i've had no issues with my Rics. Rarely need to set the intonation and quite honestly even if it's off a bit, it's not like it is noticeable at our volumes and levels of dirt.
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Stoner/Doom Bassists Thread, Part 90: Maxed Out
- Thread starter Korladis
- Start date
I've just never cared for Rics. They are hard to play, funny looking, and don't have a tone I'm after. Al is the only guy I've heard with a good tone I like, and most of that is the drive.
I actually can't stand Al's tone. The BOSS stuff is garbage in my opinion.
At the end of the day I am in the camp that think bass tone is way overrated. So little of the bass actually can be heard in a band mix, 99% of the time I have no idea what kind of bass is being used, even in our own recordings.
I'm definitely about tone. It can make or break a recording for me. Ryan Martinie's tone with Mudvayne was the only thing I liked about them. I never cared about Job for a Cowboy, but Nick's tone on Sun Eater took it to another level. I love Riverside for the bass. Black Crown Initiate, Rivers of Nihil, Inferi, and older Obscura have tremendous tone.
Al's tone with OM and The Sciences is so different. The way he works it with the other instruments really grabs me.
As much as I love his playing and tone, I have no real desire for a ric. Sure I like to drool over them as they are badass looking, but I am in a happy place with my Jazz. With all the tweaking and tinkering I've always done with my instruments, Fenders always fit the bill given the ridiculous amount of replacement/upgrade parts out there.
I love to mess with tone. That’s why I have so much dirt! Sometimes, I want to support the mix, and others I want to obliterate it. Occasionally, I may even want to “cut through” it. My point being that there are all sorts of bass tones that work in a mix. You just gotta find the right one for you.
I’ve found that for me, however, the basis of my tone comes from GK amps and cabs with Ibanez basses. When I switch that up, nothing sounds right. I’ve tried other combos, and they sound alright, but then I either play something differently stylistically and it kills the tone (my GK settings sound great to me on all styles!) or I try out my GK again and realize it just sounds better (or can be tweaked to sound better than the other amp). Obviously, all of this is subjective, but that’s me.
In summation - GK + Ibanez = home for me and my tones. Dirt is just extra (but very much required) flavoring.
I’ve found that for me, however, the basis of my tone comes from GK amps and cabs with Ibanez basses. When I switch that up, nothing sounds right. I’ve tried other combos, and they sound alright, but then I either play something differently stylistically and it kills the tone (my GK settings sound great to me on all styles!) or I try out my GK again and realize it just sounds better (or can be tweaked to sound better than the other amp). Obviously, all of this is subjective, but that’s me.
In summation - GK + Ibanez = home for me and my tones. Dirt is just extra (but very much required) flavoring.
I heard there's a thumb rest at the 10th fret.
It is real fun playing over the neck like that. You get that thwompky sound that's all over Masters of Reality and it makes me smile.
SR505, SR506 (I hate downtuning, so I just get more strings!) and an SR300DX. The GKs are 700RB-II, 400RB-IV, MB200, and an old Backline 112. Always sounds great!
800RB and neo 412 with the jazz, which has dimarzio model j's in it. I've really loved the feel of the SR's. The SR670 is pretty darn tempting
Forgot cabs! I run Neo 410s. SRs are amazing. Certainly for the price. Can’t find anything that sounds anywhere near as good for the price. Tried basses 3x as expensive - not as good!
I started on two different SR basses. Haven't owned one since, but man they feel great. Still miss em. Ironically, the neck on my jazz is so thin and SR like. I've only felt one other Fender like it and it was from the next year and same model. MIM std '91
This is how it's been for me. I admit I use different basses and dirt, occasionally amps when I owned more, but all for effect really. I have a home base and kinda stick to it usually though (with lots of different dirt).
Btw, this is one of the few places where I really feel at home. Seeing that everyone can disagree or have a different preference/viewpoint, but be okay with everyone else's is one of the things that makes this thread bad ass!
This is how it's been for me. I admit I use different basses and dirt, occasionally amps when I owned more, but all for effect really. I have a home base and kinda stick to it usually though (with lots of different dirt).
Btw, this is one of the few places where I really feel at home. Seeing that everyone can disagree or have a different preference/viewpoint, but be okay with everyone else's is one of the things that makes this thread bad ass!
100% agree. Who cares if you don’t use the same stuff as someone else. If it works for you, it works. End of story. I know if I go here, I’ll get the real low down on a piece of gear from a real-world perspective. No blues-lawyer stuff.
I picked up an Ibanez in March and it's the nicest bass I own: It's a SRSC806, a 6 string singlecut with 18 mm string spacing. I'm using it for a project that is currently a solo thing with glitchy analog synths. It's super clear and hifi, great for chordal stuff.
For my doom band, I'm sticking with a four-string MIM P-bass. I am really enjoying the idea of getting the most out of four strings (I played 5s for years). Over the weekend I added a Dimarzio Model P. I'm still dialing it in, but it sounds good. Compared w/ the stock pup, it has more lows, mids, and an overall punchier and hotter sound.
For my doom band, I'm sticking with a four-string MIM P-bass. I am really enjoying the idea of getting the most out of four strings (I played 5s for years). Over the weekend I added a Dimarzio Model P. I'm still dialing it in, but it sounds good. Compared w/ the stock pup, it has more lows, mids, and an overall punchier and hotter sound.
Yes, the irony is that Doomsters of yore bought (for example) old SS Sunns in part because they were frickin cheap. Now, they are overpriced because lots of ppl gotta play what this or that guy/gal played
How do you guys deal with the trebble loss when wearing ear plugs? Do you guys only change your tones while not wearing plugs? During the initial recording process ive realized both our bass and guitars are crazy bright because we are always wearing earplugs and we have adjusted our tone to work with them. Made me wonder how other folks deal with the loss in the high end so they dont obliterate the audience with sharp trebbly pick attack.
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Recording tone is different than live tone- filling a room vs shooting sound at a mic. I wouldn't make too much of it. That said, I used foam earplugs for years. I made the change to $15-$40 range and it has been huge (Heroes High Fidelity and Earasers)! I was concerned because the db cut wasn't as large, but the earplugs cut more evenly, things sound very pleasant to my ears. Also, I find if I change my tone, it is pretty accurate.
