Stoner/Doom Bassists Thread, Part 90: Maxed Out

[Lazarus.Bird]

This is going to seem like a noob rant. But I was curious how many of us have the problem of the floating tone. My equipment never leaves my study, as I've quit playing with people and my back can't handle moving the cab any more. Almost on a daily basis, I'm finding I need to tweak my settings. Everything I'm running is solid state and effects driven. Basically running my fretless or my B301 (Guild) into my effects pedal (GNX2) to my amp and 4x10 cab. I'm running a few patches, but mostly one that I've set up that has an over driven amp sound and smooth distortion with heavy bottom end. There is a slight delay and chorusing going on and that's about it. Day by day, I find myself tweaking this or moving to different patches, then back to this one. It's like I'm chasing a tone that was awesome yesterday, but sucks today. Is this just my ears or is my rig changing on a daily basis? I thought solid state would be, well, solid. I was for a while trying to achieve Ron Now's tone, but realized I was about 3500 watts off.

So, you're tone chasing while just playing by yourself without a band mix? Don't do that, you'll drive yourself insane Chasing a good tone by itself is kind of a fruitless endeavor, as it's a whole new ball game once other instruments are involved in the mix. I think we're all guilty of doing this from time to time.

 

[Squanch72]

I think the problem with tone chasing us in our heads.
Whether it's our ears or what's between them. I know I hear things differently when I'm tired compared to when I'm fully awake. Which I think is the difference in hearing and listening. I have a rules that I don't tweak knobs when I'm tired or distracted cause what I come up w with then never makes sense later.

This.

 

[LowF]

Thanks. I guess my ears are to blame. And the lack of other instruments is another constant variable. Good to hear I'm not alone anyways. Except when I play.


Sent from LowF's iPhone.

 

[Ron Now]

This is going to seem like a noob rant. But I was curious how many of us have the problem of the floating tone. My equipment never leaves my study, as I've quit playing with people and my back can't handle moving the cab any more. Almost on a daily basis, I'm finding I need to tweak my settings. Everything I'm running is solid state and effects driven. Basically running my fretless or my B301 (Guild) into my effects pedal (GNX2) to my amp and 4x10 cab. I'm running a few patches, but mostly one that I've set up that has an over driven amp sound and smooth distortion with heavy bottom end. There is a slight delay and chorusing going on and that's about it. Day by day, I find myself tweaking this or moving to different patches, then back to this one. It's like I'm chasing a tone that was awesome yesterday, but sucks today. Is this just my ears or is my rig changing on a daily basis? I thought solid state would be, well, solid. I was for a while trying to achieve Ron Now's tone, but realized I was about 3500 watts off.

I second guess and change things about my tone all the time. There's always things I think I can improve, but even then it's generally a minor improvement that really only I notice.

I'm still unhappy with my home rig (Gallien Krueger 115BC) which is 100 watt 1x15 combo from the 80's. It's ok sounding, but it's not great.

I can say from the digital multi-effects units I've used in the past, most notably a Line 6 M9 and Zoom B3, while I could get some perfectly serviceable tones for messing around at home, I found myself constantly tweaking them. I think having the option to constantly change things and parameters on them is a great and terrible thing. I ended up selling the ones I've owned because always found myself spending more time tweaking than playing. I've gone for a much more simple home setup that keeps me focused on playing instead of obsessing over tone (not that I don't do that anyways). That setup includes Fuzzrocious Demon/Grey Stache, Korg Pitch Black Tuner, Maxon AD80 Delay, and a Digitech Jamman XT looper. I've got one of those pedal drum machine Beat Buddy things on order, so whenever that ships it'll round out my home setup. All the things I like, plus a couple of practice tools to keep me motivated/interested in playing at home.

Not sure if this helps, or is even advice to begin with. But I think what I'm getting at, is that sometimes Less is more.

 

[Kaa]

Thanks. I guess my ears are to blame. And the lack of other instruments is another constant variable. Good to hear I'm not alone anyways. Except when I play.


Sent from LowF's iPhone.

Me. too. That's why I don't tone chase. I set up my rig to sound like "bass". Totally clean, all controls at noon.
Even doing infrequent jams, I very rarely ever move from "sounds like a bass".
Then again, I'm a small (very, very small) minority amongst this bunch, LOL.

