BASS
[ PLAYING WHAT’S IN YOUR HEAD | Gary Lunn ]
There is a sound in every musician’s head. It’s I certainly have not heard every preamp, stomp in momentary or latching version) that goes
the sound of the perfect tone of the instrument box, or bass amp, but I am always looking. from crazy to insane!
that they play (bass, guitar, drums, piano, For me, I am always in search of the fattest etc.). So whenever somebody asks you, tone, the cleanest attack, the quietest frets, the The only negative that I found with the Cat
“How do you get your sound?” now you’ll smoothest sustain, the silkiest distortion, the King was that when engaged, it removed
have the perfect answer, which is: “It’s what best tracking sub-octave pedal, an affordable a little of the fundamental low end from my
I hear inside my head.” Usually that sound is midi trigger that tracks, a compressor that overall sound. My work around for this was to
really not attainable, but still we try, try, and try! reads my mind... aaahhh! There’s a lot more wire the Cat King into a blender pedal made
Getting good bass tone is a life-long, science where that came from. The good and bad part by my friend Josh Scott at JHS Pedals. This
experiment. Chasing that perfect tone is a about that is that it will never end! permits me to get the buzziest distortion I feel
never-ending journey.
like dialing up, and then blend it in with the dry
In my own personal quest I have purchased a bass tone...as much or little as needed (I told
Sadly, some guys just don’t know what sounds few interesting pedals that have added some you it was a science)! Unfortunately, this pedal
good or what sounds bad. As a result, they variety and inspiration to my repertoire. has been discontinued, but there are several
might not know that the tone they are hearing other companies that make blender pedals.
within is not very good! Then, they can’t help They can be quite handy for a multitude of uses
Getting good
but recreate that not-so-great tone! They may
even have the latest, greatest, state-of-the-art
(parallel compression, etc.). But Josh makes a
lot of great pedals for bass. Check them out!
bass tone is a
gear, but if they don’t hear it, it’s probably going
to be a lost cause.
life-long, science
If you are having trouble getting a great sound,
good thing to do is find a pair of ear monitors
that you like, making sure that their reviews are
experiment.
you are probably not listening to other bassists
To help you identify your “better” sound, another
good (do your research!). Decent ear monitors
enough. The only way to acquire good taste in are a worthy investment! Having a consistent
bass tone is to listen to those who have great point of reference is key when you are figuring
tone. Then it’s your job to figure out how to The Diamond Bass Compressor is a little yellow out your own sound discernment. For example,
accurately imitate it. Ask people who “know” box of “laugh-out-loud”, bass smoothness. It is every audio engineer I know listens to their
to be genuinely honest with you and help you an optical compressor that acts like an analog mixes in their own car during the mix process.
with your tone. For instance, if you go to a compressor. It has no negative “heartbeats” Why? Because it is their “real world” reference.
concert and the bass player’s tone is amazing, or “thumps” in its effect (that I can hear), yet it Everyone must have their own consistent point
make your way over to the console and ask punches up my sound in a variable “Dynacomp” of reference.
the engineer! Ask him if he will be in town long fashion without any noise. It’s the happiest enough to help you. Take him out to lunch. Ask $200 I have spent in a long time!
As I have stated before, no two bass players
lots of questions!
sound exactly alike, no matter what bass they
recently are playing, or what “box” they are playing
Also, you might ask other bassists directly
In
heard a guy play at a live event with some of
the
distortion
department,
I
through. This is simply because no two
about their tone. Ask them who their favorite the smoothest, synth-bass sounding bass people have the same finger shapes, nerves,
bass player is, or what groups they like. Then distortion I have heard in a while. I asked him or muscles that pluck a string or fret a note in
go home, listen, practice, and try your hardest how he was achieving this phenomenon and he an identical fashion. We all have to individually
to imitate them with your own gear. sent me a picture of his Cat King Fuzz Pedal. work out our tone for ourselves. Be continually
It’s an “in-yo-face”, buzzy, diode-tweakable blessed in your search.
But please be mindful that the more great distortion. Mine is the two-channel model that
players (with great tone) that you listen to, allows you to set two volume/distortion levels
the better you’ll be able to hear great tone for and bounce between them from section to
yourself. Persistence will “drill” it into your head! section. It also has a feedback switch (available
March 2018
Gary Lunn
Session player, producer, writer from Nashville, TN.
He plays for many recording session accounts,
does home recording, and project producing.
Attends Grace Church (gracechurchnashville.com)
in Franklin, TN. Email him questions, comments, or
for scheduling at [email protected]
WorshipMusician.com
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