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Warm, and FAT

#21
SMASH said:
P bass for reggae is largely a myth, IMO, perpetuated by people that haven't really done it or even really A/B'd the different tones in a J and a P but it seems like you already know that....

*snip*

shifting the balance to the neck pickup...
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What exactly do you mean by "is largely a myth"?

Blending to the neck pick-up on a J tonally is very close to P-bass style sound, so i don't understand both those statements being valid.:confused: :confused: :confused:

Personally, my best reggae tone comes from a P/J with flats, rolled all the way to the neck (read as "P-bass") through an all tube pre-amp into a monster solid state set-up. This combo gives me the deep deep lows, but doesn't get loose while still retaining a very warm tone.

As other's have mentioned, technique counts for quite a bit. You can get a reggae style sound on any bass by playing with my thumb and muting properly.
 
#26
SMASH said:
I mean that in such threads some people chime in with "gotta be a P bass" when most classic reggae recordings that most people are familiar with were done on a J bass. It says to me that, more often than not, the people making that assertion don't know much about reggae and haven't played it.

There's massive dub possible in a J, and I can get it without panning to the neck (which I find to be a weaker tone than both pickups on but it might help some people if they can't mute well).

In fact in my experience, the P has a harder low mid punch but I can usually get more ultimate lows from a J. Of course individual basses differ, but that's what I normally find. Again though, with proper technique it doesn't matter ... and that's my point, it doesn't have to a P and it usually isn't.

It's interesting that Eric of Sublime uses a DB750, as that's about the last amp I'd use for the purpose. Who knows if he used it back then, and as always in such threads - who knows what was actually used in the studio when the tracks were actually recorded?

Further proves the point - it ain't the gear, and there are no absolutes.
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Ahh. I see what you mean.

A DB750 is one of the FIRST amps i'd use for reggae! lol. I'm working on a reggae track that should be done by december (if i'm lucky). Do you have any recorded? I'd love to hear how different our two tones for reggae are...or if they're very different at all:eek: :D
 
#27
I think:

-Reggae can be played with any bass and any gear. It's all about EQ and the player.

-I would use a Jazz with flats or a Hofner-type hollowbody with flats, but any bass will do. Dial out the treble, play with your thumb palm-muting or fingerstyle near the neck, and you are there.

-Is that simple.

-I've seen reggae player doing it with Sadowskys, Status Graphites, Steinbergers, and all with rounds - but they all make it sound amazing by using the proper technique.

-Amps have little to do with a "reggae" tone. Just make sure you have plenty of lows, that is all.

-Jazz basses with the neck pickup soloed can have more low end than P Basses, especially in the D and G strings.
 
#30
I've been working on my reggae tone for a while, and I'll agree with people that's it's really all about technique. I usually either turn off the bridge pickup or turn it down and roll off the tone. Neck pickup is key on my jazz, and so is the amount that I dig in. Just try to emulate the sound by digging in differently.

One of the best songs, in my opinion, to mimic a good reggae tone is Matisyahu's Sea to Sea off the Live at Stubb's album. Simple line that you can easily figure out by ear, and it's addictive to play.

Don't worry about using flats, because I've heard so many great reggae lines done with rounds. Just keep practicing. Let the groove go through you.
 
#31
I would have to agree completely that the key is technique with plenty of clean volume and low end to work with. I've seen/heard some meanfat stanky lines played on everything from Steinbergers to F-bass'. It's all about milking and muting, and where you put your notes. Whilst many lines may sound easy to play, the feel isn't always so easy for many, there is subtle trickery.
I have long suspected that VERY low string tension is helpful and utilized in Dub/Roots styles, but it is only an unproven theory so I'll just leave it at that..
 
#32
I've been playing in a roots reggae band for over 20 years, and have warmed up for Toots and the Maytals, Beanie Man, Steel Pulse, Israel Vibration, and Mikey Dread, among others. P-basses are rare among people who specialize in reggae, and I disagree that playing a Jazz with the neck pickup selected sounds like a P. A J's neck pickup is closer to the neck, and definitely sounds different.

I also disagree with the palm muting suggestions. I use it every now and then, but I've never seen it done by any of the bass players with the bands mentioned above (I met Flabba Holt, and he never used it when I saw him). I've seen Robbie Shakespeare live a couple of times, and he never used thumb muting either. I've seen Family Man Barrett in videos and never seen him thumb mute.

Reggae bass players use a wide variety of basses, but picking over the fingerboard is very common. Flatwounds are common, but a lot of the guys I've talked to use rounds with high action. I prefer flats with fairly low action.

Many reggae players pluck very lightly over the fingerboard with the amp turned up. This technique with flats sounds awesome. I use a Sansamp RBI pre into a 650-watt Yamaha amp driving either 2 1x12s, a 1x12 and a 2x10s, or a 2x15, depending on the venue. I have used only fretless for the past 20 years (along with a homemade Ashbory-type bass) and I get a huge, fat tone.
 
#33
A Mahogany "P/J" Bass with La Bella Flatwounds through an Ampeg "All Tube" head and a good15. Whether that's best for "Regae" I couldn't say, as I've recorded only one "Regae" song in my life (a cover of Bob Marley's "Pass it On"). I used the above setup for this track and it sounded great.

George
 
#36
Almost never see real Jamaican roots reggae use a p-bass.


I have never seen a reggae player use palm muting, and I am a huge reggae fan.

Also one rarley sees reggae specialists use tube amps, hybrids are common but rarley tubes.

Also I see alot more 10's than 12's and 15's for reggae, helps add punch and prevent total mud.

I have also heard alot of the reggae greats say that reggae really doesnt have a rediculous amount of super low end, its alot more of a percived low end that is actually low mids.

Happy 4/20 reggae fans
 
#37
Quinn said:
Family Man Barrett and Robbie Shakespeare both played J's with flats. Pluck it where the neck joins the body and EQ to taste. Also, be sure you are playing through a rig with plenty of headroom. That's your ticket to high cholesterol dub tone.
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This is exactly right. Add LaBella 760FM's to that, and yer set.
 
#38
SMASH said:
Cool. That kinda proves the main theme here that it isn't the gear.

I have these clips from Friday's gig. Video (palm muting / thumb pluck stylie) - http://youtube.com/watch?v=prYKvfA-a5M , and audio that was salvaged from after some kind of file corruption in the camera (same gig from Friday, regular ol' plucking over the fingerboard stylie) - Invalid Link Removed

Nothing fantastic after this band had a 1 year hiatus and new guys on drums and keys, but you get the idea.


I agree with those that point out a J bass with rounds and plucking in the right spot is all that's required, but if different techniques (palm muting and thumb plucking) help someone cop the vibe then that's better than them chasing it via new amps and basses IMO.

The reggae vibe and staccato plucking takes some work, especially if you're used to working near the bridge where the strings feel much tighter, and as with any style chasing the sound via spending money ain't gonna help unless it's money spent on lessons. Again, IMO.
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Indeed it is not about the gear one bit. Any quality gear gets you there with the right technique. Judging from those clips I also see how our tones for reggae differ! When i play live reggae It's usually with busy mix, so i have more middy sound to help keeo everything from getting out of hand.

I found a crappy sketch/bones of one of the reggea-ish tunes I'm working on. The guitarist was (stereotypically) under the influence, so his tone and playing are a little off lol. Mine isn't so hot either, but it should give you and idea of the reggae tone i go toward.

Link Removed

That tone has to be heard and felt with a brass section, LOUD drummer, multiple singers, and two guitars.
 

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