ButterI just want to smell like you. Which cologne?
(and dont forget to PM me when youre ready for that flipflop. Im good to go on my end)
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LowEndLobster tone... how?
- Thread starter okeefe77
- Start date
I also appreciate that in his later reviews (like with the recent Tobias Growler), Lobster stands up with the bass strapped on to show how well it balances. Too many bass reviewers don't do that, and that always bugs me because I do most of my playing standing.
As for strings, if SIT Foundations are challenging to find, Dunlop SuperBrights are comparable alternative. Like the Foundations, they use a thinner hex-core wire to achieve a more supple feel than traditional hex-core strings (e.g. D'Addario XLs). I'm not the biggest fan of SuperBrights, but most people on TalkBass LOVE them. As for SITs, I've never tried their Foundations, but I remember really liking their Silencer compression-wounds, PowerWound and PowerSteel roundwounds, and their PowerFlats were my first experience with flatwounds. I'm glad I tried the PowerFlats and believe they're good strings, but stiff flats like those are not my jam at all.
As for strings, if SIT Foundations are challenging to find, Dunlop SuperBrights are comparable alternative. Like the Foundations, they use a thinner hex-core wire to achieve a more supple feel than traditional hex-core strings (e.g. D'Addario XLs). I'm not the biggest fan of SuperBrights, but most people on TalkBass LOVE them. As for SITs, I've never tried their Foundations, but I remember really liking their Silencer compression-wounds, PowerWound and PowerSteel roundwounds, and their PowerFlats were my first experience with flatwounds. I'm glad I tried the PowerFlats and believe they're good strings, but stiff flats like those are not my jam at all.
There is going to be a learning curve with the Tone Studio software and the Katana. Check out the downloadable patches. Figure out the editing software and watch some YouTube videos.
Strings and set up are going to make a huge difference. Just like learning the amp, you’ll want to learn to do your own string changes and setups. Your touch and setup will evolve over time. As will your string choices. Make some notes, and keep your old sets, labeled.
Strings are everything, imho, finding your set is something that takes a bunch of tries. Stainless, nickel, coated, stiff and heavy, light and flexible, rounds or flats…..? I usually have a set of TI jazz flats and DR PureBlues VW for each bass. TI flats last forever, and I switch between flats and rounds with minimal setup fiddling.
DR nickels, D’Addario XL, GHS boomers, are all affordable string choices as you try new sets. Set up an account at FretNation.com. Ask questions. Jason knows his strings!
If your two basses have similar headstocks, try the same sets on each bass. The strings just need a wrap or two, so even if they aren’t the ideal length, you’ll get an idea of how the strings sound on each bass.
Set ups are easy once you’ve gathered the tools and done a few. Each new string flavor will need a set up.
And if the new P bass isn’t blowing your hair back, and it’s under the return policy…. It tales about half as much time and money to keep one bass setup and in new strings as two.
Good luck, enjoy the exploration!
Strings and set up are going to make a huge difference. Just like learning the amp, you’ll want to learn to do your own string changes and setups. Your touch and setup will evolve over time. As will your string choices. Make some notes, and keep your old sets, labeled.
Strings are everything, imho, finding your set is something that takes a bunch of tries. Stainless, nickel, coated, stiff and heavy, light and flexible, rounds or flats…..? I usually have a set of TI jazz flats and DR PureBlues VW for each bass. TI flats last forever, and I switch between flats and rounds with minimal setup fiddling.
DR nickels, D’Addario XL, GHS boomers, are all affordable string choices as you try new sets. Set up an account at FretNation.com. Ask questions. Jason knows his strings!
If your two basses have similar headstocks, try the same sets on each bass. The strings just need a wrap or two, so even if they aren’t the ideal length, you’ll get an idea of how the strings sound on each bass.
Set ups are easy once you’ve gathered the tools and done a few. Each new string flavor will need a set up.
And if the new P bass isn’t blowing your hair back, and it’s under the return policy…. It tales about half as much time and money to keep one bass setup and in new strings as two.
Good luck, enjoy the exploration!
Lobster's awesome... I like to use a 8" ampeg combo amp for home practice. Start with controls set at 12 o'clock and adjust as needed. I try to get tone from my hands first. Keep it simple... often less in the chain is more.
