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What bass tone do I like?

#2
Newsted's AJFA tone? Maybe you let us know what that sounds like because most of us can't hear it ;)

I find sound descriptions hard to nail down .. .like describing a smell with a colour.

TO me, bright means 'treble that rings out' and punchy means a crisp attack. Is that what others think? I don't know. When I 'describe' a tone I like, I just post the video/sound clip.

if you want to know what tone you should like, go to 1:35 in this video:

 
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#5
Ambrose barton said:
...ajfa bass tracks are available on YouTube lol
Click to expand...

Sure, but I would not trust those to be indicative of Newsted's sound ... they have been boosted and edited so they can be heard and are all mixed in with all the other drum track, etc ... Who knows what's been done to them by the people that have posted those videos.

Anyways, it's going to help us more if you can post a sound clip or something of the tone you want people to describe.
 
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#9
As far the terms:
Bass Tone Glossary | TalkBass.com

looking at this video:

Im hearing “punch” but it’s not necessarily “bright,” apart from the fresh roundwound sound. It sounds like a Jazz, maybe a little more of the bridge pickup. Maybe a little dirt and reverb. (I’m sure I’ll get corrected on my assessment ;) )

I’m not huge on replicating bass tones, but whatever you do, learn about EQ. Whatever amp you get, learn what the knobs control, and spend time playing with them. What does it sound like cranking up the low mids? Ok, and cutting them? Really get a taste of what the knobs do, and you will naturally gravitate towards the “bass tone you like.”

of those heads: Tim and Jason are both knows for using Ampeg. But a PF sounding like an SVT is debatable, and I’ve read enough bad reliability reports on those to scare me off (many TBers vouch for them though.) The Peavey is going to be cleaner sounding, but I’ve never been let down by a piece of Peavey gear.

good luck!
 
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#10
CallMeAl said:
As far the terms:
Bass Tone Glossary | TalkBass.com

looking at this video:

Im hearing “punch” but it’s not necessarily “bright,” apart from the fresh roundwound sound. It sounds like a Jazz (which it is,) maybe a little more of the bridge pickup. Maybe a little dirt and reverb. (I’m sure I’ll get corrected on my assessment ;) )

I’m not huge on replicating bass tones, but whatever you do, learn about EQ. Whatever amp you get, learn what the knobs control, and spend time playing with them. What does it sound like cranking up the low mids? Ok, and cutting them? Really get a taste of what the knobs do, and you will naturally gravitate towards the “bass tone you like.”

of those heads: Tim and Jason are both knows for using Ampeg. But a PF sounding like an SVT is debatable, and I’ve read enough bad reliability reports on those to scare me off (many TBers vouch for them though.) The Peavey is going to be cleaner sounding, but I’ve never been let down by a piece of Peavey gear.

good luck!
Click to expand...


I’m reasonably certain Tim was playing a Stingray on that record.

To the OP, it sounds like you need some dirt in your life!
 
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#11
flyingfinbar said:
I’m reasonably certain Tim was playing a Stingray on that record.

To the OP, it sounds like you need some dirt in your life!
Click to expand...
Ha yeah I figured I’d get something wrong! :laugh: I tried to use my ears, not the still they put on the video ;)... yeah Tim uses a stingray too

my point was not to “nail that specific tone,” just an exercise in listening. the whole chain makes a difference; fingers, strings, bass, pedals, amp, cab.... :)
 
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#12
CallMeAl said:
As far the terms:
Bass Tone Glossary | TalkBass.com

looking at this video:

Im hearing “punch” but it’s not necessarily “bright,” apart from the fresh roundwound sound. It sounds like a Jazz, maybe a little more of the bridge pickup. Maybe a little dirt and reverb. (I’m sure I’ll get corrected on my assessment ;) )

I’m not huge on replicating bass tones, but whatever you do, learn about EQ. Whatever amp you get, learn what the knobs control, and spend time playing with them. What does it sound like cranking up the low mids? Ok, and cutting them? Really get a taste of what the knobs do, and you will naturally gravitate towards the “bass tone you like.”

of those heads: Tim and Jason are both knows for using Ampeg. But a PF sounding like an SVT is debatable, and I’ve read enough bad reliability reports on those to scare me off (many TBers vouch for them though.) The Peavey is going to be cleaner sounding, but I’ve never been let down by a piece of Peavey gear.

good luck!
Click to expand...

Rage uses a crunch pedal on a jazz bass. Thats his tone. Very easy to replicate.
 
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#13
I would say a combo with

-a bass that has relatively bright sounding pickups
-a dirt box (maybe something with a clean blend)
-fresh roundwounds
-an amp+cab -combo with smaller speakers and/or a horn

would fulfill your quest, gear-wise. The rest of it is up to your touch and technique, nothing you can buy, really.

Popular characterizations would be bright, growly and punchy.
 
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#18
Ambrose barton said:
So I've been looking for some new gear lately and have come across words Like punchy and bright and don't really know what that mean. My idea of an awesome tone is tones like tim commerfords tone or Jason Newsteads justice tone. How would you describe these tones using words like bright or punchy?

Thanks
Click to expand...

I think of punchy like a kick drum. It punches right through, hits you in the chest, in a good way.

I think of bright as edges on a tone, as opposed to a super round, less defined tone. Turn the treble all the way down, and pluck a string as you slowly turn it up. I hear an edge gradually forming.
 
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#19
I'm also a HUGE Tim Commerford tone fan. A big part of his sound is the Ampeg tube head. On the first Rage album he was using a Stingray, and on the last 2 a jazz bass.

I've found that using my MIA Jazz, custom shop pickups, with a Sans Amp BDDI, through my GK stack gets that REALLY punchy, gritty tone that he's rocking. Also a really nice distortion helps for those overdriven parts!
 
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