@micropastel "Makes sense, as metal is all about aggression..." It doesn't make sense to me. For example Slayer's "Praise Of Death" has a "round" bass sound similar to reggae, and it doesn't lose any aggression. I like a "round" bass tone similar to reggae, and I have heard metal songs with that kind of tone, and they sound much better. It is just a personal preference. I prefer a round bass over a "scratchy" bass. If that makes any sense. If I was a musician, then I would make metal music using the current trends in 808 bass. I think that would be a great combination.
"The tone starts in your hands" - spot on! I went years without realising this, and when I finally did, I vaulted a huge step forward as a bass player.
I played death metal for around 15 years and then nothing for 5 years. Then this style of dub reggae made me want to pick up my bass again, still have not but want to (bit scared)!
Used to change the eq on my friends amp everytime we jammed and he'd always fight me on it.. Then he listened to a recording of what we played and finally understood. Bass doesn't need a bunch of treble in reggae music, a good bass line should be felt in your soul before you know what your listening to.
Thank you Don!!! As a Beginner Bass player the statement that “Good Tone”comes from your fingers/ hands. One finger, one fret, really hit home. Thank you for the gems of knowledge!!!!!!!
I don't play any instruments but I compose digitally for television. Knowing these things that musicians do to get their signature sounds really is quite helpful when a unique and colorful sound may be the only thing that gets my song placed. Thank you for sharing.
Just love this complete guide to fat reggae tone. Again, it's always more simple than expected: it simply starts in your hands. Very helpful, thanks for sharing knowledge and experiences, well done!
Some years ago I went down to a festival in Germany to see my favorite foundation artist Johnny Clarke and at the same time I had the pleasure to get to know about the baddest backing band in Europe of all times 🙌 Large up yourself Don and give thanks for sharing those great videos!!!
Something to try if anyone is still looking for a good bass, while I have a Squier J-Bass similar to Mr. Chandler's Fender Jazz (I've tuned mine to BEAD), I have gotten great tones out of my short scale bass, a Squier Jaguar SS (with P-J pickups and tuned to EADG), which has won me over and become my main bass. I see that Robbie Shakespeare sometimes plays a violin bass, which is also a 30" short scale. The shorter strings provide a slightly mellower sound. The 30" Jaguar was discontinued and is only available used now, but Squier makes a 32" Jaguar as a replacement. Other 30" short scales are available from Fender/Squier, Ibanez, Sire, and Gibson. By the way, I play both basses with flatwounds and foam muting. I always enjoy these videos. Mr. Chandler really speaks my language, and I wish I had been able to have his assistance when I was first learning reggae bass. But learning never stops and I still find them value today.
I've always taken 5 strings out on the road prior to around 2014 when I switched to mainly 4 strings. If I were to go back out on a reggae tour I would seriously be considering a 4 string with BEAD tuning. Tried to get a Jaguar when I was in the U.S around 5 years ago, couldn't find one like you said. Great advice Kije👊🏾
I have an Ibanez Talman bass, short scale, and it sounds freakin’ amAzing. Played it in the shop next to a couple of Fenders and the Ibanez sounded better, if you can believe it. And it cost like $250 🤯
I discovered Rotosound Tru Bass flatwounds about 10 yrs ago. Wound with black nylon tape... Sound is so deep and clear, and they look stunning on a Maple fingerboard... Don't think I'll ever change from these...
78 P bass (comfy B width nut) with Dunlop flats, Markbass Jeff Berlin 15" combo and bottom heavy old Laney 15" cab, + BBE Opticomp and Catalinbread SFT for a bit of Ampeg drive and tone shaping.
1979 Ibanez Musician- recently modified to run stereo to two rigs with a switcher on the bass.(for when one Ampeg svt4pro +6x10 isn't enough Got to run the 2 x 15s too) Replaced the old Active set up for that. Big Ups one of the best reggae bass/musicianship engineering documentary/video Ive seen. RASPEX Maximum for the work you do! I
@@donstrumental8905 That was immediately what I thought of...One of the funniest amplifier moments ever LoL 😂. Btw this vid was a huge help!!! I play Fender American Ultra Jazz and bought that Mark Bass Big Bang 500 thanks to your earlier words you had about the brand.
