Looking for that specific sound - help, please

[matiya]

Hi,

I sent an e-mail to this Czech luthier yesterday (AV Basses) and this is what I wrote to him:

"I currently need a BG for my cover band, close in sound to Norah Jones' band (between that very thumpy uprightish and P-bass tone). I'd prefer a fully pasive, extremely simplistic and minimalistic fretted (but with small frets) 4-stringer with a small neck, with not too much sustain (bolt-on or something else you'd recommend?). I don't like high-tech sounding "sterile" basses and I find 90 % of basses too bright for me. I love the sound of Fender P basses, but I hate the playability of most P basses. I'd prefer small scale. This is the shape I like the most (Invalid Link Removed. I'd like the bass to look as natural as possible. I don't need the bass for slapping or tapping, so I'm looking for a great fingerstyle not too growly sound (definitely NOT aggressive) and I occasionally strum some chords when/if soloing".

Do you have any suggestions how to get that sound? Mellow, smooth, very deep, very non-agressive, non-bright. Fully passive with least controls possible. I also cannot afford to spend a fortune on it, unfortunately my budget is somewhat limited.

Thanks for your input!

 

[SurrenderMonkey]

Hollow / semi-hollow, Darkstar pickup?

 

[fullrangebass]

Start with a 34" or shorter scale. Body woods: mahogany, or alder. Set neck or neck through (bolt on sounds punchier).

As far as electronics go: Passive pickups full and balanced (nothing growly or honky here; Villex pickups are the best choice here www.villex.com). Flatwounds. The rest is up to your technique

 

[balzary]

[Do you have any suggestions how to get that sound? Mellow, smooth, very deep, very non-agressive, non-bright. Fully passive with least controls possible. I also cannot afford to spend a fortune on it, unfortunately my budget is somewhat limited.[/QUOTE]

I would also recommend set neck or neck through for that kind of sound. I have a walnut set neck bass from AVbasses. Great for playing chords. In my opinion Av's typical sound is great, not too hifi at all.

Versatile passive system that I've had in some Avbasses is vol + vol + tone + miniswitches for each pickup (series/parallel/single coil). (Like here: Invalid Link Removed Nice change in the character in the sound of the bass without too much possibilities to tweak the knobs

Bolt on Av's that I have tested are usually quite aggressive sounding, depenging on choice of woods of course.

Here's my set neck-bass:
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