Precision tone

[Johntheson]

Thank you all, sincerely for the tips and techs. My favorite playing position is up near the neck; but I'm also just starting to like the slot just behind the pu. When I speak of my recorded tone it's like; I'll play the Sgt.Pepper album through my KRK Rokit 8's, and then I'll mic the amp in the same room, with it all on the same channel. I sometimes run the bass through a 2nd track. My Ric has Chromes on it, which I don't really care for personally, and the Jazz has the DTB 760 FL's just like the P. I also bought a Hofner CT 500/1; that was my first bass, and it also has the DTB for Hofner strings. I haven't uncased the Ric but a time or two since getting the classic 60's jazz though. I love the Ric too, but I think the strings are causing me to not play it, and the chromes are still quite new, and I hate to just chuck 'em. You might be right about the LaBella's needing to break in a bit. I'll also work at the amp setting suggestions, as I appreciate the time you all took to try to get me where I wanna go. Right now my pu's are about where the suggested setting is, but I'm going to lower them and try BFunk's tip. I'll probably post back with more questions during my quest. Thanks again to all.
John Sr.

 

[Bassmunnky]

John,

I have and use all the basses you have...my Ric has chromes on it too!

For me, recording is one thing...Live, well, for me subtlety flies out the window. And that what make my tone..the subtlety of the details that get to tape.

For live and using my P with flats and foam...or any of the other..I use the Tech21 VT Deluxe. For me...and just me...I can't recreate that tone from the albums with the output the 2 guitarist have through Marshalls and Vox's to even compete..let alone re-create that sound where people or me would hear the difference.

For Recording, it's a B-15 or an Ampeg3 through a Mesa 15...The tone goes to tape...Tone on the bass rolled about 50%

To recreate it live..I use the VT Deluxe to actually get as close as possible to that tone and go direct through the house. Tone wide open...

Have fun!

 

[Spinal Tapper]

try roundwounds, full volume, full tone.

 

[tbirdsp]

I've been trying to get that Jamerson tone too. Squier Classic Vibe 50's P with XL Chromes flats. Put foam under the strings and ran it through a Tech 21 VT Bass V2 set up for B-15. I like to run the volume and tone on the bass all the way up, but roll the tone off on the amp and/or the VT Bass. Sounded great in my tiny practice room and when I recorded it. Tried that same sound with full band at rehearsal - nothing but mud Gonna play around with it some more today.

 

[wraub]

For me, it's a .022 cap, old Chromes, and hand positions. The tone knob on the bass is often adjusted frequently in a night, usually as the tunes and the room dictates.

wraub

 

[MarthaSamira]

I've been trying to get that Jamerson tone too. Squier Classic Vibe 50's P with XL Chromes flats. Put foam under the strings and ran it through a Tech 21 VT Bass V2 set up for B-15. I like to run the volume and tone on the bass all the way up, but roll the tone off on the amp and/or the VT Bass. Sounded great in my tiny practice room and when I recorded it. Tried that same sound with full band at rehearsal - nothing but mud Gonna play around with it some more today.

If you were there seeing Jamerson live, you'd think it sounded like mud as well...

 

[tbirdsp]

If you were there seeing Jamerson live, you'd think it sounded like mud as well...

True

 

[Mr.Fingers]

Everything fully open, but I dampen the sustain & overtones with a piece of weatherstrip (the hard variant) underneath the bridgecover. I pluck before the pickup cover.

 

[warnergt]

I'm probably at 90% volume and 20% tone (toward the bassy end).
Of course, it depends on the tune. If there is a solo or riff
that needs to be heard more than felt, I'll turn the tone up.

 

[gmarcus]

I've been trying to get that Jamerson tone too. Squier Classic Vibe 50's P with XL Chromes flats. Put foam under the strings and ran it through a Tech 21 VT Bass V2 set up for B-15. I like to run the volume and tone on the bass all the way up, but roll the tone off on the amp and/or the VT Bass. Sounded great in my tiny practice room and when I recorded it. Tried that same sound with full band at rehearsal - nothing but mud Gonna play around with it some more today.

The problem is the VTBass gives you the sound of a micd up Ampeg. Sounds great on tape but if you run that straight into a bass amp you get too much bass and compression. Try turning the bass down on your amp and not using any drive or compression from you amp. Better still run the VT into the effects return if you have one to by pass your amps preamp voicing all together. It also sounds great directly into a power amp