Tone of Michael Anthony

[Lowdown LowEnd]

So I think Michael Anthony doesn't get nearly the amount of credit he deserves. To that end, can anyone help me replicate his tone? I have a Schecter Michael Anthony MA-4 with the custom Michael Anthony '78 pickups from Schecter. I run a Fender Rumble 800 combo amp with a Cali76 compressor.

Can anyone help with me with identifying how to get his tone? The strings needed, the eq on my amp? Any help would be appreciated

 

[Ggaa]

Mostly uses a pick too, I think.

 

[FRoss6788]

I think he rarely uses a pick.

 

[Bass4ThePublic]

Honestly it depends on the room and the mix. The best solution for you is to sit down for an hour and turn knobs and A/B the tones. This is also the best solution to mixing ANY bass guitar.

 

[UntitledProject]

I recall he used to endorse Dean Markley strings back in the days of bass player magazine. Blue Steels, I think.

 

[Wasnex]

IMHO if you want to sound like Michael Anthony, the most important things to do are copy his attitude and technique. Sure the gear and how you adjust it makes a difference, but attitude and technique are far more important. This is the basis for the saying: "Tone is in the fingers."

 

[5StringBlues]

His RUNNIN WITH THE DEVIL tone is way different than his BEAUTIFUL GIRLS tone.


Can you give examples of the tone you seek?

 

[Lowdown LowEnd]

His RUNNIN WITH THE DEVIL tone is way different than his BEAUTIFUL GIRLS tone.


Can you give examples of the tone you seek?

Thank you, I was thinking more 'poundcake', 'good enough'

 

[Lowdown LowEnd]

IMHO if you want to sound like Michael Anthony, the most important things to do are copy his attitude and technique. Sure the gear and how you adjust it makes a difference, but attitude and technique are far more important. This is the basis for the saying: "Tone is in the fingers."

So what does he do with his fingers to create his sound

 

[Lowdown LowEnd]

I recall he used to endorse Dean Markley strings back in the days of bass player magazine. Blue Steels, I think.

Do we know what he endorses now? I can't find anything recent

 

[5StringBlues]

Thank you, I was thinking more 'poundcake', 'good enough'

A Guitar World article says he believes he used a Musicman Stingray on Poundcake.


Rotosound rounds and a SWR biamped bass amp.


Sorry I can't help more.

 

[UntitledProject]

Do we know what he endorses now? I can't find anything recent

Dunlop Steels 45 - 107.

 

[pisces_bass]

On Poundcake…Gorilla hands and stamina to lock into a 1/16 note groove for 5+ minutes as a start.

 

[Wasnex]

So what does he do with his fingers to create his sound

It depends on the situation. You adjust your technique to get the desired sound.

 

[JazznFunk]

Michael's best tone IMO came from the early/mid 90s when he used StingRays. All over the For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge record, and a good bit of (if not all) of Balance. Based on attack alone, I'm not hearing a ton of pick playing on those records, but if you take a song like 'Feelin' off of Balance and listen to the heavier solo section in the middle, that's definitely a pick. The grind gives it away.

 

[Fuzzbass]

Do we know what he endorses now? I can't find anything recent

Gear does matter, generally speaking, but don't stress about copying Michael's. I once heard a bassist nail Justin Chancellor's "ToolTone" using a Ken Smith Burner bass and a rack rig that definitely did not match Justin's.

Strings: fresh roundwounds, that's all you need to know.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I know he played a Yamaha bass for years as his #1, at least live, but he played a lot of different bases over the years, and a lot of different amps. I don't recall anything remarkable about his tone you couldn't get with a wide range of gear. I remember reading a quote someplace where he called his technique "the standard two-finger plunk", or something to that effect. I think he used a pick sometimes in the studio, but I don't remember any video where he used one live. He's a very competent, if un-flashy bassist, but his ability to sing those high harmonies and keep things solid while Eddie drifted off into the stratosphere is what made him so integral to Van Halen. I was pretty disappointed to see how shabbily Eddie and Alex treated him at the end. He's still a great player and singer.

 

[pbass2]

I know he played a Yamaha bass for years as his #1, at least live, but he played a lot of different bases over the years, and a lot of different amps. I don't recall anything remarkable about his tone you couldn't get with a wide range of gear.

Great player, great singer. But yeah, I mean, his tone is just....bass. Solid good bass tone you could get very easily, no specific gear required, no special plucking, picking etc techniques, just good solid playing. You should be able to get really darn close with what you have already. Keep in mind on recordings you're hearing a fully produced sound, a mixed and mastered slick production, not the raw sound of his bass as he tracked it.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

There a ton of these isolated bass and drum videos on YT. Sometimes it's shocking to hear how sloppy the bass or guitar is, on a recording that still sounds great, but Mike is just solid as hell. He's really locked in with Alex.

 

[SJan3]

I think MA used PEAVEY amps. That may have contributed to his tone.