Trouble Getting Clean Tone - Help a Beginner

[Robert Sperling]

[

BTW Your bass isn't active is it? Never ever heard of any MIM Fender Jazz that was, but there may be some models I've missed. Pix would help.[/QUOTE]

I own a 2010 MIM Deluxe Jazz... it is indeed active. Mine came in black w/tort p/g, I believe it
was also offered in White/tort and candy apple red/black.

 

[twc1313]

I think the gear you have is great, if I'm you I wouldn't consider buying anything different. I would take the DI out of the mix for the time being and get a tone you love with just the amp first and then add the pedal back in. For now, both at once just adds too many factors.

I don't think it's been asked, but are you only playing this amp alone or in a band setting too? To me, this is a huge factor. A great live, in a band mix tone rarely sounds good on it's own. If you're getting a tone you like at low volumes but not when turning up, I wouldn't worry about it.

Furthermore, even a great recorded bass tone sounds pretty cruddy by itself. Go on youtube and listen see if you can find some isolated bass tracks of your favorite recordings. With these you will find that the great clean bass you hear in a mix will sound like a grindy mess solo. Here's an example that stands out to me, Duff IMHO has always had a killer tone on the GnR albums, but when you hear this, it sounds like he's playing through a Gorilla practice amp. I know you don't want to hear distortion, and that's what you're getting, but my point is that some distortion solo can translate into a clean, fat tone in a mix.



Here's an example that to me sounds very clean on the song, but like a farty mess solo.

 

[JimmyM]

I think the gear you have is great, if I'm you I wouldn't consider buying anything different. I would take the DI out of the mix for the time being and get a tone you love with just the amp first and then add the pedal back in. For now, both at once just adds too many factors.

I don't think it's been asked, but are you only playing this amp alone or in a band setting too? To me, this is a huge factor. A great live, in a band mix tone rarely sounds good on it's own. If you're getting a tone you like at low volumes but not when turning up, I wouldn't worry about it.

Furthermore, even a great recorded bass tone sounds pretty cruddy by itself. Go on youtube and listen see if you can find some isolated bass tracks of your favorite recordings. With these you will find that the great clean bass you hear in a mix will sound like a grindy mess solo. Here's an example that stands out to me, Duff IMHO has always had a killer tone on the GnR albums, but when you hear this, it sounds like he's playing through a Gorilla practice amp. I know you don't want to hear distortion, and that's what you're getting, but my point is that some distortion solo can translate into a clean, fat tone in a mix.



Here's an example that to me sounds very clean on the song, but like a farty mess solo.

Wouldn't say either of these sound like a Gorilla or a farty mess, but you are correct that a little OD still comes across as a clean tone in a mix. Still, when a dude asks about how to get a clean tone, I think the proper thing is to answer his question as it sits, not try to impose a different value system on him. And this is coming from a person who rarely likes to play with a dead clean tone

 

[twc1313]

Wouldn't say either of these sound like a Gorilla or a farty mess, but you are correct that a little OD still comes across as a clean tone in a mix. Still, when a dude asks about how to get a clean tone, I think the proper thing is to answer his question as it sits, not try to impose a different value system on him. And this is coming from a person who rarely likes to play with a dead clean tone

I guess my point is coming across wrong. I'm not suggesting OP embraces or uses his current distortion. My intent is more that an amp, when turned up loud by itself, can sound much different than at low volumes. I am assuming (possibly incorrectly) that the OP is new to all this. When I started, it took me awhile to realize the bass tones I heard in studio recordings didnt translate to how a live amp sounds.

If this isn't the case, then there very well could be an issue with the gear. I was suggesting something that could be easily tested before moving onto more intensive (but possibly needed) steps like repair, bass set ups, etc. Throwing out theories, not telling the dude to accept distortion.

 

[JimmyM]

I guess my point is coming across wrong. I'm not suggesting OP embraces or uses his current distortion. My intent is more that an amp, when turned up loud by itself, can sound much different than at low volumes. I am assuming (possibly incorrectly) that the OP is new to all this. When I started, it took me awhile to realize the bass tones I heard in studio recordings didnt translate to how a live amp sounds.

If this isn't the case, then there very well could be an issue with the gear. I was suggesting something that could be easily tested before moving onto more intensive (but possibly needed) steps like repair, bass set ups, etc. Throwing out theories, not telling the dude to accept distortion.

Fair enough.