Trying to develop a punchier tone

[HagenToke]

Once you have the settings to how you like it. Most of the tone comes from your fingers.

 

[grillman]

I haven't seen it in the replies yet but it is important to have a sufficient amount of gain.

Without the right amount of gain (not necessarily going into overdrive) an amp can sound anemic even if everything else is right.

Aside from gain, EQ and hand techniques that were detailed in previous posts, a compressor can help.

 

[Les Fret]

There is a whole universe of tones available to you, each depending on a few key variables...
1: Where you play on the string. Head towards the bridge for punch, fast transients, brightness, cleaner attack and clearer articulation. Play towards the fingerboard for more pillowy, thicker tone, slower attack, extra volume and less definition.
2: Vary the speed of your fingertips. Faster for note definition, slower for a softer attack
3: Vary the depth of the pluck. Anything from full-on hook and release to a gentle smooth glance across the surface.
4: Try different parts of the finger. The very tip for definition and punch. Move to the side of the pad for softer tones.
5: Change the angle of attack: Pluck into the face of the body for a more percussive attack and snappy tone. Play across the face for a more open, airy tone with more projection and a vocal-like quality.
6: Change the stiffness of the fingers....
7: Vary between straight and curved/hooked
8: Vary between rest strokes (apoyando) and free strokes (tirando).
9: ...

YMMV

Yes this! Haven’t read all comments. But the dreaded ‘tone is in the fingers’ is appropriate for the OP’s question. He just started with bass playing so above all he has to first start developing technique to get a good tone. First solve that and then get to gear and eq configurations and such. Not the other way around.

 

[SgtHulka]

I wouldn't try any of all these home remedy type advice. Just get a Music Man and be done with it.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I'm trying to figure out if it's a technique or gear or a combination of. I'm finding my tone tends to be more of fat thud sound than a punchier thump. I've watched a few YouTubes on Larry Graham (Sly and F.S.) and other similar bass players. I'm basically a finger player (not slap) and do get a better tone by plucking. Still not really getting the sound that I'm looking for.
I play a stock Fender MIM P-Bass (50's reissue - Tele style headstock) an Ampeg BA115V2 (I also have a Fender Rumble 40 practice amp which tends to have an even fatter tone). I've played around with the Ampeg Scrambler circuit and a couple of compression pedals, doesn't seem to make much of a difference just louder with a little OD tone similar to the Scrambler circuit. The BA115 seems to have enough volume for the gigs we play at about 2/3 on the volume setting, that gives me the range to turn up or down as needed. I'm kind of a gear minimalist and like running a simple rig but still want a good sound.

FYI: I switched from guitar to primarily bass about four years ago and am starting to get comfortable on bass. At the point where my sound is getting more important.

Lots of experience on this site, would appreciate some suggestions...

Pluck harder, and more towards the bridge. If you want punch, you need to accentuate the mids, and get a more articulate sound.

 

[AceOfBassFace]

You mentioned you use compression? Try setting the attack slower. Too fast of an attack can make your bass sound less punchy since the compressor clamps down on your notes too quickly. Other than that, not much to add - there are some good tips so far in this thread.

 

[Standalone]

I play hard. With lots of muting technques in the RH and LH. Things get punchy. Flat EQ on a GK amp through a good 15.

Here's my studio tone running direct:


I think of punch as a fat attack-oriented tone that retains some bloom to the envelope of the note. This track is on the grindier side of that, but it suits the song I think.

 

[SteveCS]

That's all player variables...don't forget instrument set-up variables

This is a good point. As a general principle, setup is primarily about playability. Whilst it is true that one can run into tone issues at the inner/outer boundaries of playability, it is also true that certain aspects of setup will favour certain styles or types of tone. Putting aside the extremes of setup such as, for example James Jamerson's mile high action, the superlight 'flat to the fret' setups of the 80's slappers or the Squire/Entwhistle 'strings below the frets' grind-machines, good playability - medium/low action and minimal relief - will enable most players to achieve the widest variety of tones just through technique alone...

IME a 'great' setup with sub-mm action on a flat fingerboard can be a joy to play - until you run into the limited dynamic range and one-dimensonal, often 'anaemic' tone. Likewise, a 'poor' setup can really hamper any attempts at developing the full range of control in the hand.

It is worth observing that 'good' playability is a very personal matter, but that most production instruments do not leave the factory with good playability, usually because the fretwork or fingerboard dressing isn't good enough to go there IMHO, IME, etc. But that is a different discussion...

YMMV

 

[groooooove]

plucking over the pickups does a lot to add punch.

a great gear-tip for punchy sounds on a jazz bass is to play with the bridge pickup on 8/10 volume, and the neck just low enough to not be the primary tone. pluck over the bridge pickup. big, full punch with bride pup articulation.