Hahaha, I’m at a loss for words. I certainly meant no disrespect.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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 free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Looking for “bad” tone
- Thread starter scrappykraken
- Start date
Hahaha, I’m at a loss for words. I certainly meant no disrespect.
Since someone said Hondo, it does remind me that studio magic can help a lot. Joy Divison sounds so awesome on their albums, live I think they sound great but Peter Hook's live tone was what most would call very messy. He used a sh!t amp and a Hondo... I think the amp might be key.
Other than that I agree the Rascall is awesome. I think it can get a great tone but you can get a mud tone easily and can make it sound crappy. I think though it will be versatile down the line for future use if you want to outside of the mud tone.
Other than that I agree the Rascall is awesome. I think it can get a great tone but you can get a mud tone easily and can make it sound crappy. I think though it will be versatile down the line for future use if you want to outside of the mud tone.
Agree about the Rascal and Bronco. But how about this for a left fielder? Epiphone Newport. Mine's loaded with Labella flats and it can get quite dirty with the bridge pickup blended to 80% and neck at 20%. Maybe just a hint of overdrive post process. I have the Dreadbox Disorder and I can get it smack in the ballpark of the tone I THINK
you're after with the Epi and Disorder. But Bronco and Rascal will also get you there.
you're after with the Epi and Disorder. But Bronco and Rascal will also get you there.
Sounds like an excuse for a new bass 
I like old Japanese basses for this vibe… or sth random from a pawn shop or yard sale?
that said, you can mimic short scale by downtuning half step (32”) or full step (30”). Flats or tapes are good, but old rounds will do.
Foam mute and technique will get you the rest of the way…
I like old Japanese basses for this vibe… or sth random from a pawn shop or yard sale?that said, you can mimic short scale by downtuning half step (32”) or full step (30”). Flats or tapes are good, but old rounds will do.
Foam mute and technique will get you the rest of the way…
D
Personally I think a key element for that kind of tone is to mic a classic tube amp in an actual room and play LOUD. Amp sims are way too polished and "perfect" sounding for that kinda vibe IMO. How "bad" it will sound will depend on the room acoustics and the mic placement. Ideally you should record live with a full band. Mic leakage can be your friend for THAT kinda vibe. It's definitely not something you can nail 100% in the digital realm with amp sims/plugins.
Also, bass cabs today sound VERY different from bass cabs back then. If you're not too worried about blowing the speakers, I think a vintage-style tube amp with a GUITAR cab might actually be your best choice. Maybe even a combo, like an AC30 or some kind of vintage Fender tube combo.
A P-bass should get you close as long as you pluck the string close to the neck, although a bass with an actual neck pickup (rather than the P-bass "middle" pickup position) will get you even closer. Some kind of European short scale hollowbody, like a vintage Framus would probably be ideal, but one of the currently manufactured Höfner Club or Violin basses should get you there as well. The neck pickup soloed on a Höfner is an almost SEISMIC event. The choice of strings will matter too of course.
I have a feeling that someone will suggest an EB at some point, although that might just take it a step too far... Maybe you will like it, but you would need an actual vintage EB, or an Epi that has been correctly rewired to vintage specs, with a replacement vintage replica pickup. The current Epihone EB pickups don't sound even remotely like a vintage Gibson EB. The current Epi pickips are very, very different sounding and far inferior.
Several posters have suggested Broncos, but the pickup in the Broncos are more in a middle position than a neck positions, so it will really just give you a worse sounding variety of what you can already get from your P-bass (and not in the "good-bad" way you're looking for). Broncos are generally also rather poorly built IMO.
Also, bass cabs today sound VERY different from bass cabs back then. If you're not too worried about blowing the speakers, I think a vintage-style tube amp with a GUITAR cab might actually be your best choice. Maybe even a combo, like an AC30 or some kind of vintage Fender tube combo.
A P-bass should get you close as long as you pluck the string close to the neck, although a bass with an actual neck pickup (rather than the P-bass "middle" pickup position) will get you even closer. Some kind of European short scale hollowbody, like a vintage Framus would probably be ideal, but one of the currently manufactured Höfner Club or Violin basses should get you there as well. The neck pickup soloed on a Höfner is an almost SEISMIC event. The choice of strings will matter too of course.
I have a feeling that someone will suggest an EB at some point, although that might just take it a step too far... Maybe you will like it, but you would need an actual vintage EB, or an Epi that has been correctly rewired to vintage specs, with a replacement vintage replica pickup. The current Epihone EB pickups don't sound even remotely like a vintage Gibson EB. The current Epi pickips are very, very different sounding and far inferior.
Several posters have suggested Broncos, but the pickup in the Broncos are more in a middle position than a neck positions, so it will really just give you a worse sounding variety of what you can already get from your P-bass (and not in the "good-bad" way you're looking for). Broncos are generally also rather poorly built IMO.
Last edited:
Last edited:
Go to your local MusicGoRound and have a look around. I think you will find something sufficiently aweful to meet your goal...
They banned me from TheGearPage for asking there so…Now I've seen it all. Somebody comes on TB to ask how to get bad tone
Not to hijack this thread, but I’ve been thinking for a while about putting a Guild BS-1 into my p bass at the neck position. I currently just play right at the end of the fretboard to get that sound with just the p pickup — do you think the bisonic at the neck will give me a vastly different result?
And would it give the OP that sound?
Black nylon flats and stuff some foam near the bridge on what you have 1st.
For a crappy bass tone you can hire me!
The crappiest sounding bass I've ever played was a soviet era bass.
The crappiest sounding bass I've ever played was a soviet era bass.
Yeah, I'd think short scale with a neck or middle pickup and either flats or dead rounds would get you there.
As mentioned already, an old crap amp, adjust gain for farts, then mic it. Guaranteed crap tone, maybe even less compelling than BW himself. 
One of these turds should work. I can't believe MF is asking $500 for one right now.
One of these turds should work. I can't believe MF is asking $500 for one right now.
Seems like you're really overthinking this. With access to three good preamps that can give you dirt, that P bass should work fine. A lot of those garage bands probably were using Fenders like everybody else. It was how they played it….try plucking at the end of the fingerboard for starters.
Thanks all.
To those recommending to stick with the P, I get it - I'm fortunate enough to be able to look around for a new feel and have really come to enjoy playing bass regularly. When I was a kid, I was almost the bass player by default but somehow wound up on guitar but I always wondered... Anyways, these days I write my own stuff and have come to find I really really enjoy it. I kinda wonder where I'd be today if I'd started off with it... Anyways!
I'm leaning towards a Squier Rascal - the Newports seemed to have had some quality issues (one person on here really seemed to throw the kitchen sink at getting it playable with mixed results). The Bronco just seems very close to the P - maybe it's just on the cosmetic side. I have to do a little more listening...
To those recommending to stick with the P, I get it - I'm fortunate enough to be able to look around for a new feel and have really come to enjoy playing bass regularly. When I was a kid, I was almost the bass player by default but somehow wound up on guitar but I always wondered... Anyways, these days I write my own stuff and have come to find I really really enjoy it. I kinda wonder where I'd be today if I'd started off with it... Anyways!
I'm leaning towards a Squier Rascal - the Newports seemed to have had some quality issues (one person on here really seemed to throw the kitchen sink at getting it playable with mixed results). The Bronco just seems very close to the P - maybe it's just on the cosmetic side. I have to do a little more listening...
As mentioned already, an old crap amp, adjust gain for farts, then mic it. Guaranteed crap tone, maybe even less compelling than BW himself.
One of these turds should work. I can't believe MF is asking $500 for one right now.
View attachment 7253654
I've got this covered - thanks for the suggestion.
