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i have a sneaking suspicion marcus miller would sound excellent in both situations.
Not many could but he could probably pull it off. Victor could too. I'm sure there are others, but not many.
Doner Designs
Steve Doner
- Jun 2, 2012
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of course victor would. i daresay patitucci would be great in both bands (i read an old interview where he mentioned learning some early Yes songs).
I'll say this. Tone is in the ear of the beholder, but it also varies from song/genre/player.
Quick example: Mark Hoppus's bass tone in their song "She's Out of Her Mind" from California sound great and works for the song. I was at a bar a month ago and the cover band (which was pretty terrible all around) covered it. The bass player, who looked like a frat boy who picked up the bass to be in a band and play for chicks at parties, had a Fender Jazz and an Ampeg combo. Somehow, he still managed to make his bass sound like butt. When they played the song, the classic, punchy Hoppus tone wasn't there, and in turn made the song not sound right at all. That is bad tone to me. I know Hoppus used SPB-3's in his bass but you can still make a Jazz bass growl, especially when using a pick.
Sometimes when I hear songs either on the radio or ones that I seek out, it almost seems like they picked up a bass in the studio and didn't do any EQ outside of putting it into the mix. It either sounds like crud or sounds like it should be in another genre. That is also bad tone to me.
I have modded my main bass so much over the years that it has given me my "signature" tone. I love it, but I know there are others out there who think a bass should sound different, and to them, I have "bad tone"
It's almost like the argument of good music vs bad music. While there is some actual bad music out there, what I like could be trash to someone else and vice versa
Quick example: Mark Hoppus's bass tone in their song "She's Out of Her Mind" from California sound great and works for the song. I was at a bar a month ago and the cover band (which was pretty terrible all around) covered it. The bass player, who looked like a frat boy who picked up the bass to be in a band and play for chicks at parties, had a Fender Jazz and an Ampeg combo. Somehow, he still managed to make his bass sound like butt. When they played the song, the classic, punchy Hoppus tone wasn't there, and in turn made the song not sound right at all. That is bad tone to me. I know Hoppus used SPB-3's in his bass but you can still make a Jazz bass growl, especially when using a pick.
Sometimes when I hear songs either on the radio or ones that I seek out, it almost seems like they picked up a bass in the studio and didn't do any EQ outside of putting it into the mix. It either sounds like crud or sounds like it should be in another genre. That is also bad tone to me.
I have modded my main bass so much over the years that it has given me my "signature" tone. I love it, but I know there are others out there who think a bass should sound different, and to them, I have "bad tone"
It's almost like the argument of good music vs bad music. While there is some actual bad music out there, what I like could be trash to someone else and vice versa
I've noticed with a lot of new country and some modern pop, that the bass is reduced to nothing but the low stuff. no transients at all. That works with some music. Not so well with some other music.
In the end, bad tone is, to me, using tone that does not work with the particular song. i.e. my comment about Gimme three steps was a bit tongue in cheek.
In the end, bad tone is, to me, using tone that does not work with the particular song. i.e. my comment about Gimme three steps was a bit tongue in cheek.
Simple. If you can't hear it, it's bad tone. Everything else comes down to opinion.
It's all subjective. There is no good or bad tone, merely the wrong tone for what we're used to hearing in that specific genre. Bootsy's tone wouldn't work in reggae, as much as Jamerson's tone wouldn't work very well for Marcus Miller, but within their context those tones make that music what it is.
To each his own I guess!
(that's precisely the tone I was referring to).
I've seen a video on youtube where they cover a classic rock ballad (not sure if it was "Love Hurts" or "when a man loves a woman" or something else along those lines) and Sheehan totally ruins the song with his usual overdriven tone. Plus, with the overplaying, it becomes so bad it's funny.
Yep. Art is subjective. That's why some people drive blue cars, some white and some yellow.
Despite his virtuosity, I was never a fan of The Ox's tone. Also not a fan of whatever was going on in Wooden Ships - CSNY.
I like 'em warm and slightly overdriven a la Silly Love Songs and most of John McVie's work
I like 'em warm and slightly overdriven a la Silly Love Songs and most of John McVie's work
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
Bad tone is that booming mud that happens when you are on a hollow stage in a room with low ceilings and concrete block walls and you just can't find a way to aim the amp and EQ the sound to get it to quit hooking up with the stage and bouncing around the room in a sonic version of the LaBrea Tar Pits.
That's bad tone.
That's bad tone.