Man, Ive been working on making Reggae backing tracks for my channel. Your videos have been Gold for helping me learn how to make some reggae grooves. Thank you
I've started playing with my thumb for reggae and I love the round tone it gives. Completely changes the attack.. I'm playing a Fender Stu Hamm Urge II, a Fender P, and a Sire V7 v2. I usually run through a Zoom B3 I to an SWR Workingman 10 at home. Although now with kids and late night practice it's usually into my DT-770s ;)
A few years ago, after decades of finger plucking, I began using the thumb. I was amazed at the tonal difference that I got with that attack. I never imagined thumb tugging would be any different, but it is. Tone definitely starts with the hands and where you pluck, tug or strum the strings. The knobs won’t help if you don’t start with good technique. Sounds like you’ve honed in on a great tone Meh. Keep groovin.
I tried to play with my thumb several times, but it feels kinda strange and I'm incredible slow so I'll always go back to normal fingerstyle. How long does the readjustment take? I'm already 46 and a slow learner.
Hey Don! Adam Welsh here. Just started following you here on YT, and also went to your website for more info. I’m only one year into learning the bass but reggae has always been VERY special to me. I am a reggae fan since I was a wee tot back in the 70s. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. 🙌🏼✌🏼❤
I'm playing a Cort A5 Custom and a Cort GB 'Jazz' style bass. Both currently with roundwounds, but gonna change the GB over to flats for more of a 'vintage' vibe.
Ehh…Music Mans belongs in that list. Dude from Sublime played one and had a killer tone. Think he also tunes B-E-A-D. I also like the G&L Ps and Js much more than I ever did Fenders. Fender has Gibson-level quality control problems in some cases.
I have a Fender Rumble 500 w a 1x15, and for Basses I have an Epi EB-0 with an upgraded mudbucker, a Squire Jaguar PJ with SD Quarter Pounders, and a homemade PBass with Fralin pickups. Tone knob off, bass up on the amp, and good to go.
This video is gold! Thank you for sharing. I’m a novist bass player and I’m playing a G&L JB and a Ibanez TMB600. Found both on a steal of a deal that I couldn’t pass up.
This is the best bass teacher I have had. Thank you so much! I've been practicing Black Uhuru and Positive Vibration... Your lesson material. Excellent.
Thanks Don for all your info. One of the greatest things you mentioned was that great tone starts from the fingers! You can have all the best gear in the world, but the hands and the feel are what's most crucial. I play a Steinberger 5 string (love that phat B string!), or if I'm playing rocksteady, my '75 P bass, through a 30 year old Trace Elliot AH350 with 4 10" cab. It's ridiculously easy to dial in a big round tone on the Trace. I'm in the minority, but I go with roundwound strings, there's just more "meat" on them for the pickups. I notch out the string/finger noise from the windings on the Trace's 12 band EQ and use a "smiley face" EQ setting, adjusted for the room, and the contour (mid scoop) on. I leave some highs on the EQ for definition...the Trace gives me plenty of lows. I'm getting too old to lug around the Trace, (70 lb head, heavier cab) and I can't afford a roadie, so the newer lightweight amps like the Markbass or the Genz Benz shuttle with the neodymium speakers are tempting. I know that's TMI, but it's what works for me. Looking forward to your videos, keep 'em coming.
My main player is a Warwick. I play through a Mesa D-800+ head into a fEARful 15/6 cabinet or a Fearless 112 (12/6/1), or both together. With the Warwick I can dial in a good solid rock tone, my tone is naturally dark with emphasis on the lows and low mids, a little scoop on the high mids, treble flat. Then if the next tune is a reggae tune, I cut the treble on my bass almost all the way down, mids almost all the way down for super old school, or just attenuated a little bit for ska or more modern stuff. Then I boost the bass control on my bass up a little bit, by ear just enough to get my overall volume back to where it was before cutting all the highs and mids out. The last time I played a gig that was all reggae, I took my old Jazz bass and a Genz Benz Steamliner 900 and EQ'ed the amp a lot like you did - treble almost all the way off, the one mid control set low and boosted, and the bass control boosted. Then on my bass I would run both pickups all the way up, tone 100%, to rolling the tone knob off for more darkness, and also rolling the bridge pickup off just a little bit. I really enjoyed that gig because I was able to devote the amp to really getting a fat reggae tone.
Great vid man. Have you thought of doing a book on reggae bass etudes? There's loads of stuff out there for jazz and funk but not a lot for reggae. I know you might say listen, transcribe etc etc and I agree but having it down on paper (or pdf) from a guy who really knows the genre can help the student cut to the chase!
What a fantastic video, you should win the Noble Prize for saying that tone comes from Technique, man, I am a metal guitarist, and as a technical player, if you don't get it right, the tone is the first thing to go. I have subscribed to your channel. cheers from Vancouver, Canada. Ed
Oh my! seen you playing bass at so many shows and had no idea you were a bass teacher you’re playing is spot on for real. I actually call you the straight face bass because of your lack of movement when playing, not even a smile 😂 probably the best I’ve heard for many years.
