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lowest, deepest, fattest bass tone

zac2944

zac2944

Dec 28, 2004
2,291
213
Rochester, NY
#1
Do you think deep, low, fat bass tones come more from gear or technique?

I'm convinced that it is for the most part technique.

I keep seeing all these posts where people are asking how to get deep fat tones, or "dub" style tones. Then there are always a bunch a replies saying how you need a cab that can go super low, or a bass that can be tuned down way low. I read things like "Try the xxxx cab, it goes down to 30Hz!" or "You need a custom with a 36" scale".

In my experience that deepest tones don't necessarily come from the lowest notes, and you can get deep bass with standard gigging gear. Try playing a Jazz bass or P-bass on the E and A string up near the 12th fret with the treble rolled off. That'll get you fat bass tones. Look at guys like George Porter Jr. He didn't use fancy gear, just a P-bass. I've never heard tone fatter than his. It is all technique and a few tweaks on you amps treble knob.

The only real "trick" I know of for getting really fat bass is using a DOD envelope filter with the sensitivity all the way down. That puts out some deep bass.

So what do you guys think? Is it more about the technique or more about the gear?
 
#3
I think speakers and cabinet design may also have a lot to do with it. I normally go with a Spector 5-string into an SWR SM-400 and 2x10 Goliath II Junior cabinet. There's plenty of clarity and punch, but not a lot of "silk & cream" down there. Great for contemporary rock, fusion and funk. Not too hot for vintage, old-style progressive, dub or reggae.

The new 10's and amps are just too clean. The older cab designs and speakers "mush" just enough to give you a really deep sound without resorting to effect boxes. And the new amps always track cleanly on transients. I've never been able to get them to "skid" or flare from one note to another like I can on pretty much anything built before 1982.

I'm a diehard "fat" sound fan. I get a very nice (deep but clear) tone running a Gibson Ripper through an Ampeg B-15N. I've also had good luck with an antique Acoustic-100 (guitar!!!) head going through an Acoustic 18" folded horn cab.

To further add to it, I use a touch of spring reverb (set on 2).
The Ripper has a midrange choke that usually lives around 4-5, and the tone is set to 2-3. After that I just toggle back and forth on the SelectTone and adjust the volume as needed.

Anybody else doing it this way?
 
#4
I took a Master class w/ Jack Casady and he reminded us of something so basic that I was embarrased: Pay attention to your fingertips.

The more of the meat (pad) that comes in contact w/ the string, the bassier the sound will be. Minimize your attack. When a string is sharply plucked it has to settle down and return to it's optimum (i.e. fundamental) vibrating frequency. If you want low end you want to be where the fundamentals are strong.

To that I will add 'lighten up' in general and notice the differences in sound depending on where you are plucking. Try over or in front of the neck pick up where the strings are looser.

Apologies if this is old hat. I hope it saves someone $$$$$ chasing down a new rig they may not need!
 
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#5
If you want some Bass that's deeperin tone than George Porter check out Jah Wobble,he usually does it on a P Bass
the same type of Bass Porter uses.

Invalid Link Removed


and amps,cabs as well as string choice plays a very integrated role in achieving this low end response that you talk about,it just depends on how low you choose to go.
 
#6
Boy, how soon we forget! Right-hand position & technique is crucial. Thanks for the reminder!

Other things to try:

a) Dial tone way down and thump the strings near bridge with the pads of your fingers like you're using drum mallets. Gives a nice "Fwoom" sound that's percussive but still stays deep.

b) Play above neck 12 frets up from what you're fingering. Do a semi-tap/pluck sort of thing. With practice you can get the fundamental, the octave, or varying degrees of both. Try it with the side as well as the tip of your finger without actually tapping. I use this technique a lot. I can get fairly consistent octave doubling on even a fast run without using an effect pedal.
 
#7
40Hz said:
I think speakers and cabinet design may also have a lot to do with it. I normally go with a Spector 5-string into an SWR SM-400 and 2x10 Goliath II Junior cabinet. There's plenty of clarity and punch, but not a lot of "silk & cream" down there. Great for contemporary rock, fusion and funk. Not too hot for vintage, old-style progressive, dub or reggae.

The new 10's and amps are just too clean. The older cab designs and speakers "mush" just enough to give you a really deep sound without resorting to effect boxes. And the new amps always track cleanly on transients. I've never been able to get them to "skid" or flare from one note to another like I can on pretty much anything built before 1982.

I'm a diehard "fat" sound fan. I get a very nice (deep but clear) tone running a Gibson Ripper through an Ampeg B-15N. I've also had good luck with an antique Acoustic-100 (guitar!!!) head going through an Acoustic 18" folded horn cab.

To further add to it, I use a touch of spring reverb (set on 2).
The Ripper has a midrange choke that usually lives around 4-5, and the tone is set to 2-3. After that I just toggle back and forth on the SelectTone and adjust the volume as needed.

Anybody else doing it this way?
Click to expand...

This a perfect example of my point. For some people it is all in the gear.

I don't get it?
 
#8
i understand the part about higher on the e and a strings for fat sound. but thats not really technique. it is a little , because it changes where you are playing, but its not quite technique. that would be like, play more fingerstyle and less witha a pick, dont slap.
and your gear really does make a difference, sure u have to have good technique and know what your doing with the gear, but a 100 watt combo with the bass cranked will kick out much more ''dub'' tone than a 15w with the bass cranked
 
#9
Yeah your technique can change the dynamics of the notes you are playing and that can cause you to get a more pure or deeper bass tone. But it is also true that your gear can do a whole lot as well. Mostly this stuff is pretty obvious, like 5 string vs 4 string, EQ settings, sub bass tone from an octave effect or filter.

