Mike Kroeger's tone(nickleback)

[Rickter]

However, it needs to be noted that the sig edition Spector for Mike Kroeger is VERY different from the Spector that he used to record Long Road, for example. The only real similarity between the two are the EMG HZ pickups and lack of an internal preamp.

That aside, I think that Psychicpet and the others that mentioned the fact that Mike K is running a massive rig of bass amplifiers, DI and guitar amplifiers has much to do with his tone. Of course, as most of us have discovered, just having the same amps/cabs/FX/mics/pres as a given artist isn't going to get you the exact same tone as that artist using those exact same elements. There are many, many variables in addition to those factors.

 

[Major Havoc]

my point was this. the OP stated he liked Mike's tone and wanted to know if anyone could point him in the direction to finding it. He wasn't asking for people's opinion on the tone but rather their opinion and advice to get the tone.

I knew there was going to be the usual battery of idiots chiming in with no relevance to the post but just idiotic "they suck" yadda, yadda, yadda type responses as happens quite often.

I've overlooked that crap in every other thread I've read but this time, due to this being about a guy who works hard at his craft, is a great human being outside of his "gig" get trash talked yet again I decided to have a little rant.

So yes, the "a$$hat" comments offended me and I was moved to post MY opinion having read yours and others opinions. I can post my opinion thinking that you're wrong right?? I mean, you posted insinuating that the OP is wrong or some kind of fool for wanting to get Mike's tone right?



so, now can we get back to deciphering Mike's tone for the OP.

Psychicpet is right,and i do agree with him as well as to the point.That when a question is asked,that the thread should stay on the topic.It can be tiring sifting through alot of rubbish in threads to get a few people to give the insight to the question that was asked.I really didnt mean to start a war about who likes NB or why i like his tone.just wanted to know more about some of the gear he uses.Which a few of you have posted and i thank you for the info.This thread like allot of other's grow to 2-3 or maybe even more pages of peoples useless info,like is NB still around? well they are and for the fans who do like them like me,I am glad that they still are.I have seen a few of Mike kroeger's interviews and yes he to me comes off as a very down to earth hard working musician,which i RESPECT just as much as a players abilities.So the next time you think it is cool to disrespect a player think about how you would feel if it was you,or for that matter if you are not in the same league as the guy you are putting down.Look at yourself first as person, first and a musician second. Peace!

 

[Eric Perry]

I'd be very surprised if he actually used HZs at all.

The heart of his tone comes from a Euro Spector, IMO. Euros have never used HZs.

 

[LM Bass]

Psychicpet said it best, and I agree:

"due to this being about a guy who works hard at his craft, is a great human being outside of his "gig" get trash talked yet again I decided to have a little rant."


Mike is a great guy, plays really well, works his butt off, and he's successful. For some reason it's "cool" to not like his band. Whatever. Not liking the music is fine, but don't bash him or his playing.

 

[Eric Perry]

There's a small (albeit growing, recently) number here who like to bash others. Best thing to do is ignore them. They obviously don;t have a clue, therefore reasoning ain't gonna work.

 

[PaulMacCnj]

There was an article about Mike in Bass Player back in 2005 before the "All The Right Reasons" CD was released in the Fall of that year. He did return to passive electronics since he preferred the sound. Well, that was 3 years ago and his preference may have changed again.

I'd be very surprised if he actually used HZs at all.

The heart of his tone comes from a Euro Spector, IMO. Euros have never used HZs.

 

[PaulMacCnj]

Unfortunately, it's not just here on TalkBass. It's on every Internet forum. It's easy to be nasty and mean spirited for some people when sitting in front of a computer. Face to face is a different story. Know what I mean?

There's a small (albeit growing, recently) number here who like to bash others. Best thing to do is ignore them. They obviously don;t have a clue, therefore reasoning ain't gonna work.

 

[Baird6869]

I am not fan at all of Nickelback but was recently in a band that played 3 or 4 of their songs. After learning and playing "Never Again" (as an example) among other NB tunes, I have respect for what Chad does and the sound he gets out of his B string is amazing. He plays low C and D really often and when I play his songs on my Bongo 5 or Sadowsky 5 is it definately muddier than the recorded tone IMO.

