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What PBass is this?

davidchampoux

davidchampoux

Supporting Member
Dec 2, 2008
919
552
#1


From James Bond 'For your eyes only', 1981.

Check at 1:20. Obviously a PBass, probably straight in the console via a passive DI.

That's the PBass sound I'm trying to achieve for many years... I own a lot of PBass, and I'm not at it yet... What's the secret? Strings? String gauge? What PBass model is this? I want THAT sound!
 
#3
I will! I want to learn from the masters! :)

Of course this is slap. But I feel a 'deepness' (or mid scoop) that I can't find on any of MY pbass... Might comes from flats, not sure though, or really big gauge?... Tone is not fully down to my ears... Maybe somewhere from 50 to 75%, and again, it depends on the cap/tone circuit.

That's a PBass tone I think that comes from the 70's basses most of the time...
 
#8
davidchampoux said:
Ok then I'll try some flats... Any specific brand/gauge to get this particular tone? Does gauge really change the tone BTW?
Click to expand...

Yes, with flats gauge effects tone, but in a full band situation, you're likely not to hear the difference.

For flats, I prefer light gauge Chromes. They slap just fine, and you can get a super low action.
 
#10
This definitely sounds like a synth to me!

TomB said:
Pretty stock stuff for early '80's IMO. Not sure it's either a P or flats (rounds were pretty much everywhere in that period), but pretty sure there's some envelope filter involved. Check out George Benson's "Gimme the Night" for an exagerrated version of what I think may be the effect at work:



Just guessing all of this, same as you. I still wonder what effect it is on George's recording. I tried to cop it myself back then, never really did.
Click to expand...
 
#14
Mr Champoux, If you want to try out a PBass with flats, it would be a pleasure for me to come with mine at your studio (I live near Quebec City), but I'm pretty sure that there is some enveloppe follower involved (like a Mu-Tron).
 
#16
The more I liosten to it, the more I'm sure it is roundwounds with an enveloppe follower pedal (or a touch wah, it is the same, only the name is changed). You should try one like Electro harmonics BassBalls, Q-Tron, EBS IQ, Boss AW-3, MXR Enveloppe Filter, and so on...
 
#18
It those times, it might be the Mu-tron, it is a pedal filter with the cutoff frequency controlled by the volume of the instruents. All the pedals I listed does the same effect as the original Mu-Tron, but I dont know which one will give you the exact sound of the original one, but I'd give a try to the Electro-Harmonix Q-Tron which seems to share the same design.

Fore more info, you could check this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mu-tron
Link Removed
 

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