Heyo! Yeah my setup has always been bass->combo amp (previously orange crush 50 bxt, now ampeg rocket 50)->interface (previously focusrite, now volt276). I don't do any post processing. I do always put on a fresh set of SIT Foundation Nickels Gauges 45-105(125) for all of my videos unless I'm using flats (the flats I use are labella 760FS). I don't do any EQing in my videos on the amp, everything is set at noon. My first recommendation would be to change out the strings! The foundation nickels have a nice bright character to them that IMO really does a good job of bringing out the personality of the instruments I play. They have a little looseness to them which allows me to really fine tune my attack and bends. I hope that helps! I'm humbled that you'd want to sound like me
Nice to hear that I'm not the only one who likes the SIT Foundation series strings. My take on those is the same as yours. SIT's are highly underrated.
I count among my blessings that exposure to @LowEndLobster doesn't trigger my shellfish allergies.
The notion of the “tone is in the hands” is tossed around to queries like this. Mainly because it’s a fact. However, one cannot chase a tone with their hands if the instrument/amp/effects chain isn’t at least similar. That is to say, all the hands and technique in the world cannot replicate a SVT with lots of overdrive and an 8X10 if the amp they are using is a fender 100. So, once the hardware is similar, technique, skills, and other gifts can be practiced to achieve the desired tone.
Having said all that, stop chasing someone else’s tone and find yours. It’s in there… dig it out. Maybe, you find something no one else conceived. The journey will be a lot more fun, far less expensive, and very rewarding. That’s the really the goal… have fun, maybe make some money, and meet some new people.
I know, I’m rarely any help.
Having said all that, stop chasing someone else’s tone and find yours. It’s in there… dig it out. Maybe, you find something no one else conceived. The journey will be a lot more fun, far less expensive, and very rewarding. That’s the really the goal… have fun, maybe make some money, and meet some new people.
I know, I’m rarely any help.
the sound is in the claw!
yeah, hands/technique and strings are key… amp and speaker have to do some work, but I find it that most can be tweaked to sound fine at home. Either at noon or whatever gets it to flat, or close. Then let the hands do the work (except for volume!).
Lobster, as he said above, has a pretty neutral tone it seems, should be achievable with most gear. And a claw. Gotta have the claw.
As I recall from a video where he introduced his new amp, I'm pretty sure I remember the answer is none.
I always though it was the beard but he just shaved. I thought I was dreaming when I saw his video today. I am a subscriber and constant liker of his reviews. The best one was the SUB Sterling upgrade series.
Yeah, I was thrown off by how different he looks now. It's like a completely different person in that video, very confusing.
Bass brand, brand of pickups & brand of amp/cab. Mostly your playing style. Your connection to the instrument
For me,
start with no effects, no reverb or compressor, and as a benchmark, start with setting for the OPPOSITE of what your looking for from Mr Lobster.
I think if the Master volume at the end of the signal chain (just before the speaker) is at at high level like 3 o’clock and keep the gain and volume early in the signal chain low like 9 o’clock or even 7 (preamp end, closest to the instrument input), and amp EQ low mid and high all at noon, you generally get a cleaner tone, and kinda mid sounding, especially if the bass instrument tone is at about 7/10 (reduces the high frequencies) and the bass volume at 8 or 9/10.
And try plucking or picking a little closer to the bridge. Cut the mid on the EQ a touch. Try that.
Save that as tone setting ch 1 on the Katana holding that button down for 3 seconds to save. So you can refer back to that as a reference sound. I don’t have the Katana bass but maybe that is my neighborhood… Good for my jazz, R&B ish sounds.
If from there, you dial back the Master to noon maybe 11and bring up the gain to about noon which could match what your original overall volume in the room was in setting 1. check that, then maybe a bit more of the pre amp volume and a touch lower on the Master, check that, then dial back the mid EQ 10 o’clock or 9 try that, then dial back the EQ bass to 11 o’clock, try that, and then put the tone on the instrument to 9/10. try that. Save that as setting 2on the katana.
At this point, when you got a target sound you like (again as a benchmark), see if the Katana compressor and reverb are set to the effects. Just a touch like 9 o’clock, 7-8 o’clock respectively Also a low level of chorus is nice, I add for a solo sometimes. But get a tonethat’s close to what to want BEFORE you bring in effects to enhance.
