Please help to figure out how to achieve this tone

[_godspeed_]

Found these video recently and immediately fall in love with the tone of dat bass! My guess - flatwounds(nice clean fundamentals) + compressor? Am I right?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y97sMDTbalk

 

[WayneP]

Yeah, compression for sure. Not sure about the strings, but definitely a great sound!

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt


Administrator, Pedulla Club #45
Administrator, Tobias Club
Big Cabs Club #23
Pedulla Club #45

 

[Smooth_bass88]

So much of that tone is coming from the player's attack and right-hand consistency...also, there's virtually NO (left hand) fret noise. I wonder where the tone knob on the bass is set. Guy's got great technique. Really, it's all in the hands.

 

[mccartneyman]

Direct sound, I assume, not from the Ampeg behind him. However, this is the classic P bass sound of the '50s and '60s. Most likely flats, probably old flats. On a P bass, with the right strings, having the tone control dimed actually gives a very round, full, punchy sound just like this, both direct and through an amp. I ran my '59 P with heavy LaBella flats through an old Bassman 50 watt head driving two JBL D140s for years back in the '60s, and this was the live sound I got through that amp. Never used compression, never went direct. The most valuable piece of advice I ever received about EQ from a vet player was to turn the treble knob on my Bassman to 10 and run the bass knob on about 4.

 

[_godspeed_]

Thanx everyone! I just fell in love with this bass tone, so I tried flats for the first time in my life and I'm in love!

 

[zxcvbs]

I tried to listen to it, and i cant hear anything, is the bass too back in the mix?

 

[WayneP]

How big are the woofers in your speakers?

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt


Administrator, Pedulla Club #45
Administrator, Tobias Club
Big Cabs Club #23
Pedulla Club #45

 

[MascisMan]

Apparently the bass player uses Rotosound strings...

Invalid Link Removed

Not sure how much that helps

That linked song sounds VERY "80's" to me. Like 80's movie soundtrack montage sounding

 

[walterw]

that sounds a little too fast and "bendy" to be flats, so i'm thinking regular rounds, just with really nice compression, EQ, and touch.

 

[zxcvbs]

Yes, i can hear it now, the machine where i work, is having some problem.
It reminds me of Tony Levin, with Peter Gabriel.

 

[Matthijs]

that sounds a little too fast and "bendy" to be flats, so i'm thinking regular rounds, just with really nice compression, EQ, and touch.

I'm also not hearing flats. And I also did not hear 50/60 's sound but thought of the 80's. But that could be psychoacoustics induced by new wavy hairstyles.

 

[Matthijs]

Yes, i can hear it now, the machine where i work, is having some problem.
It reminds me of Tony Levin, with Peter Gabriel.

Maybe I'm not alone in linking this sound to the 80's. Can't remember any flats in the 80's

 

[Dr3thepooner]

P-Bass with tone rolled off + Ampeg head / cab lows and low mids slightly boosted. Done.

 

[groooooove]

he's playing a p bass...

so.. theres that. weather its rounds or flats doesn't matter, i doubt its fresh rounds with the tone knob all the way open though.

a haircut like the lead singers will likely help.

maple fingerboard?

idk.

just get any good p-bass and you'll be in the ballpark i think.

 

[thebates]

This is the elusive live growl sound I seek but can never get in a live situation. This has prompted me to seek out tasty quieter bands recently. I'm a stickler for sound quality and bass is one of the toughest challenges there is to get right on stage. I have been dealing with it by placing my cabinet up on a wooden stool to get that clear and instant feedback that I need. Of course this sounds different out on the dance floor as the bass sound develops. I find I'm becoming more appreciative of a semi unplugged performance where all is in balance and everyone can be heard.