What really impacts on your bass tone?

[Mrbigstuff]

6 hours ago, Terry M. said:

The 3 individuals you mention are just 3 individuals with an opinion. Anthony Jackson apparently uses a low action,as does Victor Wooton,as did Jaco Pastorius and countless others. Just do what works for you. It really doesn't matter what works for anybody else whether famous or not.

I don’t know him personally but Anthony Jackson was reported to use higher action on his latest fodera. Victors is low but that’s so he can accomplish his playing style that hes made a career from. As I said horses for courses and there’s no right or wrong. I just find that it affects my tone most of all and you can’t disagree with that 😆.

[peteb]

52 minutes ago, Terry M. said:

I agree with this. A touch of relief makes the bass feel like it's "talking" to me. I know it sounds weird 😊

 

There is often a trade-off between tone and playability. There is no point in having the best bass tone possible if you can't physically play the damn thing! 

 

How many times have you come across guitar shredders, who can play really fast and really cleanly on low action guitars with light gauge strings, but have a cr*p tone and whose rhythm parts sound really unconvincing? Most guitar players worship SRV's tone - of course, he played a strat with a high action and heavy strings! 

 

[kuetsum]

plucking technis 

Right hand position 

Ornament

Pickup

Bass Construction 

Wood combination

Strings 

Setup 

Cable

Amp 

Effect

 

That's all I can think of..

 

Edited 6 hours ago by kuetsum

[tauzero]

7 minutes ago, kuetsum said:

Ornament

?

 

 

I don't think the dragon affects the tone.

[Terry M.]

2 hours ago, Mrbigstuff said:

I just find that it affects my tone most of all and you can’t disagree with that 😆.

Nope I definitely won't disagree with that 😊

[Terry M.]

2 hours ago, peteb said:

 

There is often a trade-off between tone and playability. There is no point in having the best bass tone possible if you can't physically play the damn thing! 

 

Agreed.

[Sean]

Not having a spare PP3 battery on the gig.