darrell
03-28-2007, 09:03 PM
So I've been listening to a lot of Sade recently and realized again how much I love Paul Denman's tone. In fact, it was his sound that convinced me to give up looking for a left-handed Jazz bass and buy a Stingray back in Spring of last year.
What I am looking for is a sound that is even across all strings. Tone wise and volume wise. I realize that a pickup adjustment will help this, but I know different strings will help this too. I currently play with Ernie Balls.
Now I know plenty of you are going to tell me that it's how you play, but I can assure you that my technique is pretty good. It's not the best by any stretch, but I know how to pluck the string to get a good sound. I know I could work on it a little bit, but I think a lot of it is the other factors that go into it.
My amp isn't all that great (Hartke 7000 with 410XL cab) tone-wise, but I figured that I should have a good bass (for recording) and get a better rig later. My tone is good for some genres, but I want a smoother sound that still cuts through the mix.
Check out these tunes from Sade: The Sweetest Taboo, Smooth Operator, Kiss of Life. There are more that have this sound, but these are three I know have the sound I'm looking for.
I've been thinking of getting flats... I've recently found out that a lot of sessions bassists use flats for recording. I don't know if this is still the case, but I bet it is in country and pop tunes. I've heard good things about a number of flatwound strings -- especially Thomastik Jazz flats. Is there any truth to this rumour? Any recordings on MX for evidence?
I want a string that has this sound, but that won't limit me. I play in a cover band that does a lot of oldies and classic rock along with some more modern stuff, so I need to be able to have a tone that fits. I don't want to sound like I'm playing an upright bass on Van Halen tunes... but I want to have that nice warm, even sound on tunes that need it.
Sorry for rambling. Other suggestions such as EQ and whatnot would also be helpful in finding this tone that I'm seeking. Thanks!!
- darrell
EDIT: I just want to mention that I want a warm sound with tons of clarity. I don't want a muddy tone. I seem to have to sacrifice clarity for warmth and it shouldn't be that way. My strings still have some life and on a Stingray, it brings it out. I'm wondering how flats sound on a 'Ray. Anyone have recordings of this?
What I am looking for is a sound that is even across all strings. Tone wise and volume wise. I realize that a pickup adjustment will help this, but I know different strings will help this too. I currently play with Ernie Balls.
Now I know plenty of you are going to tell me that it's how you play, but I can assure you that my technique is pretty good. It's not the best by any stretch, but I know how to pluck the string to get a good sound. I know I could work on it a little bit, but I think a lot of it is the other factors that go into it.
My amp isn't all that great (Hartke 7000 with 410XL cab) tone-wise, but I figured that I should have a good bass (for recording) and get a better rig later. My tone is good for some genres, but I want a smoother sound that still cuts through the mix.
Check out these tunes from Sade: The Sweetest Taboo, Smooth Operator, Kiss of Life. There are more that have this sound, but these are three I know have the sound I'm looking for.
I've been thinking of getting flats... I've recently found out that a lot of sessions bassists use flats for recording. I don't know if this is still the case, but I bet it is in country and pop tunes. I've heard good things about a number of flatwound strings -- especially Thomastik Jazz flats. Is there any truth to this rumour? Any recordings on MX for evidence?
I want a string that has this sound, but that won't limit me. I play in a cover band that does a lot of oldies and classic rock along with some more modern stuff, so I need to be able to have a tone that fits. I don't want to sound like I'm playing an upright bass on Van Halen tunes... but I want to have that nice warm, even sound on tunes that need it.
Sorry for rambling. Other suggestions such as EQ and whatnot would also be helpful in finding this tone that I'm seeking. Thanks!!
- darrell
EDIT: I just want to mention that I want a warm sound with tons of clarity. I don't want a muddy tone. I seem to have to sacrifice clarity for warmth and it shouldn't be that way. My strings still have some life and on a Stingray, it brings it out. I'm wondering how flats sound on a 'Ray. Anyone have recordings of this?