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Looking for “bad” tone

S

scrappykraken

Nov 20, 2023
17
39
#1
Hey dudes,

I’m working on a new project and looking for some input. I’m working on some Stonesy style tunes (think Exile and bits of Sticky Fingers - Grimy!!!) and I’m looking for a lo-fi, “crappy” bass tone sort of like Bill Wyman or any Nuggets bands.

I’ve got a 62 p bass reissue but it’s a little too refined for what I want.

Any thoughts? I’d prefer cheaper options and ideally those of quality - a crappy tone is fine but I’d like it to stay in tune!

I’ll more than likely wind up running it through a Bass Rig 64 black panel or an ampeg sgt in the b15 mode depending on what I can borrow - but I also have a bddi.

I’m also looking for a different feel - maybe short or medium scale - than my P and have a little money to play with.

Any ideas? Open to anything really. Gretsch and Epiphone seem to have some cheaper options.
 
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#7
Get a Bronco and put some flats on it. And don't bother checking the intonation. NK. I bought my kid one which he never plays, but I do a lot of music for TV etc and have to cop very period-and-production-value-correct vibes(it has to sound old and totally legit, not like it was done in a DAW). I totally get there with the Bronco, flats, questionable setup. It's like you're casting characters--you don't want anybody too slick. In fact, you might want them to be a little drunk.
 
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#9
scrappykraken said:
Hey dudes,

I’m working on a new project and looking for some input. I’m working on some Stonesy style tunes (think Exile and bits of Sticky Fingers - Grimy!!!) and I’m looking for a lo-fi, “crappy” bass tone sort of like Bill Wyman or any Nuggets bands.

I’ve got a 62 p bass reissue but it’s a little too refined for what I want.

Any thoughts? I’d prefer cheaper options and ideally those of quality - a crappy tone is fine but I’d like it to stay in tune!

I’ll more than likely wind up running it through a Bass Rig 64 black panel or an ampeg sgt in the b15 mode depending on what I can borrow - but I also have a bddi.

I’m also looking for a different feel - maybe short or medium scale - than my P and have a little money to play with.

Any ideas? Open to anything really. Gretsch and Epiphone seem to have some cheaper options.
Click to expand...
Did you just call Bill Wyman’s tone crappy, lol? Just put some Roto 66s on and play way up the neck.
 
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#12
frankie5string said:
You might want to look at the Squier Paranormal Rascal Bass. I bought one and I'm thrilled with it. It does the lo-fi/funky-junk thing really well.
It's a short scale on a bass-6 body with two massive (and very hot) Squier (Roswell?) humbuckers.
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I’d have to agree. The pickups are hotter than anything I’ve ever played which will definitely push the sound of an amp etc. In fact I usually put some volume or compressor on it to tame it so it doesn’t trash my downstream gain staging. (It can also sound very nice if you tame it).

IMG_1070.jpeg
 
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#13
scrappykraken said:
Hey dudes,

I’m working on a new project and looking for some input. I’m working on some Stonesy style tunes (think Exile and bits of Sticky Fingers - Grimy!!!) and I’m looking for a lo-fi, “crappy” bass tone sort of like Bill Wyman or any Nuggets bands.

I’ve got a 62 p bass reissue but it’s a little too refined for what I want.

Any thoughts? I’d prefer cheaper options and ideally those of quality - a crappy tone is fine but I’d like it to stay in tune!

I’ll more than likely wind up running it through a Bass Rig 64 black panel or an ampeg sgt in the b15 mode depending on what I can borrow - but I also have a bddi.

I’m also looking for a different feel - maybe short or medium scale - than my P and have a little money to play with.

Any ideas? Open to anything really. Gretsch and Epiphone seem to have some cheaper options.
Click to expand...
I don’t have a lot of suggestions but a low watt guitar amp might be a good start.
 
#15
JohnEdward said:
Did you just call Bill Wyman’s tone crappy, lol? Just put some Roto 66s on and play way up the neck.
Click to expand...
I'm a HUGE Bill fanboy and I love how he sounds on all that old stuff. Way cooler than Keith, Ron, Mick Taylor--they just sounded . .. pedestrian. You're absolutely right about playing up higher on the neck--spot on advice right there. You want that billowy less tight sound.
 
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#16
pbass2 said:
I'm a HUGE Bill fanboy and I love how he sounds on all that old stuff. Way cooler than Keith, Ron, Mick Taylor--they just sounded . .. pedestrian. You're absolutely right about playing up higher on the neck--spot on advice right there. You want that billowy less tight sound.
Click to expand...
I tried nailing his tone for a minute there. I even removed the frets from my now sold hollow body to get it. I later bought a Hofner Verythin with Pyramids that gets me in the territory.

You’re correct, it’s kind of a loose tone. I suggested the 66s’ to add the grit and to be able to cut through if necessary, and I think you’d want to look for a hollow body to really take you there. They can get unrefined, and if you get some feedback going as you play…lofi heaven…I think.

I played a Squier Rascal bass not too long ago. It’s a good suggestion. So is a shorter scale than 34”. Tones gotta be a bit sloppy and less tension will do that.
 
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