Who else just really loves a clean tone?

[NortyFiner]

Depends on what you mean by clean tone.

A clean tone with plenty of life is a good thing. Solid, clear, responsive. That's a good clean tone.

A clean tone that sounds like a deflated basketball hitting the floor, all flat and flabby, can go right to heck without passing go or collecting its cut of the bar.

 

[Afc70]

I've always liked a clean bass tone, in any band I've ever been in, it has worked well for me. I don't use any pedals, I go direct most of the time- through my pj bass buddy (it's very clean sounding)- in the rare event when I use an amp, it's a Ea iAmp350, which is very clear and clean.

 

[40Hz]

I love clean, but hate flat. I like a highly colored tone palette. Flat sounds like death.

This. Although I like a full round tone mainly. Something big and warm, but with just a hint of attitude when and if you decide to push it.

If it sounds like a sip of fine port wine tastes and feels, with that same bouquet and all those velvety overtones and nuances, I'm happy.

 

[quickfix]

I like it all. Except chorus. I tried to like it again, got myself a great new chorus (MXR Bass Chorus Deluxe for those scoring at home), but I just don't like it. It reminds me of the 80's. If I ever get in an 80's band, I'll consider busting it out again

I usually like a clean sound, but recently got hooked on the VT Bass DI.
Now I'm using a few pedals including an old Boss chorus. It comes in handy for Weather Report's "Birdland".

In the experimental phase. I'm not so sure it will pass.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Solid, thick, and clean.

 

[shawshank72]

Love it.
Although I enjoy flats and a slight lo mid bump with a hi mid and treble cut.

 

[Tom Howland]

I like clean when it is needed. I also like overdrive, fuzz, and chorus.
Clean with some reverb is my starting point.

 

[XLunacy]

I might be silly here : how could I say I like my EQ "flat" when I've specifically chosen everything in my signal chain to have the coloration / tone / voicing (baked-in EQ?) I like, from the instrument to amp / cab, through strings, mic and everything else? How is a baked-in EQ curve better than a variable outboard EQ ? Is it better because the manufacturer decided it sounded better this way ? Is it considered "flat" just because all the knobs at 12 o'clock make it look like so ?
What is "flat" in the first place ? Does it exist ? Overthinking much ?

 

[MVE]

I play clean and clear...
If I want my instrument to sound differently, I will switch between the neck and bridge pickup or try to strum or pluck it in a different way that changes the sound.

Please don't misinterpret this to think I am trying to say "clean is better" or my way is somehow holier than tho'st. It's just what I'm doing now; I might change my mind tomorrow.

 

[47VevetS]

I want a pedal that makes my bass sound cleaner and filters off all the fuzz and chorus.

 

[cazclocker]

Me. Precision into Smoothie compressor, into Ampeg amplification. Master on about 75%, gain up just to fill the room. Fuzz or chorus? Not on my watch.

 

[mikeswals]

Chorus, overdrive, tube grit and warmth, fuzz, delay.....

Says the guy with a Spector in his avatar!
No overdrive needed when Spectors have some of the most naturally beautiful crunchy tone on its own!

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

I dont use pedals but my tone settings make my bass sound gritty.

 

[jjmuckluckjr]

Hey, I have enough toys to embarrass Mr. Claypool. But still, 95% of the time it's just bass/ cord/ amp. After all, it's all in the fingers.

 

[angrychair]

I like it all. Except chorus. I tried to like it again, got myself a great new chorus (MXR Bass Chorus Deluxe for those scoring at home), but I just don't like it. It reminds me of the 80's. If I ever get in an 80's band, I'll consider busting it out again

The 80's has all my favorite bass tones, haha chorus is the last pedal I don't have yet, well, or fuzz but I dont need fuzz. I love the 80's and love chorus, a little of it. My TC amp has chorus but it doesn't do me any good at rehearsals since I don't use my TC there, I use my Darkglass B7K as a preamp direct. run it with drive almost all the way down and a little bit of EQ'ing..


By flat I think a lot of us just mean no EQ on the amp, only what natural tones come out of the gear.

 

[JimmyM]

DON'T NEED FUZZ??? WHAAAA???

 

[ThuzzleFump]

I like clean all the way through Blue Cheer (old old old stuff) style fuzz. But if I had to have one sound and one sound only? Passive Jazz, clean, all knobs set at about halfway. After that, let the fingers do the talking. But...

 

[hintz]

DON'T NEED FUZZ??? WHAAAA???

LOL!! I've given up on Fuzz or full-blown distortion, I haven't found a use for it, but I do love low- medium overdrive for rock music!!

For my pop gig I haven't used any effects lately, the current setlist just don't call for it!! My metal band, SA EQ, Empress comp into a Darkglass VMTD always on, with a few other pedals I'm gonna try out!!

Really, its whatever the music needs that dictate what I use, or not!! And I'm honestly fine plugging straight into one of my GK's, though those aren't the cleanest either... But 95% of my current gigs are just clean DI right now!!

 

[Joebone]

Clean, fast, fat, maximum range for attacks, dynamics, and tone based on hand technique.

Well, that's the goal...

 

[DwaynieAD]

I like it all. Except chorus. I tried to like it again, got myself a great new chorus (MXR Bass Chorus Deluxe for those scoring at home), but I just don't like it. It reminds me of the 80's. If I ever get in an 80's band, I'll consider busting it out again

Chorus is my favorite effect... Until i try to fit it in a song or band setting and it just never seems right.