The way bass "should" sound

[mexicanyella]

What can

Maybe a bass is just a lower range guitar, but most bassists (myself included) would dial in a very different EQ than most guitarists would, all other things being equal.

I have a few rig options that I sometimes play guitar OR bass through and find it interesting that I like about the same EQ curve on either instrument.

Not trying to be contradictory; one factor there is I play a P with flats, finger style, so having some "bright grit" at the amp helps with rock tone.

 

[BrickBatMansion]

Nazereth: Close Enough For Rock 'N Roll
A long song..........from about 1:05 till 2:00 the bass tone is stellar, very modern sounding. And this was recorded in 1976.

 

[friedlbug]

These are all great bass tones! There are no purist tones, just what you like. Here's another example, and probably the tone that I chase most:

 

[NoSlapForYou]

I have a few rig options that I sometimes play guitar OR bass through and find it interesting that I like about the same EQ curve on either instrument.

Not trying to be contradictory; one factor there is I play a P with flats, finger style, so having some "bright grit" at the amp helps with rock tone.

Yeah, I sometimes play guitar through my Ampeg PF-50T. I don't really adjust anything. I also play a P with flats, finger style. My amp EQ is rolled way off on the bass and the low mids.

 

[NoSlapForYou]

What can I say, I enjoy a wide range of bass sounds, but a handful actually grate on me. Lemmy is one, Claypool is another, and while I appreciated his playing, I was never a fan of Chris Squire's sound in the 1970's.

Maybe a bass is just a lower range guitar, but most bassists (myself included) would dial in a very different EQ than most guitarists would, all other things being equal.

For me it's the overdrive/grit of Lemmy and Squire that I'm not a huge fan of. It has its place, but I don't think I'd ever go for that sound. Even in heavier rock, I like a clean bass sound.

 

[Dincrest]

My absolute favorite bass tone is in "I Want You Back" by The Jackson Five. To me, it's perfect. It's thick and buttery, yet also growly. I feel like it's the kind of timeless bass tone that would fit well in everything from smooth jazz to most metal and everything from oldies to modern music.

 

[NoSlapForYou]

My absolute favorite bass tone is in "I Want You Back" by The Jackson Five. To me, it's perfect. It's thick and buttery, yet also growly. I feel like it's the kind of timeless bass tone that would fit well in everything from smooth jazz to most metal and everything from oldies to modern music.

Also one of the coolest bass lines ever. The song doesn't work without it.

 

[DrThumpenstein]

@NoSlapForYou, you win the GFT* award for the week! I'm enjoying the heck out of this thread and I'm not even halfway through.


*Great Friggin Thread

 

[Jay2U]

In my last post I forgot a bass tone that I've loved for over 40 years.

 

[mexicanyella]

I tend to cut some lows and low mids myself. I have noticed I tend to run dirtier gain settings when I play bass, maybe because I lean toward a fairly soft fingerstyle on bass but I'm kind of a hard pick-and-fingers guy on guitar.

Yeah, I sometimes play guitar through my Ampeg PF-50T. I don't really adjust anything. I also play a P with flats, finger style. My amp EQ is rolled way off on the bass and the low mids.

Sorry for the (unintentional) detail. Please carry on.

 

[BOOG]

Humble Pie and Free and GFR

JPJ w/LZ too, but that's a whole nutha leva

Mmmmmm...


this one starting at about 00:25


here's another...


Check this...


More Free stuff...


Finally, GFR has The BEST distorted sound I can think of...



So, how do we get there, lads and ladies? Given my three examples, is there one head and cabinet duo that accomplishes all three (four) tones?

 

[DrThumpenstein]

I may have missed it, but no love for Fam?

 

[Auspuff]

 

[DJ Bebop]

I may have missed it, but no love for Fam?

Yep, you missed it. Still, we can always use more of Family Man, IMHO

 

[DJ Bebop]

I would be remiss if I didn't throw down some Tom Fowler

 

[FilterFunk]

This!

FUNK YEAH!!!

And here's a lit' bit mo' P-Funk:

 

[DJ Bebop]

Portland's own Pleasure with Nathaniel Phillips y'all

Go, Kelly. Go, Kelly. Go, Kelly

 

[Auspuff]

The bass is an anchor, and this song shows how well it can be done, with a darn good tone.

Note: This bass player is former Nightwish member, Sami Vanska, and he used SVT810's.

 

[Mili]

Recently i really dig this tone, I think it's a pbass with flats and foam. Right!?

 

[ZB5]

My favorite bass sound would have to be the doubled (or tripled?) line on God Only Knows. Rich, full, rounded tone, lots of lows and low mids, with some treble bite from the picked Fender part. A very simple part, not only complements the tune perfectly, but adds "weight" when that E/F#/G refrain comes in.



I could also make an argument for Jamerson's work on Side 1 of What's Going On (or Babbitt's on Side 2!)

EDIT: Quick appreciation for the arrangements of Brian Wilson. One of the reasons I dig the bass parts in his compositions is he really understands sonic space, giving the bass its own territory to work with. Especially for popular music at that time, the bass was much more prominently displayed than in a lot of other stuff coming out of LA at the time. That plus the great players he hired and the lovely counter melodies he'd write for it, it's what solidified my love for holding down the low end.