Doug Johns Sound

[Prime_BASS]

Doug has been mentioned a few times but no one has really examined his sound. I'm not crazy about that burpy Jaco copies or the tap and slap junkies, and although Doug does a bit of each, it's really that percussive finger style he has when he plays above the P pickup on his pedulla bass.

Anyway I was wondering what I can do to try and get that sound he has during this vids -

[url="http://youtu.be/AiUFNAUwKTo"]http://youtu.[/url][url="http://youtu.be/AiUFNAUwKTo"]be/AiUFNAUwKTo[/url]
[url="http://youtu.be/f0t9V8DUN7E"]http://youtu.be/f0t9V8DUN7E[/url]

I dig in quite a bit but don't know what else I can do to help get closer.

[Doctor J]

Just sounds like the P pickup with the action low enough so it starts to choke when he really digs in.

[SteveK]

[quote name='Prime_BASS' timestamp='1326026314' post='1491152']
it's really that percussive finger style he has when he plays above the P pickup on his pedulla bass.

Anyway I was wondering what I can do to try and get that sound he has during this vids -

I dig in quite a bit but don't know what else I can do to help get closer.
[/quote]
His style (going by the clip) is predominantly a rolling 16s. Most exercises can be adapted to a particular feel. I would suggest adapting your exercises to that 16s feel.

[M-N-Y]

He also uses light ish nickel wound strings 40-100 which will help the percussive approach. I like his approach. it's hard to develop a unique voice and style in this day and age but he's has managed it. I have each recording he's made, they're all good. I particularly like his rendition of Stairway to Heaven.

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ2NDdRSjHg"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ2NDdRSjHg[/url]

[Prime_BASS]

[quote name='M-N-Y' timestamp='1326029310' post='1491202']
He also uses light ish nickel wound strings 40-100 which will help the percussive approach. I like his approach. it's hard to develop a unique voice and style in this day and age but he's has managed it. I have each recording he's made, they're all good. I particularly like his rendition of Stairway to Heaven.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ2NDdRSjHg[/media]
[/quote]

Indeed!.
I like how different he is, in terms of approach and sound. Chris Ceja is an amazing drummer aswell, I hope to find someone that good that I can really bond with in the future.

I've been toying with the front pickup on the warwick, and besides boosting the highs to get the "bite" it still a far cry from what he gets, I've had P basses before but never had anything that sound like his tone.

[M-N-Y]

Don't forget his bass is active and he has Barts as well. That will give him a fair amount of tonal variation. I would get as close as you can to the sound and enjoy playing your bass. Chris Ceja is indeed an excellent drummer, I'm sure you'll find a drummer soul mate if you keep searching. Good luck.

Cheers,

Mark.

[dmccombe7]

Does Doug not set his pick ups high enough that he touches them with the strings to give that specific click on every other note.
I guess that would take a bit of effort to get it spot on but Doug must be one of the most entertaining of the solo bassists IMHO.
He has quite a unique sound for this day and age as someone mentioned earlier in the thread.

Dave

[Prime_BASS]

[quote name='dmccombe7' timestamp='1326057402' post='1491790']
Does Doug not set his pick ups high enough that he touches them with the strings to give that specific click on every other note.
I guess that would take a bit of effort to get it spot on but Doug must be one of the most entertaining of the solo bassists IMHO.
He has quite a unique sound for this day and age as someone mentioned earlier in the thread.

Dave
[/quote]

I think this too. coupled with the low action.
Just been youtubing some vids of his, and on one it goes through his Genz-Benz shuttle 9.0 settings.
It appears that he cuts 2.khz mark by the full -15dB that the shuttle allows, along with the low boost filter engaged (60-30hz boost). despite the dramatic mid cut, it still a fairly flat sound (IMO) so I would hazard a guess that the shuttles mid range has a fairly narrow Q.

[mrtcat]

Strings sound super new too if you ask me.

[mrtcat]

Did you see this one? It may help

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAVzap5JUnY&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAVzap5JUnY&feature=related[/url]