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Thread: A general question about tone.

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
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    New Liskeard, Ontario
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    528

    Default A general question about tone.

    If one is not happy with the tone one is getting from the player/bass/amp/speaker combination, where is the best piece to upgrade/change? I realize that the player is the obvious place to start, but that remains a work in very slow progress.

    I have an upper end Ibanez SR maple neck through 5 string with Bartollini electronics and pups, and an Ibanez Soundwave 100 watt, 15" speaker combo rig. To date I have never been thrilled with tones I have been able to get, and to tell the truth, there are a couple of deadish spots on the neck of the bast that I don't like. It plays well and fits my hand otherwise.

    So the question is, in the search for a sound, do people think I should start shopping for a new bass or new amp +- speakers?? Only one is in the budget for the forseeable future.

    Brian

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Shirley, MA
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    Default

    That's a tough one!!! All of the above impact tone, obviously, but key is going to be finding what is bothering you.

    My gut tells me that the most bang for you buck is going to be an upgrade in your amp/cab. I've not ever played an Ibanez Soundwave, but I've not heard great things about the non-Promethean Ibanez cabs.

    If I were you, I'd bring your entire rig out with you shopping. I'd start with playing your bass through other amps. If you find one you like the tone of much better...you're done! If you still feel like you're struggling, bring in your combo and see if you feel differently about it when you're playing a different bass.

  3. Default

    I think you have two different issues.

    The dead spots on the neck are usually a result of the resonant frequency of the bass not the amp to cabinet. There is a device (I forget the name) which clamps on your headstock and by virtue of its weight, changes the resonant frequency of the bass and reduces dead spots. Sadowsky's new basses have thicker headstocks for the same reason. Maybe changing strings would help, but otherwise you need to change basses.

    Your issue with tone is more complex. What don't you like about it? Once you have that clear, maybe you can determine what you need to change. Everything affects tone, but not all aspects of tone. Your problem could even be the space you're playing in, not your equipment or technique.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
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    Whitehouse, Texas
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    Default

    John,
    The part of which you speak is the Fender Fatfinger.
    "There is no such thing as a bad note, just a bad resolution." - Damian Erskine

    Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Bass 70's
    Ibanez SR4XXV
    Fender Select Precision Bass
    Markbass Little Mark Tube 800
    Markbass New York 122 cabinet
    Pigtronix Philosopher Bass Compressor
    Sonic Research Turbo Tuner ST-200
    Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus
    The Mini Bone pedalboard by Gator
    Monster Bass cables

  5. #5

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    Brian,

    If you haven't seen this video from Scott Devine, check it out. In summary, he focuses on your hands to get the tone you desire.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vUNUo3TbyI

    I've found that pedals, such as the Zoom B3, help to sculpt the tone even more if you want something a little more exotic. Truthfully, the tone you want might already be in your hands (literally). Good luck.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Charlottesville, VA.
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    219

    Default

    The cheapest way to change your tone (aside from fiddling with the knobs on the amp and bass) is to change the type of strings that you are using. The first thing that I did when I got my SR505 was to ditch the clankey, over-bright round wound strings that came on it (I believe that they were Elixirs) and put on a set of D'Addario Tape Wounds. I have also used and liked D'Addario Chromes (flat wounds). If you are using round wound strings, try a set of flat wounds, or vice versa. If you check out the D'Adderio page at Bass Strings Online (URL below) it shows the relative brightness/mellowness for each type of string. I personally like strings that are more toward the mellow side. Other people like really bright sounding strings. That's why there are so many types/brands of strings - 'cause they all sound and feel different.

    https://www.bassstringsonline.com/DA...ings_c_17.html
    Bass Rx When Feeling Blue:
    I I I I IV IV I I V IV I I
    Repeat As Necessary.

    (Minor Variations Allowed)

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Rowville, Australia
    Posts
    9

    Default A general question about tone.

    I agree with DaveB. I have just changed the strings on my Squire MB-4 to the D'Addario tape wounds and I love the tone, more thump, a little less sustain, sort of sounds like an upright, very mellow. Much easier to play as well, easy on the fingers. The action has been lowered by .25mm as these strings will not cause fret buzz. Great for my untrained fingers. You can change the bridge, pups etc but it all costs. You can always audition some other amps, nothing beats the sound of a valve, you can go for either a full valve setup or a hybrid setup using a valve preamp and solid state power amp stage. At the end of the day you need to be happy so let your ears make the choice.

  8. #8

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    Quote Originally Posted by Bassix View Post
    I've found that pedals, such as the Zoom B3, help to sculpt the tone even more if you want something a little more exotic. Truthfully, the tone you want might already be in your hands (literally). Good luck.
    I second that emotion for the B3. You can set it to emulate many, many different speaker brands, other pedals, and a wide variety of effects. The bass becomes a whole new incarnation with each setting. You can even choose which order you want the effects chained through the amp.


    - low life -

  9. Default

    You might want to consider taking your Bass to a decent guitar shop for a setup adjustment regarding the dead spots. A pro setup can do wonders for a Bass. The easiest way that I have found to test for tone combos that I like is to use a digital guitar interface such as an iRig HD and apps such as Jamup, Bias, Amplitube 3, & Ampkit. There are many good Bass Amp and effects pedal sims that you can try out this way. All of the advancements that have been made over the last couple of years with simulations make them a very useful and fairly inexpensive tool in your kit. This is especially true if you already own an iPad. Android tablets have too much latency, so you can't typically use a non-Apple device. Anyway, when you find a tone that you like, go to a store and try the same hardware out. This can really save you a lot of time and frustration.

    I am someone who was never for years and years happy with my guitar/bass/amp tones and I like to play around with tone possibilities a lot. I would gamble and just go buy an amp and end up hating it, plus this gets very expensive after a while. These apps had a really positive effect on my musical universe. Really, these emulations have actually now become a permanent part of my setup. I plug the sound out of the iPad to the aux input on my Fender amp, and it's golden with no preamp coloring to the emulation. My Bass amp sounds like a Trace Elliot, Orange, classic Fenders, & Classic Ampegs, etc. Close enough for me anyway, considering I could never afford to buy all that hardware. It's also helped me to understand better what some of the true classic tones are all about, Hope this helps!
    Last edited by muleskinnerslider; 04-12-2014 at 03:06 PM.
    Squire Jazz Deluxe IV Active Bass (Black)
    Fender Rumble 100 Watt (15")
    Fender Custom Shop Tweed Cable
    Ultimate Guitar Stand
    Planet Waves Locking Strap w/ Planet Waves Gel Pad

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    New Liskeard, Ontario
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    528

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    Many thanks to all for the ideas and suggestions.
    I had a chance to go shopping in the city this past weekend, and will put the results of that trip in the "gear we have tried" thread.
    @Bassix-I watched the video, and loved it.
    @Muleskinnerslider-I liked the idea, but at this point, since I do not even own a smart phone. An I Pad may be in the future if I can bring the upsstairs bathroom reno in under budget.
    @DaveB I spent the last year playing with strings and did settle on the tapewounds a bit ago. I swap them out for a set of nickle roundwounds on rare occasion for a rock song.

    Again many thanks to all.

    Brian

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