How to Get Good Tone From a Bass Guitar

[strattgatt]

Pointless. Why not either show us how to get a good bass tone the real way OR at least show an example of what you are talking about. "Here is how not to do it" is not overly informative.

[Hugh9191]

As he says tone is mostly in the fingers but if the tone you're after in your record is an aggressive tone then playing aggressively will help - listen to any killers stuff for a fantastic aggressive sounding bass. With music nothing there is not usually a right and a wrong way to do stuff - the right way is what sounds good.

[KaslarProductions]

*Chuckle* all you dislike people that think good tone is in your EQ need to think again.. You don't have good tone because you don't have good technique. True, EQ is a larger factor than most other variables such as preamp/tube coloring and compression. but no amount of boosting or cutting on an EQ can replace good playing.

[Tazthewonderdog]

@KaslarProductions I definitely agree with you, but there's now way you'll get a crunchy, dirty tone with insanely boosted mids (which is what I like) if you play with your fingers differently. That's where EQ comes in.

[Hoagie43]

I learned a lot from this video: be an experienced bass player, and don't play as aggressive as you would onstage.. and that will give you good tone

[tanimate1]

that was worthless

[Theshamham]

meanwhile their micing the bass amp with a 57 at the end...

[xWiLKiEx]

@Theshamham keep in mind, they might be mixing in a DI signal an/or another amp.

[SgtZaqq]

Not bad video, but it more about recording, not getting tone

[dthe1o]

but music should still be fun right?

[RocksNotDead101]

@dthe1o Noone is saying it isn't.

[indo3000]

I think he was trying to say that you need relax your fingers.

[almudjk]

this is such a christian video

[0tto777]

@almudjk ? care to explain that one :P

[Jessica7Ann7Meier]

I think he describes perfectly how to get a good tone. Good job Matt!

[hezwanhanafi]

Guuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuyyy­yyyyyyyyyyyyyssssssssssssssss.­he did hint you on how to get a gone tone.firstly.he said something about "getting a good tone is not by the bass nor the amps but from how you play it (your fingers)." plus don't be too harsh on your strings when you play the bass with your fingers.full stop.the lesson is more on the advices,the tips(:

[fodera6]

True: 99% if not 100% of your tone is in your hands, both left and right. What is not touched on enough is how to develop your touch and how EQ can help (or hinder) your result in a recording, especially if you're miking your cab(s). I like to go to tape or DAW with a bit more mids and highs than I prefer. You'll find that it loses some of that edge in mixdown so if you do it right, it will end up cutting through just enough to sit in the mix perfectly.

[lavaxtris1]

try running through two amps in stereo. one with lows, the other with highs and gain. plenty of mids for both.

[bassatx1]

this was supposed to be about getting good tone from a bass in the studio. before you completely bash somebody you don't know anything about consider that this may have been edited a certain way and titled incorrectly. never at any point was it said "don"t use a pick" from somebody who actually plays WITH A PICK almost half the time.. also- the whole point of this lesson was to make a point from a previous experience- that was working with a bassist who had very rough approach and no feel...

[lavaxtris1]

bass tone is not like guitar tone. you cant get a certain artist's tone like on guitar. you either have an ampeg and a rickenbacker with rotosound stings, or you dont.

[relax235]

@lavaxtris1 Im trying to learn can you explain that a little more for me thanks

[lavaxtris1]

@relax235 there are tons and tons of modeling amps out there for guitarists to get their "jimmy page" tone or their "randy rhodes" tone, etc... BUT, besides a few bassists like Geddy Lee, or Chris Squire, or even Jaco Pastorius who have their own sound, there is really no definite tone for bassists that dont really stand out. for mainstream bassists (like the one in the video) most of the sound comes from how they play with their hands, not how they set up their amp.

