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"Warmest" bass?

R

rdahmes

Jun 14, 2012
18
3
#1
I appreciate the expertise of the members of TalkBass and would like to ask what members consider to be the warmest, full sounding bass. I do not want the sharp, biting trebles or the fuzzy mids. But I do want a clear sound that mixes well with the rest of the band. To complicate this a bit, it needs to be a six string. The Roscoes, Spectors and others sound great for slap and hit, but are too "bright" for me. I would prefer not having to depend on electronics for the warm tone.

Any thoughts or opinions would be appreciated.

Rob
2 Veillettes and a Larkin acoustic
Genzler amp and speakers
 
#2
Until you mentioned that it had to be a 6-string, my first thought was a P-bass with the tone knob rolled-off a bit. Are you looking for a passive 6-string or an active 6-string that has the tone you want when set flat?
 
#3
Beauty lies in the eyes - in this case in the ears - of the beholder. Imho, there is no such thing as the "best", "brightest" and also "warmest" sounding bass.

From my own experience, I would recommend a Maruszczyk Elwood L, I have the passive 5-string version. With the pickups balanced and the tone rolled a bit back to my liking, I can dial in a sound according to your requirements, at least as I hear them.

Take a look here:
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#5
IMO, “warm” means different things to different people. I can get a clear trebly sound out of a pbass with rounds, and I can get a compressed, somewhat thick sound with evenly distributed tone with an active preamp, such as a Sadowsky. I can make either sound “warm”, depending on the definition of warm. I can make both drive the band with a heavy, supportive tone. Some people may consider “warm” and “clear” as somewhat contradictory. If, by “warm” you mean provides a solid foundation for the rest of the band, you could get that with different methods. I dont know why you wish to rule out electronics to shape your sound, particularly since you say you have to have a 6, but I may not understand your needs in terms of “warm”.
 
#6
My Peavey Grind 6 (passive) with these strings gives a nice warm, clear tone that easily cuts or sits in the mix, depending on how much I dig in :thumbsup: The tape wounds give you the same, tone as regular round wounds but the tape winding tames the brightness and gives you that mellow tone that it sounds like you are looking for :)
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#7
Luckydog said:
IMO, “warm” means different things to different people. I can get a clear trebly sound out of a pbass with rounds, and I can get a compressed, somewhat thick sound with evenly distributed tone with an active preamp, such as a Sadowsky. I can make either sound “warm”, depending on the definition of warm. I can make both drive the band with a heavy, supportive tone. Some people may consider “warm” and “clear” as somewhat contradictory. If, by “warm” you mean provides a solid foundation for the rest of the band, you could get that with different methods. I dont know why you wish to rule out electronics to shape your sound, particularly since you say you have to have a 6, but I may not understand your needs in terms of “warm”.
Click to expand...
As I described earlier, I don't like a sound that is too cold, bright or edgy. I prefer fullness and sub harmonics to a sound that is too sharp.
 
#12
Yeah you can warm up any bass on Earth. O realize this isn't the answer you want.

Warmer sounding strings into a nice tube preamp will make any bass you can show me plenty warm.

Find a bass that feels incredible in your hands. That will allow you to play like YOU. Then play it for a couple of days.

Once you do that, come back here and tell us what you don't like about the sound. We can get you there via strings, an onboard preamp, a pedal or rack preamp, or any number of ways to "warm up" the tone.
 
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#16
I'd say what qualifies as "warmth" for me mostly comes from the strings, the amp, and how I'm playing the bass, rather than the bass itself. I pick up my flatwound or tapewound strung basses when I want "warm." That said I think some basses make it easier to gravitate toward that warm tone, unfortunately I don't know many 6 strings... a Peavey Grind 6 could be good.
 
#19
A bass that has 3 band active eq. Passive bass has 1 tone or another. No blend. Fender p (which is my main player) either has has the big slightly muddy p sound or a brighter clanky sound. Where my active eq bass can easily get the nice warm sound when needed. Some people are not big fans of active eq basses. Once you own one you realize how easy it is to get a good sound without the amp being set weird or having to use a pedal.
 
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