[TemjinStrife]

Hey guys, I have a conundrum.

I believe I've found my dream bass... a Schecter Stiletto Studio Custom. For some reason, the neck just feels right. It's wide, keeps my thumb in the right position, and is just thick enough to have a good round profile to keep tendonitis at bay.

Before I pull the trigger, though, I'm wondering a thing about slap bass sounds. I love the really punchy/grindy "clanky" sound you hear in the intro to Boston's "Foreplay/Long Time" and in some Shadows Fall tunes... how the hell do you get that? I played a 6-string Carvin at a local shop that had piezos in the bridge and just seemed to ooze that sound... but it did so with piezos on and off, and the neck profile was uncomfortable.

So, I guess my question is twofold: How do you get that sort of "clanky" sound... is it a function of piezos? Was it the Jazz/MM pickup combo on the Carvin? And, how hard would it be to retrofit piezos into the Schecter Stiletto's bridge?

[darren]

If the Carvin made that sound with the piezos on and off, then it's not a function of the piezos being there.

It's probably a combination of really bright, new strings, possibly hot active electronics, and/or active EQ with a variable mid boost. With separate treble, bass and sweepable midrange, you can zero in on exactly that frequency that gives you the metallic "klang" and rattle you're looking for.

[eleven59]

I get that sound from my Fender Jazz Bass V, with passive electronics and no piezos

It's three things, in my experience:

1) Fresh strings

2) Low action (you want fretbuzz, basically, it should get that clacky sound even when unplugged)

3) A cabinet with a horn tweeter running an amp with the right EQ settings

[TemjinStrife]

Cool, thanks guys! Glad to hear I won't have to do major surgery. Now to save up... and actually find a place that has the six-string version in stock. The one at the store I played was just sold!

EDIT: Well, Musicians Friend finally got some in. Grr... I prefer AMS' payment plan. Oh well, I'll just have to wait an extra month or two.

[eleven59]

Cool man. And yeah, I've heard those Schecter basses get that kind of sound, shouldn't be a problem at all. It'll just take a bit to get the feel of the EQ. Have you played bass long? I find the EQ-ing technique to be very different from the approach most guitarists take.

[MF_Kitten]

just eq it bright and a little scooped. that should be it, really :P

[F1Filter]

Never underestimate the importance of fret-grind on electric bass. That plus a slightly overdriven preamp, and some digging into the strings when playing, are the essential ingredients to get that growly grind you crave.

For some reason I find that it's easiest for me to get that tone with a fresh set of Rotosounds. I've never been able to nail that tone exactly with nickel strings.

[TemjinStrife]

The Carvin (and the Schecter) were loaded with Elixirs.

I have been playing bass for a while as sort of a backup player for recording in my band... but I have VERY little idea of how to EQ a bass guitar beyond a pretty standard thump.

[Beta]

Originally Posted by F1Filter

For some reason I find that it's easiest for me to get that tone with a fresh set of Rotosounds. I've never been able to nail that tone exactly with nickel strings.

Stainless steel strings are brighter. The nickel plating mellows rounds a bit. I used to use Blue Steel strings, but I can't say I miss the brightness since I switched to nickel.