As far as how what bottom you are using effects your sound it is all very simple.
low_frequency_rolloff.png

:rolleyes:
 
#10
slip said:
But it is also true that your gear can do a whole lot as well. Mostly this stuff is pretty obvious, like 5 string vs 4 string, EQ settings, sub bass tone from an octave effect or filter.
Click to expand...

I guess you missed where I said "standard gigging gear" is required. By this I mean gear suitable for a small to mediul sized club gig.
 
#12
zac2944 said:
Do you think deep, low, fat bass tones come more from gear or technique?

I'm convinced that it is for the most part technique.

I keep seeing all these posts where people are asking how to get deep fat tones, or "dub" style tones. Then there are always a bunch a replies saying how you need a cab that can go super low, or a bass that can be tuned down way low. I read things like "Try the xxxx cab, it goes down to 30Hz!" or "You need a custom with a 36" scale".

In my experience that deepest tones don't necessarily come from the lowest notes, and you can get deep bass with standard gigging gear. Try playing a Jazz bass or P-bass on the E and A string up near the 12th fret with the treble rolled off. That'll get you fat bass tones. Look at guys like George Porter Jr. He didn't use fancy gear, just a P-bass. I've never heard tone fatter than his. It is all technique and a few tweaks on you amps treble knob.

The only real "trick" I know of for getting really fat bass is using a DOD envelope filter with the sensitivity all the way down. That puts out some deep bass.

So what do you guys think? Is it more about the technique or more about the gear?
Click to expand...

I think that you need both equipment and technique, but not fancy stuff or super playing ability. The "way" you play has lots to do with how much groove you get. I can get a great low sound using any of my basses by rolling off highs and picking or plucking way up by the neck and by setting the amp with lots of bottom. I think getting a good low fat tone is something that you learn over time and you get to a point where you finally get the fat sound you like. You can't explain it, it just happens and you know it's right. Now days your fatness might depend on just how good your boardman or engineer is. :)

I use a front mounted 18" in one of my cabs and it gets a great low down groove tone. I use it with a 1972 Tele bass w/humbucking pu and that thing really gets down there. In over 30 years of playing, I can't remember another bass that puts out that much low end. I once put a compressor on the thing and it was super fat.
 
#15
1960Pbass said:
I think that you need both equipment and technique, but not fancy stuff or super playing ability. The "way" you play has lots to do with how much groove you get. I can get a great low sound using any of my basses by rolling off highs and picking or plucking way up by the neck and by setting the amp with lots of bottom. I think getting a good low fat tone is something that you learn over time and you get to a point where you finally get the fat sound you like. You can't explain it, it just happens and you know it's right. Now days your fatness might depend on just how good your boardman or engineer is. :)

I use a front mounted 18" in one of my cabs and it gets a great low down groove tone. I use it with a 1972 Tele bass w/humbucking pu and that thing really gets down there. In over 30 years of playing, I can't remember another bass that puts out that much low end. I once put a compressor on the thing and it was super fat.
Click to expand...

I have played an old Tele Bass with the "belt bucker" as I call it - nothing but low groove from that thing. I think it would squeeze low end out of 1" titanium tweeter!!!!!!
 
#16
Well, playing close to the neck and somewhat lightly are definitely key ingredients to getting that kind of sound, but experimenting with different gear shouldn't be overlooked if you have the time and money. At least try some different types of strings. You might want to set the bass up with high action too.
 
#18
zac2944 said:
Do you think deep, low, fat bass tones come more from gear or technique?

I'm convinced that it is for the most part technique.

I keep seeing all these posts where people are asking how to get deep fat tones, or "dub" style tones. Then there are always a bunch a replies saying how you need a cab that can go super low, or a bass that can be tuned down way low. I read things like "Try the xxxx cab, it goes down to 30Hz!" or "You need a custom with a 36" scale".

In my experience that deepest tones don't necessarily come from the lowest notes, and you can get deep bass with standard gigging gear. Try playing a Jazz bass or P-bass on the E and A string up near the 12th fret with the treble rolled off. That'll get you fat bass tones. Look at guys like George Porter Jr. He didn't use fancy gear, just a P-bass. I've never heard tone fatter than his. It is all technique and a few tweaks on you amps treble knob.

The only real "trick" I know of for getting really fat bass is using a DOD envelope filter with the sensitivity all the way down. That puts out some deep bass.

So what do you guys think? Is it more about the technique or more about the gear?
Click to expand...
 
#19
I use a Peavey Firebass 700Watt @ 2 ohm. It has the deepest bass that I have heard. It also has respectable tone, albeit I do use a Markbass Vintage tube pedal between the preamp-out and the poweramp-in to give it a tube sound. It is very heavy, but rocks the house. I also use a Peavey 118 subwoofer cabinet (cheap). This will be felt anywhere in the room. Affordable, if you can locate one.
 
#20
I like a fat and clean bass sound but even though I play 5 string basses I don't go for any mud in my sound. I sit in the low mids and use the power of good gear, Aguilar and Barefaced, to make the notes strong.
 

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