The Insane Quest for Tone!

In 25+ years of playing live, the majority of bassists I know (outside of top-tier touring or studio musicians) only own one or two basses and “an amp.”

I think there’s some kind of virus that’s downloaded into you the first time you log on to TalkBass!

 

I wonder how many people are just searching for a tone that sounds nice while they're sitting around noodling solo at home..

I've done that a million times...and in 99% of the results that tone never worked as soon as I fired into a mix.

Usually the tone that works best in the mix is one that I don't particularly like solo.

 

The quest fir tone is never ending.
Drummers go thru this trying to find
the right cymbals.

 

Unless you're playing small bars and clubs, your bass tone has a lot more to do with the person running the front of house than it does your amp or bass.

And when you're playing small bars and clubs, it usually has a lot more to do with the room you're in, than your bass or amp.

Being meticulous about one's tone is IMO a sure recipe for unhappiness.




The only exceptions to the above, IMO, are if you don't know how to get a decent sound out of your bass in the first place. And/or if you have a very good relationship with your sound person. But even that's iffy.

 

If I could just sound like Prakash John on "Rock'n'Roll Animal"... I know I'll never be able to play like him!