I have a Sub Series Music Man Sterling Stingray with flat wound chromes and a Fender Rumble 40 amp and everything you said about your tone I was surprised to have it already set the same settings and this is the first time I’m actually watching someone teach reggae bass because I spent all my time learning songs by ear and I feel confident in my abilities now. It’s been a year since I first bought my bass and it’s been a couple months since I first converted from roundwound to flatwound. Each day I feel closer to achieving that perfect feel. You’ve earned a new follower my friend.
I have a black ‘77 P bass and I’ve always heard the old school funk players say “keep the flatwounds on forever , the deader the better.” BUT, they do lose intonation after awhile, something I hadn’t noticed til I went to the studio. A new set of Fender flats and the intonation was near perfect.
Great lesson. Your point about technique is spot on. I grew up listening to Stanley Clarke play his jazz-rock in the mid to late 70s, which inspired me to take up the bass from the start. I loved his technique and tone (and still do), and his attack is often very aggressive. I made the mistake of never taking lessons, and developed some bad habits over the years trying to emulate his sound. But I made mistakes in trying to achieve this, one of which was to play with too much attack all the time (and also increasing the relief of the strings from the body (i.e., high action). Dynamically, I think it is fine to play more aggressively at the appropriate time, just not all the time. It took me years to unwind the bad habit of playing aggressively ALL the time. And using the amp volume is important too, as you suggested. I would characterize this as letting the amp do much of the work for you to relieve the power required from the hand for the audience to hear. The approach definitely helps avoid fatigue if playing for a longer gig. And I believe the tone and the ability to control dynamics is superior as a result. I appreciate you sharing your bass and amp control settings, which I can hear well in your tone. Sounds great! Thanks.
I love playing my Ibanez EB-40 Acoustic a lot. That's because musicians always comment on it's sound and request it. Others will always tell you what they hear and like best. I've dropped it 5 or 6 times so it's off after the 12 fret. Also love playing The Thunderstrick, my Fender PJ Special. Don't get as many positive feedback comments with it, but I'm still working with it's potential. Thanks for the instructions. "RIDDUM UP". E.
The wonderful people at Barefaced let me borrow a 2x12 for a tour. Up until that point I hadn’t even thought about 12 inch speakers. The best I’ve come across.
No idea you played with Horace Andy! A true legend. I've always loved Massive Attack and wondered why their bass lines are always so dope; it's from the Reggae influence and now you are helping me understand that. Much love!
I play a fretless 1969 Precision with roundwound strings. Vol knob up full, tone knob rolled down or off. Fender Rumble 100 with bass at 12 o clock, treble off, low mid about 10 o'clock, high mid about 8 o'clock. I'd like to play with the "vintage" setting, but that would be too brassy for the neighbours! This amp setting works for any genre of music, and I adjust the bass tone to taste. I play with my thumb resting on the pickup.
Good stuff. I concur 100% on everything on this. Playing softly was the revelation of a good tone IMO. Since you asked, I play a 5 string modified passive Steinberger Synapse.
I'm gonna try that foam thing. Wow! And yes, great start: it starts with your fingers. Never heard such a true statement about bass playing in such easy wordings. Great channel, great knowledge!
Another good example for minimalistic bass line's is Gregory Isaacs - Slave Master . I don't know who the bassplayer was , but it was great playing, and sounds really really good.
The backing band on " Slave Master " was the Soul Syndicate " and the bass player is Fully Fullwood. Fully doesn't get enough props, he played on some of greatest Reggae tracks ever.
G&L L1000, OMG Mode, volume 100% up, treble 100% off, La Bella LTF or DTF strings, play softly by the heel of the neck, through a powerful amp (Mesa Subway 800+), preamp cranked, 40hz boost on, and 2 Subway 2x15s. Open up tone knob as needed for note definition and pitch clarity after the rest of the band has gotten their levels set based on your tone 100% off sound. Use a OvniLabs Smoothie if compressor desired, Damnation Audio MBD-1 for a hotter, grittier tone/more harmonic content.
Inspirational as always! I've gotten hold of a Squire Jazz Deluxe to handle the Reggae (and some misc recordings). The tone out of that is amazing with the flats! Occasionally I'd use my Lakland if the mood hits!
