Shockwave Posted October 19, 2008 Posted October 19, 2008 (edited) Hey guys. Going over some old recordings of my first band. I came across this live recording. Using a Modern Tokai P bass. All stock.Fingers, Maple board. Through a Cheap ashdown half stack. Live recording through the desk. Wow what a tone! I was complaining a hell of alot at that gig, Couldnt hear myself. Also my ears were very untrained and felt the bass needed to be more up in the mix (Now looking back i was so so wrong!) Seriously this is probably the best bass tone i have had on a recording. [url="http://freedownloads.last.fm/download/43143894/Union%2BJack.mp3"]http://freedownloads.last.fm/download/4314...nion%2BJack.mp3[/url] Since when has my playing gotten so unoriginal? When those tracks we're recorded i had been playing for about a year. I felt my playing although back then quite scrappy, I felt it was reasonably original. Now 3 years later I would never be able to come with lines like i did back then. I know the bugger who now has this bass and i want it back! Finn ;-) Hopefully my musicmans will now be able to do me justice recording wise. However it could be because back then i used the heaviest set of strings going. Now i use the lightest going. Maybe thats why my tone has suffered so much. I dont know. So has anyone else felt that over the years their playing has toned down or sound has gotten worse? Is the sound in the recording what would be considered a good P bass tone or am i talking out of my rear end? Cheers! Rob. Edited October 19, 2008 by Shockwave Quote
4000 Posted October 19, 2008 Posted October 19, 2008 (edited) In the early 90s when I first bought my 72 Ric I had the tone of my dreams; I was using a very early Trace head and 4x10 (pre-Kevlar). I was practicing a lot, gigging quite a bit and was in good shape. Unfortunately somewhere along the line I had the not so bright idea of replacing my head with an Ampeg, possibly the most stupid thing I've ever done (other than px-ing my much-loved Pedulla for a Wal which I didn't get on with and then selling my Wal to buy a Marshall Dynamic bass rig that was a disaster...). I could never get my tone out of that thing. Then around 96 when my back problems started I reluctantly sold my cab. That was the end of it tonally for me. I've never really been happy with my sound since. And what's more, for the most part the more exotic the gear the worse sound I've had in a band situation. So I do sympathise! I wish I could go back to my old rig (even more annoying when I could buy something similar really cheaply but just wouldn't be able to carry it). In terms of playing, life has just got in the way. I get little chance to practice these days and play about a gig a year, so my playing is far behind where it used to be. Edited October 19, 2008 by 4000 Quote
silverfoxnik Posted October 19, 2008 Posted October 19, 2008 Isn't this the old 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' story really and I think we've all done it at some time or other? Good to be able to get some perspective though and realise what you had and are capable of... Does this mean more gear changes in the pipeline then Rob?? Quote
Shockwave Posted October 19, 2008 Author Posted October 19, 2008 [quote name='silverfoxnik' post='309765' date='Oct 19 2008, 12:17 PM']Isn't this the old 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' story really and I think we've all done it at some time or other? Good to be able to get some perspective though and realise what you had and are capable of... Does this mean more gear changes in the pipeline then Rob??[/quote] Well, Yes, I need to sell my BCR's Get me a Good Old P or maybe a P with a MM pup in the P position. I think i'll have to ebay them as i dont see them selling on BC! I dont think i'll get rid of any of my MM's I love them just a tad too much! Rob. Quote
Mr. Foxen Posted October 19, 2008 Posted October 19, 2008 I recon its the light strings, source of your tone past your fingers. Its gotta start there, most people get heavier strings as they go on, lights are for all that slap and tickle nonsense. Quote
Shockwave Posted October 19, 2008 Author Posted October 19, 2008 [quote name='finnbass' post='309782' date='Oct 19 2008, 12:43 PM']Do you remember all the hassle you had shifting it? You wouldn't like it now anyway, it has black tape-wounds on [/quote] Heresy! Dont matter, Optima dont make gold strings light enough for me! Quote
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