His sound reminds me of what my Warwick used to sound like (I have never owned a Spector). I think a Warwick through a good SS head and lots of fiddling might get you close. Definately not a Precision bass through an SVT IMO.

 

[Eric Perry]

There was an article about Mike in Bass Player back in 2005 before the "All The Right Reasons" CD was released in the Fall of that year. He did return to passive electronics since he preferred the sound. Well, that was 3 years ago and his preference may have changed again.

Hmmm. Apparently, he has a signature Spector Legend loaded with HZs. I'm surprised as hell. I stand humbly corrected.

Unfortunately, it's not just here on TalkBass. It's on every Internet forum. It's easy to be nasty and mean spirited for some people when sitting in front of a computer. Face to face is a different story. Know what I mean?

Yeah, I know. It's sad.

 

[NKUSigEp]

...Euros have never used HZs.

Rebops are Euros and they have Hz pickups.

 

[Eric Perry]

I always forget the ReBops are Euros. They (to me) seem more like the Professional series. The HZ is a cheap pickup. They are the same ones used in the cheap professional series. Much like the mk1 is Bart's cheapie pup. I don't see them on the same level as the LX Euros.

You're right though. Again, my bad.

 

[machine gewehr]

There's a small (albeit growing, recently) number here who like to bash others. Best thing to do is ignore them. They obviously don;t have a clue, therefore reasoning ain't gonna work.

OTOH TB is not an ordinary internet forum,its a home that a lot of brothers and sisters live in,its been that way for years anyways.

I really like Mike's tone,dark tone with lots of low end yet cuts through very nicely and he plays good.If it wasn't for him,Nickelback isn't my kinda music really.But I (try to) listen to every recording that includes Spectors,I'm such a loser for Spectors.

ps:I've seen Judas on Sunday,I couldn't hear that Spector over 2 guitars& Halford.

 

[Eric Perry]

OTOH TB is not an ordinary internet forum,its a home that a lot of brothers and sisters live in,its been that way for years anyways.

Agree.

 

[The Lurker]

again, I think a major part of Mike's recorded tone is the fact that he uses the combination of Avalon U5 (for clean), Peavey rig mic'd (for 'amp' tone) and a Peavey XXX guitar half stack (for dirty) then blends the three.

You might be best off with getting some type of distortion pedal that you can use to blend in a little grit and top end grind to your current clean sound. It might sound a little fuzzy/crap by itself but once it gets mixed in with the band you'll notice that some of the "fuzz" disappears and you'll end up cutting through a lot more and depending on how much your top end is distorted, you'll get a bit more of a pick like attack if you're playing with fingers.

Also, getting a Spector or in the least something with EMG HZs would be a good place to start as well.

+1. That said, I am rather puzzled by how he delegated the switching and volume pedal stuff to the roadie.

 

[PaulMacCnj]

True about the ReBops, but not on the Euros. They use active EMG pups: P, J and Soapbars.

Rebops are Euros and they have Hz pickups.

 

[Psychicpet]

+1. That said, I am rather puzzled by how he delegated the switching and volume pedal stuff to the roadie.

big stage, much pyro, many places to run to.

it may seem a little 'extravagant' for most of us but as to making a stage show like theirs run, little things like that do make a big difference.

 

[ihateusernames]

+1. That said, I am rather puzzled by how he delegated the switching and volume pedal stuff to the roadie.

You don't dream of a day that you can pay someone to switch your amps/effects so you can just play??? That would be a perfect scenario.

BTW - Mike's tech is not the stereotypical gear lugging roadie, Mike hand picked him as a bass tech. He actually knows the equipment very well.

 

[Rickett Customs]

...and the warwick / spector thing goes way back ... streamer anyone ??? copy !!!! lol ....

Sure, it was a copy, but Warwick had the "go ahead" (Licensed) from Ned to use the design, It wasn't Stuart's design to steal.

No, I'll have to say, Warwick or not, Mike does have some killer tone.

 

[xtorrak]

I once read his tone was so Pile Drivingly Heavy that it blew up America.












I thought he used Mesa gear at one point?

 

[BillySid]

I thought he used Mesa gear at one point?

I saw them in Dallas end of last year and he did have Mesa cabs behind him. I could see the logo on the cabs where I was sitting but couldn't make out the heads.

Great freakin' show by the way too.