• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Lessard

Awhile ago I made a thread on how to get Stefan Lessard's (DMB) tone. Well there was alot of people who were claiming "oh he has thousands of dollars of gear blah blah blah." There were also alot of people who were curious as how to get the smooth, burpy midrange. Well tonight, I was down the old guitar center, and for the hell of it I tried a 50 dollar compression pedal. I plug it in and turn it up, and there it is, without question, that is his tone. It is very very compressed. Now, this is after I spent 2 thousand dollars on a rig to try and get that tone, I look at a used pedal and there it is. For those who are wondering it's a digi-tech compression and something else. I'm just about ecstatic right now.

:bassist:
 
Which Digitech? Is it the Squeeze Box? What are your settings on the pedal?

Actually Lessard's tone does have a lot of compression. He used to use an Aphex 661 compressor in his rack. I had one when I had my large rack and it nailed the compressed tone he has.
 
modflea said:
Which Digitech? Is it the Squeeze Box? What are your settings on the pedal?

Actually Lessard's tone does have a lot of compression. He used to use an Aphex 661 compressor in his rack. I had one when I had my large rack and it nailed the compressed tone he has.

Yep, squeeze box. I don't remember the exact settings, it's in my basement and I'm three floors up. But the crossover was very close to the 100hz there. That's what I remember making the largest difference.
 
Bingo!! That's exactly where mine's set at. I kind of go for his tone by default anyway so I guess that explains it.

I am also impressed with the Squeeze Box. When I was looking for a compressor, the salesman recommended it. I was very skeptical, but I was sold on it right away! Plus, $20 back on a new one is a sweet deal.
 
I feel your pain. At one time my rig consisted of:

Modulus Flea Bass 4
Furman PL-8 Power Supply
Korg DTR 1 Tuner
Shure U4D Wireless
SWR Grand Prix Pre-amp
Aphex 661 Compressor
Peavey 31 band EQ
Crest Audio Power Amp

The only thing I didn't have from his rig at the time was the Meyer Sound EQ ($2,500 used :eek: ) and the Meyer cabinets he had on stage ($4,000 to $6,000 each :eek: :eek: )

Now I'm absolutely sold on the Ampeg Pre-Amp. It does the job of all of those things combined (except the comp, which the Squeeze Box handles just fine). I went from a full 8 space rack to a 4 space and my tone hasn't been better.
 
modflea said:
I feel your pain. At one time my rig consisted of:

Modulus Flea Bass 4
Furman PL-8 Power Supply
Korg DTR 1 Tuner
Shure U4D Wireless
SWR Grand Prix Pre-amp
Aphex 661 Compressor
Peavey 31 band EQ
Crest Audio Power Amp

The only thing I didn't have from his rig at the time was the Meyer Sound EQ ($2,500 used :eek: ) and the Meyer cabinets he had on stage ($4,000 to $6,000 each :eek: :eek: )

Now I'm absolutely sold on the Ampeg Pre-Amp. It does the job of all of those things combined (except the comp, which the Squeeze Box handles just fine). I went from a full 8 space rack to a 4 space and my tone hasn't been better.

I have an Ampeg cab and Ampeg STV5-PRO head. All I needed to get the tone was the squeeze box. And a Korg tuner but that has nothing to do with the tone. The Ampeg and DigiTech together do just a good job as his 10,000+ setup.
 
VinceLovesF said:
Love the tone of this guy too!
But don't want to buy those kind of instruments , F Bass and fender are more my tastes.
But you must have waited a long time before finding it, it's a very "strange" sound, unusual!

Congrats :D
Vince


A year, a new bass, a new cab and head, and 5,000 dollars worth of gear later I found a 70 dollar stomp box.

:rollno:
 
Yeah I know the Korg has nothing to do with it. It was just on his list of equipment and I needed a tuner so...

Nice amp you have there. I've tried the Pro5 and it's awesome! I wanted to get an Ampeg head but I already had the Crest amp so it was easier (and cheaper) to just buy the preamp.

I'm still waiting for my Ampeg cab to get in. I ordered an 810 AV but they got in an 810E instead, so now I have to wait for them to get the right one in.
 
superbassman2000 said:
yeah, thats what i thought...thats why i'm kind of interested in hearing that $70 box match up to an eventide processor!

I actually sold the box.

I went after his older Warwick tone, seeing as I have a Warwick and all. Much easier and a better tone IMO to get. My setup is now an Ameg SVT-5PRO, Bass POD Pro, Sonic Maximizer, Korg DTR-1000 and Furman power conditioner. Going into an Ampeg 4x10...I finally stopped being naive and adding shenanigans on, and I don't even think I need the POD anymore. I love love love his old tone, think Red Rocks tone. The POD can get his newer tone, in fact people tell me it sounds alot like Stefan. I just love his older, more-raw tone. Keep in mind this post is 4 months old =p