I've been looking at trying to find a bass that has a very crisp and clear sound. I've sort of grown to think of Zon basses as perfect to achieve the kind of sound I want, but a $2000 bass is out of both my price and skill range, so I was curious if there were any less expensive, but just as crisp sounding instruments out there, or if there is any way to make my current bass (ESP B-305FM) to sound cleaner? My main idea here is adding new preamp and pickups...so any thoughts?
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Looking for a very "clean" sounding bass
- Thread starter Zezjek
- Start date
Sorry if this isn't much help, but my buddy has a mid 60s SG bass that has 1 pickup pressed against the fingerboard. I've never played a bass with such clean sound. I don't even know if they still make SG basses though.
My advice would be to look to your electronics, strings, and plucking/strumming hand technique if you are concerned about cost. Buying a completely new bass may not be necessary.
Edit: before you go spending money on anything, really try to use technique to get a clean sound. I wanted to change the pickups in my bass, but then I found that turning on only the neck pickup and strumming right where the neck and body meet with my thumb rested on the side of the finger board creates very whole-sounding clean notes.
My advice would be to look to your electronics, strings, and plucking/strumming hand technique if you are concerned about cost. Buying a completely new bass may not be necessary.
Edit: before you go spending money on anything, really try to use technique to get a clean sound. I wanted to change the pickups in my bass, but then I found that turning on only the neck pickup and strumming right where the neck and body meet with my thumb rested on the side of the finger board creates very whole-sounding clean notes.
Electronics really aren't my strong point, however I'm sure if you went and asked in the electronics forum, someone with a little more knowledge than I could help you.
Clean sounding bass?- your question is not clearly defined.
From my perspective, clean has everything to do with amplification. Lots of power, great preamp, nicely tuned cabinet and just about any modern bass at a variety of price points should sound crystal clear and clean.
From my perspective, clean has everything to do with amplification. Lots of power, great preamp, nicely tuned cabinet and just about any modern bass at a variety of price points should sound crystal clear and clean.
A hint: quite often a crisp, clean tone is called a modern tone, so you might look for that in threads. I agree with Caca de Kick that you are more likely to get it from an active setup.
The problem with a crisp tone is that, IMHO, you lose it in a live environment.
The problem with a crisp tone is that, IMHO, you lose it in a live environment.
Nuther vote for Ibanez SR with barts. Maybe upgrade the preamp to regl;ar bart one if getting one of the midline SR models.
In the 60's that would've been a Gibson EB-0, no? Jusssst Pre-SG but very similar.
I have a 2010 MIM Fender Standard Jazz and a 2011 Xavier P Bass copy.
They are really clean sounding to me.
There is nothing like a nice, clear, unmolested passive tone in MY opinion.
They are really clean sounding to me.
There is nothing like a nice, clear, unmolested passive tone in MY opinion.
You probably know more about it than I do. I just know it looked like an SG, but it is so beaten to crap that most of the decals are illegible.
And I know that most Gibsons do sound muddy, but believe me, this thing is CLEAN. No clue why.
You need a different amp, not a different bass. Most basses can give you a clean sound...but not all amps can.
If you're talking just about the bass (and not upgrading the amp) my vote is for an Ibanez. I have an SR600 and ut has cleaner cleans and a better hi-fi sound than my Dingwall (of which the Ibanez can't hold a candle to in most other terms I can think of).
If you do want an amp upgrade the cleanest (too clean for my tastes) would be GK.
If you do want an amp upgrade the cleanest (too clean for my tastes) would be GK.
replace the pickups in any bass you own with Lane Poor's, if you can find them anywhere. Totally clean and uncolored sound. Much more so than Bartolini's in my direct experience with both.
My Birdsongs have Lace pickups in them -- very clean. As mentioned up-thread, The amp is important too. You need an amp with plenty of headroom.
Yep, I strictly use my SG for songs where I'm just doing a lot of root/5th root/5th work and not much more. Tons of low end up not a lot of clarity. Great for that reason though.
I'm going to have to agree with an Ibanez SR, Bartolini pickups too. You can get a pretty good SR that has Bartolini actives in it for a relatively good price too. If you don't want to break the bank, this is probably a decent choice.