Generally I think If you put a bit more signal energy early in the signal chain by having the bass instrument volume and tone relatively high, and more signal energy from the gain and preamp volume, you “drive” the preamp of the amp more and get a spankier brighter sound. A little “grit or dirt”. Maybe what you like from Mr Lobster. Cutting back the mid and bass can also relatively boost the highs for more bite. Which helps me with some funk and slap sounds.
And on the Katana, by saving the setting you can get it back next time you turn on the amp, even if you fuss with the dials (without saving) in between. If you tweak it and like the new sound save that as setting 3. For example, I have saved my regular tone with slightly different setting for when I am practicing using the headphones out. Which for me needs less Drive and lows.
Also-on Katana, you can hook up to computer and load some presets, on my Katana guitar there were some good clean presets good for jazz guitar. So explore that feature of Katana bass.
start with no effects, no reverb or compressor, and as a benchmark, start with setting for the OPPOSITE of what your looking for from Mr Lobster.
I think if the Master volume at the end of the signal chain (just before the speaker) is at at high level like 3 o’clock and keep the gain and volume early in the signal chain low like 9 o’clock or even 7 (preamp end, closest to the instrument input), and amp EQ low mid and high all at noon, you generally get a cleaner tone, and kinda mid sounding, especially if the bass instrument tone is at about 7/10 (reduces the high frequencies) and the bass volume at 8 or 9/10.
And try plucking or picking a little closer to the bridge. Cut the mid on the EQ a touch. Try that.
Save that as tone setting ch 1 on the Katana holding that button down for 3 seconds to save. So you can refer back to that as a reference sound. I don’t have the Katana bass but maybe that is my neighborhood… Good for my jazz, R&B ish sounds.
If from there, you dial back the Master to noon maybe 11and bring up the gain to about noon which could match what your original overall volume in the room was in setting 1. check that, then maybe a bit more of the pre amp volume and a touch lower on the Master, check that, then dial back the mid EQ 10 o’clock or 9 try that, then dial back the EQ bass to 11 o’clock, try that, and then put the tone on the instrument to 9/10. try that. Save that as setting 2on the katana.
At this point, when you got a target sound you like (again as a benchmark), see if the Katana compressor and reverb are set to the effects. Just a touch like 9 o’clock, 7-8 o’clock respectively Also a low level of chorus is nice, I add for a solo sometimes. But get a tonethat’s close to what to want BEFORE you bring in effects to enhance.
Generally I think If you put a bit more signal energy early in the signal chain by having the bass instrument volume and tone relatively high, and more signal energy from the gain and preamp volume, you “drive” the preamp of the amp more and get a spankier brighter sound. A little “grit or dirt”. Maybe what you like from Mr Lobster. Cutting back the mid and bass can also relatively boost the highs for more bite. Which helps me with some funk and slap sounds.
And on the Katana, by saving the setting you can get it back next time you turn on the amp, even if you fuss with the dials (without saving) in between. If you tweak it and like the new sound save that as setting 3. For example, I have saved my regular tone with slightly different setting for when I am practicing using the headphones out. Which for me needs less Drive and lows.
Also-on Katana, you can hook up to computer and load some presets, on my Katana guitar there were some good clean presets good for jazz guitar. So explore that feature of Katana bass.
Last edited:
JeezyMcNuggles
Inactive
- Feb 23, 2018
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- 20,970
- Disclosures
- I suck, but nobody really notices
If you want to ask someone a question, you use @LowEndLobster
@ and then their screen name
Okay, someone already hit him up
Like this post if you read this in Lobster's voice in your head.Heyo! Yeah my setup has always been bass->combo amp (previously orange crush 50 bxt, now ampeg rocket 50)->interface (previously focusrite, now volt276). I don't do any post processing. I do always put on a fresh set of SIT Foundation Nickels Gauges 45-105(125) for all of my videos unless I'm using flats (the flats I use are labella 760FS). I don't do any EQing in my videos on the amp, everything is set at noon. My first recommendation would be to change out the strings! The foundation nickels have a nice bright character to them that IMO really does a good job of bringing out the personality of the instruments I play. They have a little looseness to them which allows me to really fine tune my attack and bends. I hope that helps! I'm humbled that you'd want to sound like me
You need a really jovial attitude, and you need to laugh with glee as you throw down fat bass lines. Then you will become a rocklobster of the low end.
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Post a funnier picture than the one above - Parallel Universe Edition
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