Great tips on great channel!!. Love your playing and tone. Jazzbass with maple neck and flats is great combination for almost any kind of music. Got the same but added an old badass bridge on it. Little more sustain and a bit more even tone up the neck. Fender makes a new version of it. Great for all Fender basses. Tip of another really great reggae and deep bass tone is, in my case a Maxon AF9 filter box. Turn down the peak and keep the sensitivity high. Instant super low full tone. Thanks for a great channel!!
I use an Ibanez TR 70. I'm actually a keyboard man, but I've recently realized there seems to be a scarcity of good reggae bassmen, at least where I'm at-- the Virgin Islands. Thanks for the tips, as usual. Now, I'll turn the treble completley OFF and drop the mids even more than I did before on my Fender amp when I play. I'll also workout more. Thanks for the encouragement!
I haven’t really played bass since high school so these days I mostly program baselines. My chain is Trilian into amplitude… this works well for me… but I’m getting back in to actually playing a bass…. Love your videos
@@donstrumental8905 as bad as it is there are certain things I haven’t figured out how to do with it like certain slides and gliss’s that’s why I started practicing again… I also have modo bass by IK multimedia but I hardly ever use it Trilian is my go to
It’s Awesome don. I’m crazy on bass Guitar 🎸 It’s my favorite instrument. You are a perfect teacher for us. Thank you 🙏. Hanging with you 🤛god bless you ✝️
Good stuff Don! Thanks for sharing. I play a P-Bass with flatwounds as well. I've been messing around with a preamp a bit lately, but agree that technique is most essential. Big up.
Yes Sir another great video 👍👍 I use /play a J bass no muting and a P.bass muted both with Crome flat wounds ( sooo deep and fat) through a tc electronic bh 800 into vintage SWR 15 and a peavy 4 x 10 and man it drops 👍👍keep the vids coming brother
I've been playing a 1978 Fender Jazz bass with a maple neck. The pickups are really hot so your tip of playing softly works really well with it, you can get distortion from the pickups if you play it really hard. It has amazing sustain so the foam under the strings next to the bridge is a really good idea. I didn't really play much reggae, more rock and roll and pop type stuff but I'm sure it would work great in reggae sound in your hands :) The only downside of it is it's really heavy, enough to cause shoulder discomfort at the end of a set.
Palm muting is the way to go. You get a fat thumpy tone with short sustain depending on how much you're muting it.. For the most part your don't want long sustaining notes that ring out. With palm muting you can always lift your palm up a little if you want longer notes or a more bright tone. You could use a foam mute but then you're stuck with that tone and short sustain for the whole song
Thanks Don! I agree the sound starts from the fingering. Eq settings is just a matter of do you want to hear a bit more of this or that. As you highlighted same goes for a strumming guitar playing the skank, no effect can ever make up for a good technique and make it magically sound like hot reggae. Keep up the great videos! Nathaël
Great stuff!! I stopped playing flats because they got slippery over time on me. For my hands, went to GHS Bass Boomers, roundcores. Running a TH500 into a 15” neo and a 12” SL112. With rounds, I take your same approach, just lowering kids more and I get the finger fell I want with the wonderful round reggae vibe. Bless up
I like to keep it simple too. A passive Bass (Precision, Jazz or my Dean ML) and my Ashdown ABM-900. Don´t need more than that. Now and then I use the cheap TC Electronics BAM 200 and I still get a nice tone. Reaggae tone isn´t hard to achieve. It just has to be big and deep without treble. The rest is up to the player.
,Don, I love your Style of Reggae tone, me I get crazy with the tone of Reggae mylitisj of Peter Tosh, bass,& Power in the Glory done by Jimmy cliff ,& Ijahman Levi, Let's get Eclipse bass
i play an old 6 string bass with passive humbuckers. i dont play reggae, mostly rock and a bit of blues/jazz. but i do like the tone of reggae basses. so i'm adding this video to my list :D
Thanks Don…loved the EQ demo. I’m into the blues and that’s sorted my tone out. I play a 62 reissue Precision through a Fender Rumble 15”. Thanks for the technique tips too. Really glad I’ve subscribed.
Great videos, always more to learn. Similar set up to you, 1970 Precision with tone rolled off and foam. Used to have an Ampeg V4B with touch of bass and mids out, but now it's an Eden amp. speakers are Epifani with either 2x10 and 1x15 or both, love these speakers - really musical. Flat would strings, at the moment they are Thomastic. Keep up the good work!
Just discovered your channel. Great tips. I play a jazz style through Ashdown head set up almost the same as yours, no treble, bass about 2 oclock low mid 9 oclock, everything else down. I play up the neck finger style and use thumb further back like Flabba on the old school, Gregory, etc… /flatwounds and short fingernails important for sure…
