Needing a little help.

[Bushhog]

Here's the gear I'm working with.
Fender Precision with a Fender CS 60's pickup. I have entertained the idea of buying another pickup to get more punch.
New D'Addario Pro Steel strings.
Tone Hammer 500 head.
Aguilar SL112 cab.

I'm trying to get close to this sound. I really like the punch and clarity.



All help and suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

[lug]

The punchiest P bass pickup I own is a Seymour Duncan Quater Pounder.

 

[thefaceofbass]

Add a compressor

 

[Michedelic]

Here's the gear I'm working with.
Fender Precision with a Fender CS 60's pickup. I have entertained the idea of buying another pickup to get more punch.
New D'Addario Pro Steel strings.
Tone Hammer 500 head.
Aguilar SL112 cab.

I'm trying to get close to this sound. I really like the punch and clarity.



All help and suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Here’s a live take, with the bassist on the recording, Bruce Waibel…


Definitely a P+J combo, some slapping, and the amp looks to be a standard SVT rig, but in the studio, who knows?

 

[el murdoque]

Listening to the track, I'd describe the sound of the bass with "Wiry, with upper mids growl". I don't perceive it as punchy.

Your amp does not naturally lend itself to this kind of sound, both the cab and the amp have a nicely rounded off top end that will most likely sound a bit too soft, so you'd be well advised to go for some sort of preamp pedal instead of swapping the pickup.

 

[burgerdj]

Here's the gear I'm working with.
Fender Precision with a Fender CS 60's pickup. I have entertained the idea of buying another pickup to get more punch.
New D'Addario Pro Steel strings.
Tone Hammer 500 head.
Aguilar SL112 cab.

I'm trying to get close to this sound. I really like the punch and clarity.



All help and suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thank you.

That’s a nice rig! I’m hearing a good bit of compression on everything especially the bass. Also sounds a like there may be a bit of bridge pickup in there and some hollowed mids.

 

[soulstew]

You probably know this, but just to state the obvious, those opening notes on the recording (and maybe all of them) are slapped. If you're not slapping, yours won't sound like that no matter the rig. If you are slapping, make sure you dial in enough treble, and dial out the clanky range of mids. I'm not a great slapper myself, so take my advice with a grain of salt

 

[SharpCat]

I was thinking “Sounds like a J” while listening but a PJ also makes sense.

With a P? Maybe Fender CS63 or a Model P?

 

[Michedelic]

I was thinking “Sounds like a J” while listening but a PJ also makes sense.

With a P? Maybe Fender CS63 or a Model P?

Look at the live video, Waibel has an 80’s ‘Jazz Bass Standard’, just like what Duff McKagen used in G’n’R, which was more of a modified Precision with J pickup.

 

[OnlyFlats]

I listened and didn't look at the video.

The tone sounds fairly standard to me, a P/JorH bass, something with a bridge pickup for the upper mids clarity.

Plus compression.

Amp set clean and clear.

If you don't want a new bass, you could try a Lace Alumitone pickup. That'll be a bold difference between the pickup you already have. I have 3 instruments with those pickups, including a shortscale with the pickup in the mudbucker position - crazy how much upper mids clarity I still get. That's wired direct to volume knob then jack, no tone control.

However I understand I'll be the only guy on the internet suggesting Lace.

Compression- I'd look into Darkglass gear. The brand is typically associated with metal but they're far more versatile than that, and if you add a touch of drive to the tone it'll compliment what your chasing. Just a touch.

Lastly, the bass is clear and consistent in the mix. Check your monitoring: raise your cab up as high as you can, and try stand at least 6ft away from it. If you're rehearsing in a small room with other loud amps, you'll never sound like the recording - wait until you're in a bigger space before you tone chase.

 

[FretRiff]

Bruce Waibel was on bass, when playing this song live he used this

 

[Bushhog]

I'll definitely look into all of the suggestions presented.
The reason I listed my Precision, is because in the video I watched, the guy was playing a Precision, or a P/J. I couldn't really tell. Knowing that a Jazz was used is really inspiring!

 

[Bushhog]

Add a compressor

I plan on getting one. Thanks.

 

[Bushhog]

Listening to the track, I'd describe the sound of the bass with "Wiry, with upper mids growl". I don't perceive it as punchy.

Your amp does not naturally lend itself to this kind of sound, both the cab and the amp have a nicely rounded off top end that will most likely sound a bit too soft, so you'd be well advised to go for some sort of preamp pedal instead of swapping the pickup.

What's your recommendation for a preamp pedal?

 

[Bushhog]

That’s a nice rig! I’m hearing a good bit of compression on everything especially the bass. Also sounds a like there may be a bit of bridge pickup in there and some hollowed mids.

Thanks! I'm really enjoying my rig!

 

[Bushhog]

You probably know this, but just to state the obvious, those opening notes on the recording (and maybe all of them) are slapped. If you're not slapping, yours won't sound like that no matter the rig. If you are slapping, make sure you dial in enough treble, and dial out the clanky range of mids. I'm not a great slapper myself, so take my advice with a grain of salt

I did not know that the notes were being slapped. I don't slap at all myself. I'm still somewhat new to playing bass. I picked it up mainly for recording and it spiraled out of control!

 

[Bushhog]

I was thinking “Sounds like a J” while listening but a PJ also makes sense.

With a P? Maybe Fender CS63 or a Model P?

I have taken an interest in the CS63. I don't have a lot of experience with bass pickups but the CS63 sounds brighter than the CS60's I'm using now.
I do have a MIM Jazz with an upgraded pickup so hopefully that'll get me one step closer.

 

[Bushhog]

I listened and didn't look at the video.

The tone sounds fairly standard to me, a P/JorH bass, something with a bridge pickup for the upper mids clarity.

Plus compression.

Amp set clean and clear.

If you don't want a new bass, you could try a Lace Alumitone pickup. That'll be a bold difference between the pickup you already have. I have 3 instruments with those pickups, including a shortscale with the pickup in the mudbucker position - crazy how much upper mids clarity I still get. That's wired direct to volume knob then jack, no tone control.

However I understand I'll be the only guy on the internet suggesting Lace.

Compression- I'd look into Darkglass gear. The brand is typically associated with metal but they're far more versatile than that, and if you add a touch of drive to the tone it'll compliment what your chasing. Just a touch.

Lastly, the bass is clear and consistent in the mix. Check your monitoring: raise your cab up as high as you can, and try stand at least 6ft away from it. If you're rehearsing in a small room with other loud amps, you'll never sound like the recording - wait until you're in a bigger space before you tone chase.

Any particular piece of Darkglass I should consider?

 

[el murdoque]

What's your recommendation for a preamp pedal?

I don't really chase that kind of sound, so take this advice with a grain of salt, but I might look at the Trickfish Minnow.

 

[OnlyFlats]

Any particular piece of Darkglass I should consider?

Check the Infinity. Bit pricey, so consider separate compressor and a B3k or B7k variant (any of those will do, go digging in 2nd hand markets).

I suggest a non character compressor like an mxr bass/studio (They're the same). Something utilitarian.
Check the sticky post in effects forum re compressors, deep rabbit hole but worth it when you find the sweet spot.

Search net for these sites:
Compressor pedal reviews
Ovin lab