Where Does Tone Come From? A fun exercise

[cnltb]

Phil Keaga said to eat lots of fried chicken. Monster musician so he’d know!

Who?

 

[Bassa Nova]

Fingers, pickups, then strings.

Although, if making a mod, I would start with strings first.

A good set up and a comfortable neck certain contribute to comfort and eagerness to play a bass.​

 

[Bunk McNulty]

Fingers

That's right! This is where tone comes from:

 

[bucephylus]

Tone is something that all musicians care about in different ways.

Tone matters to a player, because it is directly evaluated alongside playing skill and knowledge at the audition; and if the player has enough of all three, will be on display at performance.

The “fun” of the discussion is hearing and appreciating other perspectives from different players.

The NOT “fun” part is when players engage in belittling condescension based on limited perspectives.

Playing music, even on the weekend club circuit, has an element of competition in it. For most of us, everything matters; just that you can get more mileage from understanding and optimizing some factors more than others. The “fun” poll pretty much shows pretty accurate priorities. But, many of the other factors are also involved. Hey, it ALL matters to me. Part of a bigger picture.

TB is a great resource for knowledge and networking. I’ve really appreciated both over the years. Just yesterday, I was able to cap off a “tone” issue I’ve been having for more than a year, due to interactions with a great TB’er; and suddenly feel like I have a whole new instrument!

A while back I posted some comments in another thread about my first bass in 1970; a Kalamazoo with a no truss rod neck, mudbucker, Masonite body, flats and a coil cord. Another TB’er replied that he was still using that instrument and the thud was glorious. I thought that was a great reply. Tone is definitely a different strokes thing. You will know right away if yours is working for you by what gets said to you or not at the audition!

 

[Thomas Corday]

Phil Keaga said to eat lots of fried chicken. Monster musician so he’d know!

I knew Jaco Pastorius. Not close friends, but we'd talk and have a few drinks together. He always ate fried chicken before a show. He Liked the chicken grease on his fingers.

 

[chadds]

I edited the spelling to read Keaggy.

 

[primusfan1989]

I would have voted pickup location. Give Jaco a Precision and you don’t get Jaco tone.

In the same respect, give you a jazz bass with the bridge position on and neck off...you still don't sound like Jaco..you might get close but still wouldn't be the same

 

[EatS1stBassist]

In the same respect, give you a jazz bass with the bridge position on and neck off...you still don't sound like Jaco..you might get close but still wouldn't be the same

My post was based on a true incident. I played that room in the early 70s. It was a yacht club on Chesapeake Bay.

That’s why LMAO yeah I knew that was a true situation

 

[TakeABreak]

Ears.
If you don’t believe me do a good yawn enough to make your ears pop whilst playing bass the difference in tone is greater than any of the above.

So what are the best ears for metal?

 

[J_Bass]

So what are the best ears for metal?

Don't know about ears, but if you really want to dig into the metal scene:

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[CatchaCuda]

My humble opinion- Technique, strings, pickups.