Robert Trujillo's live tone. . . Damn!!

[perfektspace6]

Funny you say that, my friends went to the same show and said he was horrible, as well as the whole band. Not to disrespect your opinion, but ive seen them twice(with rob) and that was the reason i did not attend for a 3rd time.

He was very mediocre(sp?) when i saw them, but im glad you enjoyed it.

Saw them in Houston in November and I don't really have anything good to say. The band sounded pretty tight but the performance was lifeless and felt very scripted. I had pretty good seats on the lower bowl. My brother expressed the same feeling so I don't think it was just me. A big let down.

As for Rob's tone...I couldn't tell you if his playing was solid or not because his tone was that of a rat trying to fight it's way out of a pillowcase. Boomy and undefined.

The overall performance was consistent with the first time I saw them in the mid 90's with the exception that Newsted was the star of the night. Thought that first time was just a fluke but apparently not. I will not be spending my cash on them again.

 

[Sliza]

Does anyone know how to set the EQ on an Ampeg SVT3 PRO to get Trujillos sound (or at least close to it)?

 

[Colonel_Claypoo]

i would assume flat and use the eq of the BDDI.
as for you, you might want to scoop the tone. suck the mids out while boosting the lows and highs that is.

 

[ChorusPedal88]

I believe Mr Trujillo also plays Warwick, Spectors and Yamahas as well lately, he loves a variety, all strung with his new sig strings too which have just been released.

Ampeg SVT II amplifiers & Ampeg 8x10 speaker cabinets
Mesa Boogie Rectifier amplifiers & Mesa Boogie 4x12 speaker cabinets

Also loves his EMG Single Coil pick ups, he did use the trademark Morley Wah but then switched back to Dunlop.

 

[PauBass]

When I saw them few years ago I remember thinking that his tone was huge but undefined.. It was only clear at solo parts.. I was at front row center so that might be part of the problem. (he played mostly Fernandes at that gig)
Based on videos I`v seen, he sounds best with P-bass (like when they did the Sabbath thing.. Growly mid range!) Tobias sounded really good with Ozzy tho..
Trujillo and P-bass in action:
with Metallica http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06C2DYlz7bY
and with Black Label Society http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAodnkz6AI4
I think he should use it more often..

And based on one video I saw, hes Rick definatelly doesn`t sound like one..

I agree here, the tone he gets with that P bass is awesome!

Just looking at those videos you can see it's a Fender P bass with EMG pickups and that's probably why he cuts through so well.

Umm, interesting, might think about dropping some EMGs on my P bass too

 

[Sliza]

I just watched The Making Of Death Magnetic on YouTube and I noticed that Rob is using distortion. Can anyone tell me, if he's using distortion permanently throughout the entire album?
Check this out:

 

[MAJOR METAL]

I just watched The Making Of Death Magnetic on YouTube and I noticed that Rob is using distortion. Can anyone tell me, if he's using distortion permanently throughout the entire album?
Check this out:

I do not hear any on Unforgiven III.

 

[LCMBassist]

From what ive heard his tone is lifeless and sterile. No pick growl like Newsted had.

 

[ChorusPedal88]

I just watched The Making Of Death Magnetic on YouTube and I noticed that Rob is using distortion. Can anyone tell me, if he's using distortion permanently throughout the entire album?
Check this out:

I guess thats where his Tech 21 gear comes in

 

[Colonel_Claypoo]

yeah, BDDI + EMG

 

[Sliza]

What does "BDDI" mean?

 

[Colonel_Claypoo]

it means bass driver DI Invalid Link Removed and is most commonly used

 

[Sliza]

Has anyone tried the MXR M80 BASS D.I. PLUS? Is it any good? How's the distortion?

 

[Colonel_Claypoo]

well, if i'm not mistaken the mxr 80 is more of a fuzz. i would think that he only uses it for the intro of 'for whom the bell tolls'.

 

[thehangingmist]

Roberto rulz!

 

[Sliza]

it means bass driver DI Invalid Link Removed and is most commonly used

Many thanks for the reply! Do you guys know any good EQ-Settings on the BDDI to come close to Trujillos sound?

 

[RexNFX79]

I've never been a fan of his. I haven't followed Metallica since Load. I do know other players that like him though. It's interesting to me that opinions of his playing seem to vary a lot more than many other players.

 

[Colonel_Claypoo]

Many thanks for the reply! Do you guys know any good EQ-Settings on the BDDI to come close to Trujillos sound?

you're welcome.

i'd start experimenting by putting a smiley face on your eq, meaning to cut the mids a tad while boosting the lows and highs.
that shoudl get you in the ballpark

 

[Sliza]

Do you guys know of any good EQ-settings to achieve Rob Trujillo's sound on an Ampeg SVT-3 Pro without using any exterior devices?

 

[metallibass95]

Actually Rob Trujillo's live sound is very processed. He uses preamp racks and pedals although i'm not for sure how much he uses or what brands but I know that his sound isn't clean, it is indeed processed to a certain extent. The sound is amazing too.

Besides Jason Newsted using the Sans Amp DI pedal to produce his signature tone, I think he also used preamps and racks to really shape his tone too.

From what I can tell when Cliff is playing bass (not soloing with wah and fuzz) he actually runs a clean sound not processed at all. I'm almost positive his recording and live sounds aren't processed and they are 100% clean. I could be wrong though.