Recommend Effects for "Vintage" P-Bass Tones

[az_bassist]

So I have a MIM Fender P-Bass that is my second bass behind my Fender '51 RI P-Bass. Overall the MIM bass is pretty good but the tones I get from it aren't as good as I'd like them to be. Does anybody have any ideas for effects that I could try to get that vintage James Jamerson tone? Just so you know, I have flats on it.

Thanks!

 

[mattbass6945]

vt bass on flip top setting or that jhs colour box maybe......

 

[nshuman]

vt bass on flip top setting or that jhs colour box maybe......

Well, SGFX Beta (orange version) or RunoffGroove Ginger (Get the one built by VFE).

 

[sambass0124]

Sansamp Bass DI

 

[skulletwhip]

Let the strings die. Roll off the tone knob. Foam under the bridge.

 

[Pilgrim]

Let the strings die. Roll off the tone knob. Foam under the bridge.

I like these ideas. Flats are essential, but the strings always sound better after six months. You can back down the tine, and experiment with foam, or a strip of fabric woven through the strings.

 

[az_bassist]

I like these ideas. Flats are essential, but the strings always sound better after six months. You can back down the tine, and experiment with foam, or a strip of fabric woven through the strings.

So a potentially stupid question here... what is the exact placement of the foam on the bridge?

 

[BazzTard]

Sansamp Bass DI

Get the programmable one with 3 presets, job done !

 

[pertyman]

I would recommend installing a Stellartone.

 

[Matt Dean]

Another is the catalinbread SFT.

 

[kevteop]

Any decent valve preamp and some foam under the bridge, job done.

 

[Bisounourse]

So a potentially stupid question here... what is the exact placement of the foam on the bridge?

Just under the strings, next to the bridge... Like this:

 

[dannybuoy]

P-Bass with flats?

Bearfoot Blueberry, all day long, every day. SFT v1 a close second, VT Bass in 3rd place, Beta a runner up. Not checked out the Ginger yet though, it's on my to-try list!

 

[winterburn69]

Let the strings die. Roll off the tone knob. Foam under the bridge.

+1 on the foam and dead strings. But Jamerson actually played with the tone knob all the way up.

@az_bassist What flats are you using?

As for effects, I've been using the SGFX Beta (Gold & Pearl version) and a Boss CS-2 and it's sorta Motowny. I feel the sound isn't compressed enough and I'm sure it would sound better with different flats (using Chromes, after a year and a half, they're still too bright)

 

[petrus61]

Flats, good Palm muting technique or foam at the bridge, Alnico V enamel or formvar equipped pickup wound from 10.5-12k and a Fairfield Circuitry Barbershop does the trick for me. In fact, of all the Ampeg in a box's that are out there, none of them sounded as genuinely warm and tube like as my Barbershop. I can come incredibly close to some of the isolated Motown bass tracks (such as Bernadette) with that setup. A lot of the other drives I've used for the same thing were great, but had a little too much honk going on in the mids, or lacked them. I was a big Sansamp guy and it knocked all that stuff off my board for an "always on" vintage type of thing, which is what I was going for. I also run compression before the Barbershop, soon to be giving the Keeley "Bassist" limiting amp/compressor for a spin.

 

[Deadsound]

Flats through a Barbershop is a great choice. I personally love the Darkglass Vintage Deluxe with a flats-equipped P. The Aguilar Tonehammer pedal is another excellent option - find posts by "Eublet" to help EQ it for a warm vintage sound.

 

[az_bassist]

+1 on the foam and dead strings. But Jamerson actually played with the tone knob all the way up.

@az_bassist What flats are you using?

As for effects, I've been using the SGFX Beta (Gold & Pearl version) and a Boss CS-2 and it's sorta Motowny. I feel the sound isn't compressed enough and I'm sure it would sound better with different flats (using Chromes, after a year and a half, they're still too bright)

They are D'Addario Flats... can't remember the gauges.

 

[mccartneyman]

Just a note that the original Fender bass foam mute was under the bridge cover and could be raised or lowered by tightening or loosening the cover screws to achieve different muting effects. You could achieve the same today effect by gluing foam under an aftermarket bridge cover, but of course you'd then have to drill holes in the bass body. The original Fender foam was pretty stiff.

 

[Michedelic]

Try experimenting with compressors to see if the sound is to your liking, and play through a cab with one or two 15" speakers.

 

[Dr3thepooner]

Flat-wounds + slight palm mute + pick + VT bass.