 

[JoeVictim]

I'd like to reiterate my preference for your vocalist to not do growly vocals. I really dug his clean vocals on "Filaments" and how they were sitting within/on top of the heavy.

Hes so good, he can do either and I'd like it. His growl could stand on it's own. I'd like you guys if he just did that. Keep in mind I usually don't like too much snarl in my vox. I am very picky, but I'd definitely pick him as someone that knows how to do it where I don't get tired of hearing it. The clean vocals are also brilliant. He's has a very good range. I just watched a video for a band that we are going to play with that does clean/dirty vocals and the clean part sounds off. In the video at least. Your singer nails everything I've heard in the videos, and doesn't even break a sweat.

 

[Kaa]

I second guess and change things about my tone all the time. There's always things I think I can improve, but even then it's generally a minor improvement that really only I notice.

I'm still unhappy with my home rig (Gallien Krueger 115BC) which is 100 watt 1x15 combo from the 80's. It's ok sounding, but it's not great.

I can say from the digital multi-effects units I've used in the past, most notably a Line 6 M9 and Zoom B3, while I could get some perfectly serviceable tones for messing around at home, I found myself constantly tweaking them. I think having the option to constantly change things and parameters on them is a great and terrible thing. I ended up selling the ones I've owned because always found myself spending more time tweaking than playing. I've gone for a much more simple home setup that keeps me focused on playing instead of obsessing over tone (not that I don't do that anyways). That setup includes Fuzzrocious Demon/Grey Stache, Korg Pitch Black Tuner, Maxon AD80 Delay, and a Digitech Jamman XT looper. I've got one of those pedal drum machine Beat Buddy things on order, so whenever that ships it'll round out my home setup. All the things I like, plus a couple of practice tools to keep me motivated/interested in playing at home.

Not sure if this helps, or is even advice to begin with. But I think what I'm getting at, is that sometimes Less is more.

Quoted for wisdom.

 

[Lazarus.Bird]

Hes so good, he can do either and I'd like it. His growl could stand on it's own. I'd like you guys if he just did that. Keep in mind I usually don't like too much snarl in my vox. I am very picky, but I'd definitely pick him as someone that knows how to do it where I don't get tired of hearing it. The clean vocals are also brilliant. He's has a very good range. I just watched a video for a band that we are going to play with that does clean/dirty vocals and the clean part sounds off. In the video at least. Your singer nails everything I've heard in the videos, and doesn't even break a sweat.

He takes a very musical approach to how he does his vocals and treats it like just another instrument in the band vs just belting out lyrics. Definitely the best singer I've had the pleasure of being in a band with.

 

[Blank_0101]

Anyone played one of these or it's one pickup brother?

 

[Squanch72]

View attachment 462417
Anyone played one of these or it's one pickup brother?

My buddy has the single pup version. He has a bunch of short scales. Cheapish build quality but soild enough, really enjoyed the tone when I played it though, had that wooly old school thump!

 

[Blank_0101]

My buddy has the single pup version. He has a bunch of short scales. Cheapish build quality but soild enough, really enjoyed the tone when I played it though, had that wooly old school thump!

I really should just have a bridge pickup rout placed on my bronco and call it good, but that looks fun. I need to get something with two pickups going so I can finally try my ric-o-sound dual jack in something.

 

[LowF]

I second guess and change things about my tone all the time. There's always things I think I can improve, but even then it's generally a minor improvement that really only I notice.

I'm still unhappy with my home rig (Gallien Krueger 115BC) which is 100 watt 1x15 combo from the 80's. It's ok sounding, but it's not great.

I can say from the digital multi-effects units I've used in the past, most notably a Line 6 M9 and Zoom B3, while I could get some perfectly serviceable tones for messing around at home, I found myself constantly tweaking them. I think having the option to constantly change things and parameters on them is a great and terrible thing. I ended up selling the ones I've owned because always found myself spending more time tweaking than playing. I've gone for a much more simple home setup that keeps me focused on playing instead of obsessing over tone (not that I don't do that anyways). That setup includes Fuzzrocious Demon/Grey Stache, Korg Pitch Black Tuner, Maxon AD80 Delay, and a Digitech Jamman XT looper. I've got one of those pedal drum machine Beat Buddy things on order, so whenever that ships it'll round out my home setup. All the things I like, plus a couple of practice tools to keep me motivated/interested in playing at home.

