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What is YOUR sound?

birminghambass

birminghambass

Sep 18, 2002
7,090
8,700
Birmingham, AL
#1
Not sure where to put this thread and apologies if it's already been done.
I've been playing semi-professionally for 18 years. Played every genre, owned just about every brand of bass, tons of different amps and cabs. I've spent a lot of time and money trying to find MY sound. Now I know "tone is in your fingers", but in reality it's also in your gear. Geddy sounds like Geddy, Marcus sounds like Marcus, but switch their gear and they lose some of that signature tone.
My sound is:
Passive dual pickup bass into a BDDI into a solid state rig. Any major deviation from that and I'm not happy.
What's your sound?
 
#2
probably has been done before, but I will still play:

bass:
72 Fender P or
92 Fender MIJRI62 Jazz or
86 Charvel 3C

played through:

Tech 21 RBI Sans Amp
QSC Power amp
Avatar b4x10 neo
"Homemade" 2x15 with Eminence speakers

using
Ernie Ball Super Slinky Round 105, 85,65,45

grew up listening to:
Geddy, Steve Harris, Joey Vera, Joe Dibiase, Frank Bello, Eddie Jackson, Chuck Panazzo, Dave Hope

mostly have played in punk and metal bands, but also do jazz gigs, pit orchestra and studio sessions as well

currently play in a Crossover hardcore/thrash band.
 
#3
I have come to the conclusion (for me anyway) that the sound really doesn't matter at all.
When I am in a room alone with my bass I can hear it and think about the actual sound. But once I am in the full on band setting all that seems to matter is that I like it to be tight and punchy and can feel it in my gut. Other than that it just all seems lost in the mix.
 
#7
It has to start with the equipment (bass guitar, amp, strings, pick/no pick), then the equipment's settings, then the players feel/touch/attach, right? Simple to test. Give several bass players the exact same equipment, have them play the same bass line and see what happens. I suspect that the players feel/touch/attach is more important in the whole picture.
 
#9
Big and round.

I play hard > Fender Roscoe Beck Sig V that covers pretty much any range you can imagine > Either a Mesa Walkabout 15" stack or vintage Ampeg V4 into sealed 4-10 with Legends in it

Honestly, big pretty much covers it. I go for low mids but don't exclude any sonic range. And I cover the entire fretboard when called to. I will go high during a breakdown and drop the hammer on an open B to bring the thunder as the song builds. Dynamics of both volume and range are a big part of "my sound".
 
#13
DavyR said:
It has to start with the equipment (bass guitar, amp, strings, pick/no pick), then the equipment's settings, then the players feel/touch/attach, right? Simple to test. Give several bass players the exact same equipment, have them play the same bass line and see what happens. I suspect that the players feel/touch/attach is more important in the whole picture.
Click to expand...

Totally agree.
 
#14
Pretty simple really, I try to get the most clarity and definition I can without sacrificing fullness or character. I play solo bass as well as play in a Rock-ish band with up to 3 distorted guitars going off at once.

I'm using a passive P/J with a heavily chambered mahogany body, an all mahogany neck, and both pickups wired straight to the output jack(the pickups are spaced similar to a Fodera Ying Yang). It's strung with a custom set of Chromes right now(40-110) which allow me to get very low action, just enough to double thumb/tap comfortably and bring in some buzz/clank when I want it. Amp-wise I run my bass into the most clean, transparent rig available and when I want to get a dirtier sound I boost mids and play aggressively.
 
#16
Two-pickup active bass with humbuckers, 500- to 900-watt Class D head into a CN212, AE210 or AE410. Generally clean, full-range tone with little or no "vintage vibe" unless the song needs it (Beatles, for instance). I like a little bit of the J Bass bark, but won't use it if it doesn't fit. Fingerstyle almost al of the time.
 
#19
I'm still figuring it out. I think it's a deep, bassy, almost dubby but not muddy, tone. Deep clarity? I'm still working out how to get it. Next step is a fEARFUL 15/6 cab with some sort of power amp and preamp combination when I can afford it. I'm still playing with strings and pickups too.

Ultimately, I think I'm going for a Tony Levin on NS electric upright or Pino fretless tone.

Edited to add: But it depends on what I'm doing... I fairly frequently layer two or more bass tracks and each track has its own voicing, one might be a U Bass rhythm track, another might be fretless lead track, etc. I mostly play with fingers but sometimes I want that pick sound. I'm concentrating on writing at this point, so I guess I don't have a go-to live sound to worry about right now.
 

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