[relax235]

@lavaxtris1 ok cool thanks man

[5556665012008]

define 'good' tone, its what you like or dislike!!! plus guitar + bass guitar different instruments do of course is different!!! fookin eejit! plus thumping the strings is studio is not nessecarily nasty 2 words.. john entwistle

[grindvince]

To have a good bass tone, USE A FENDER JAZZBASS ...... play

[overdriven77]

@grindvince did they pay you to advertise them?

[josht617]

@3DEC3 im pretty sure i heard him say "its not im the bass or the amplifier, its how you play it" playin a bass with a pick has a lot of scraping noise and just sounds like garbage sometimes

[3DEC3]

@josht617 "im the bass or the amplifier"?

[101AOK]

YOU CAN'T in ANY instance tell during playback, that a basist used his fingers or a pick! MOST players(true palyers' players USE BOTH!!!) I use a pick if I can't trust the compression on the master. I tell him to run me straight thru. THEN I limit, not compress.Saying you HAVE to use your fingers is as lame as saying you can only eat chocolate ice cream for desert! A REAL bassist does it all...always. Uses ALL methods of playing. You tell me I HAVE to play with my fingers only and you can have..

[publicanimal]

Here's how to get good tone from a bass guitar: A) Use a P-Bass, Jazz Bass, or Rickenbacker B) Use an Ampeg SVT. That's it!

[dazdazdms]

hes wearing a exoterik t shirt always good good vid

[JustinKennith]

i like fret buzz it adds character

[saborboricuapr1]

good stuff gracias!!!!!!

[OneMileRiot]

@3DEC3 i disagree, he gave some helpful advice, i think you were like me tho and was searching for how to dial in a good bass tone, and the title was misleading.

[Arkantoze]

He absolutely told you what to do to get good tone, it is in the hands, practice. Should he have lied and plugged a sponsors product?

[benthemiester]

That's true of any instrument.

[vicocave]

good video

[mamaneverlovedme]

I think he meant that the aggressive style you make with your live playing can cause undesirable noises when recording. Like slapping too hard can pop, cuasing the a clip when recording a track, which can cause the engineer make a unwarranted punch.

[Ezek1234]

well , in my opinion what he says is interesting , anyway , the best way to have a great tone with your bass is spending more time with your instrument until you learn to control it perfectly . You can have the best gear and be unable to manage it and to get the best out of it ...so..that's my opinion . And also , as FINGERBOY said , a good tone in metal is not the same that a good tone in jazz , but even if you got to hit the strings like crazy you have to keep it clean enough

[BradleyWagner]

Not bad, I thought he explained himself well. It's a valid point he's making, I just wish he'd added "unless that's what you're going for".

[INTUBITION]

I get what he's saying but judging by some of the answers it's clear not everybody else does. Partly because I'm not sure he totally succeeded at putting in terms an inexperienced player could understand what the source of the problem really is. The fact is that the studio and live playing are two very different things. The studio is MORE DEMANDING in the sense that you won't get away with POOR TECHNIQUE. Producing an even, quality bass tone is A MUST for a PRO sounding record. Pick or not..

[Ipeeonboobs]

Definition of Tone: >1 a vocal or musical sound ,...it's quality to pitch, intensity, modulation. >2 an intonation of the voice that expresses a particular feeling, >7 in music. a sound of distinct pitch. Tone-deaf....not to be able to distinguish accurately differences in musical pitch. Confused >>>> ??? I think he meant well,...... but I believe he was really trying to make a point about " TECHNIC ". I would rate his video -2- speakers ...I mean -2-stars **

[Batchylnuevos]

Tone comes from the tone knob; I thought *everybody* knew that...

[jalmuhs]

idk if i agree with this guy...I say if a band wants to play the way they play live on their record, let em. theres no "rules" the attitude you should take when making a record.

[nblfyb]

Thanks for this info. I was just thinking about getting clean bass recordings for dancehall reggae :D

Benson and Tonic Productions

[SCROTUMvalueMEAL]

good stuff

[Matlike1]

Play bass for my group I need a new bassist. :D