Not sure if this helps, or is even advice to begin with. But I think what I'm getting at, is that sometimes Less is more.

I understand the less is more and would love to just plug into an amp and crank it. But alas, the saturation I enjoy would have the neighbours in a lynching mood. Thus I play a lower, but saturated levels and feel the need to constantly tweak. I think the next time I say "perfect!" I'm breaking out the duct tape. Thanks for everyone's input.

BTW, Miserable is great.

 

[LowF]

Me. too. That's why I don't tone chase. I set up my rig to sound like "bass". Totally clean, all controls at noon.
Even doing infrequent jams, I very rarely ever move from "sounds like a bass".
Then again, I'm a small (very, very small) minority amongst this bunch, LOL.

I think most of us want to sound like Bass. Just very angry Bass. With Turrets.

 

[mpdd]

if any of you guys are near claremont, ca there is a vintage holmes thc 300 at styles music with the big and heavy matching 215 for $299, the things got a built in drive that's super nasty and i think you could turn on the reverb if you had a footswitch, it was really loud for a solid state head when i used it with an american special p, but then again our acoustic head from the 70s is pretty loud too, our drummer was going to buy it, but it wouldn't fit in the rental car, (thc=stoner metal i guess)

 

[Blank_0101]

I understand the less is more and would love to just plug into an amp and crank it. But alas, the saturation I enjoy would have the neighbours in a lynching mood. Thus I play a lower, but saturated levels and feel the need to constantly tweak. I think the next time I say "perfect!" I'm breaking out the duct tape. Thanks for everyone's input.

BTW, Miserable is great.

That's very true, when I'm loud and getting a really saturated tone nearly everything sounds better regardless of settings. When I'm trying not to be a dick at night I turn down and everything changes my just reducing the volume and I get a lot more picky.

 

[Ron Now]

I understand the less is more and would love to just plug into an amp and crank it. But alas, the saturation I enjoy would have the neighbours in a lynching mood. Thus I play a lower, but saturated levels and feel the need to constantly tweak. I think the next time I say "perfect!" I'm breaking out the duct tape. Thanks for everyone's input.

BTW, Miserable is great.

1. Thanks, real happy with how the record came out. At home I play very quiet, I have neighbors, dogs, and a wife that I'm trying not to ignore. Very low volume good tone is a tricky thing. I'm still working on how to get it just right. If I figure it out, I'll be sure to let everyone know.

That's very true, when I'm loud and getting a really saturated tone nearly everything sounds better regardless of settings. When I'm trying not to be a dick at night I turn down and everything changes my just reducing the volume and I get a lot more picky.

The more quiet I play, the more I feel the need to tweak things. At live volumes, a lot of things are set and forget.

 

[mpdd]

askrere - haven't played one, but that is what indian jewelry the houston noise/psych band uses and they always gave a great bass sound

 

[Corey Y]

Had a great Warp Rig practice last night. It was pretty much just remembering the three new songs we wrote all the way back in June, last time we practiced. We actually practiced at my shop though, instead of the storage space we were in that has terrible acoustics. The drummer put all new heads on my kit as well, so it sounded good. Hopefully we get back to practicing regularly and write more tunes. I'm shooting for at least 6 songs before recording. We've been writing in sequence, starting with the end of the previous song every time we write the next, to try to give them all a good flow together.

 

[The_Janitor]

Good news, Corey! I look forward to hearing the recording when it's done.

I should be heading to my folk's place tonight to borrow their pick up, that also means I'll be getting some stuff out of storage - including the big bass rig, technics towers, guitars, keyboards, some furniture, my half a drum kit... Stuff that I put away 4 years ago when I moved in with my wife. So that's exciting. Also means that I'll be spending the weekend hauling furniture around, but that's cool. I'm excited to get into the new place.

 

[Corey Y]

Good news, Corey! I look forward to hearing the recording when it's done.

I should be heading to my folk's place tonight to borrow their pick up, that also means I'll be getting some stuff out of storage - including the big bass rig, technics towers, guitars, keyboards, some furniture, my half a drum kit... Stuff that I put away 4 years ago when I moved in with my wife. So that's exciting. Also means that I'll be spending the weekend hauling furniture around, but that's cool. I'm excited to get into the new place.

What's the bass rig you're picking up?