a Shure SM57. That oughta give you the tone and similar mix that's on that album.

 

[millsbass5]

But, seriously. I think a BIG part of his tone has to do with his h-e-a-v-y pick attack, and use of compression, coupled with an active electronics-loaded bass. Just my 2 pennies......

 

[jkingbass]

heres a big list of all the stuff hes used over the years:

Invalid Link Removed

doesnt mention spectors in there, but if you watch Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica, you can see he at least tried spectors (and stingrays) for the Black Album, but whether those made it on to the record, who knows. his tone has always been a background thing, but it always sounds good and works well.

that website is quite useful but im not surprised they havent listed some of his basses, they have on that site that rob trujillo uses dean markley strings and fernandez + tobias/gibson basses, he actually uses fernandes, zon and warwick basses and has a custom dunlop rob trujillo stringset stainless steels with a nickel .130 B.

But i have to say +1 for that website, they have the majority of gear used by the metallica guys throughout the years, and those guys change gear quicker than they change their underwear!