Ok so here is the recipe of the perfect metal bass tone. 1. Get Josh 2. Give him a bass 3. Plug the bass (optionally) 4. Enjoy the perfect metal sound.
Same fingers on all those basses, and yet… all different basses and all different amp settings left us with ALL DIFFERENT tones. Enough with the tone fingers crap. It ain’t the fingers. It’s the gear.
Thanks SO much for showing examples in a mix, particularly just the guitar and bass together. Too many videos show a great bass tone that does not sit well in a mix.
19:44 Especially in this part I can hear the Geezer Butler sound despite he’s playing an Iron Maiden’s song. To me this means that this GK has its own personality but really helps the bass to express its natural sound. Those EMGs have a very distinctive sound and I can hear it very clearly. Amazing!
I've had a GK half stack many years ago and sold it. But when my current amp blows up some day. I've been thinking about going back to GK amps for good. I know they are pricey but I really like that they are made in the US. And they really are superior quality amp. Very good video guys. 🤘🍺
This should tell you something about GK. These are like the go to amps for slap funk and gospel. But you dialed in awesome metal tones. Darkglass not necessary.
For my tone, I love sending a scooped and bright bass signal into an amp that has strong mids and some presence rolloff. It ends up balancing out really nicely, I get a nice high end without the ugly clank. I'll also cut some sub lows uo to 30Hz if the bass cab is feeling loose and boomy
Wow dude, excellent video. I thought you worked in audio industry based on your knowledge, but you say you're just a guy that does it for love of music... Man, you gotta move that ears and brain to some record company. There are thousands waiting for someone with your knowledge to make great sounding music. Cheers 🍻🍻
Man, where to start... Years ago when I was active with my band, we did a large indoor show and I was told all I needed to bring was my Alembic. I showed up and they had a GK full stack and my bass sounded INCREDIBLE!!! I play loud anyways, so I cranked it up to 11 and the sound guy kept asking me to turn it down!! ;) My current rig is the absolute best setup ever and I love it, although its older. Eden Navigator World Tour Class, Crown 4002 XTi, SWR Big Bertha, SWR Goliath Senior and Sennheiser wireless. I play an ALembic Epic 4 string I abolutely love!
Awesome clip 😎🤘🏻🎸 metal is definitely what I play and I’ve been a long time gk player. I also use overdrive and distortion pedals to get my tone and I rock out to some of the more underrated basses like the schecter stiletto and the Yamaha trbx and bb basses.
Seriously dig every tone you sent through that GK. Just outstanding! Do you know if it can be tamed for more generic/standard tones? (Not that I don't have enough gear already) 😛
I'm new to playing metal bass (have played metal guitar for 20 years) and this has been a HUGE help and really eye opening. Can I ask what pickup position you were using or on board EQ settings you were using for them?
THANK YOU. i must have watched 4 or 5 other demos of this amp and was totally unimpressed. but you really showed what is possible, and with amazing playing... not just some mary had a little lamb, 12 bar blues shit. helped me make up my mind on the next amp for sure!! great job!
Ampeg SVT provides the best metal tone, for me, when connected to a speaker stack. No scooped mids either. You want the bass to cut through the guitars. Also, no humbuckers required. Single coil all the way.
When it was time for me to replace my amp I wasn't really thrilled with the way the GK's impedance matching was set up, and couldn't find any info online. It took me five minutes to find a chart from the Mesa Subway Dev team. Add to that GK's most famous endorsee had left them due to reliability issues, I was pushed over the edge. I went Mesa and haven't looked back.
Cutting around 250hz is the best thing you can do to cut through the mix. This frequency competes with the kick drum too much and just makes your sound muddier tonally in a metal setting.
All tones but Geezer's are heresy! I'm kidding of course, Jo Bench's tone on The Killchain is godly. So that's acceptable as well. All else is heresy! Except Steve Di Giorgio's tones. Those are acceptable as well. But anything else is definitely heresy!
Bass extention... nope it's bass EQ boost/attenuation. Helpfull would be to specify the frequencies, since we know the fundamentals of the notes played. Good video, but could have used a tad more the with the bass only sounds.
That's funny because we are tring to have the sound of people of 70' and 80' with a far superior technology, but we still have problems with that. Studio tracks may sound cool, but the best bass is gonna be live, if the player is capable.
You can do this with any rig. I used the GK because it has a lot of flexibility on board which meant I didn’t have to do any EQ in post. On amps with a more simple EQ section, you may have to do additional tweaking in post but the principle of knowing how to fit a mix remains.
NIce tones, to bad it was not as general, as the title could let one to believe. For everyone who does not have around 1000 bucks to burn on this amp: Get a (used) guitar tube preamp (19") and slap it together with any PA amp and some bass cab and you're set. Guitar preamps are relatively cheap to get, compared to bass tube pres at least, and will serve you well, while also giving you at least 2/2.5 channels (Clean/Crunch and Lead). I was hunting a nice, gritty, growly rock/metal tone for way to long, and bought and resold way to much gear till I got to this rather simple solution. In my case it is a Hafler Hellrazor preamp running to some random 500 Watts PA amp and into a Hartke 1x15 + 4x10 cab combination... I also use a Tech 21 bass driver DI, but it isn't really necessary, just had it before and it's the version with 3 memory slots, so I kept it for the veratility, and to boost the Hafler a bit, rather cause of it's own tone.
Great video, love it an thank you for this. But I must comment and ask you to always say "Hertz", not "Hert". The unit of measurement was named after Heinrich Hertz, a German physicist. It is not plural, that's just how it is, and I really can't stand for you to hert my ears with that mispronunciation.
LOL I've never heard anybody say "Hert" as if it was singular. I have to assume that was just a speaking malfunction on Chris's part (rather than him actually thinking it was the right word).
@@TheBassChannel One would think, but I have actually heard people say "Hert" because to them it sounded like a plural and they overcorrected. I've even known other electrical engineers who were unaware it was a guy's name. It happens.
Ok so here is the recipe of the perfect metal bass tone.
1. Get Josh
2. Give him a bass
3. Plug the bass (optionally)
4. Enjoy the perfect metal sound.
Tone is in the fingers
If you want better tone, just play better.
Legend has it none of those amps are plugged into the cabs... all that tone is coming from the FINGERS
*toan is in the bawls
Same fingers on all those basses, and yet… all different basses and all different amp settings left us with ALL DIFFERENT tones. Enough with the tone fingers crap. It ain’t the fingers. It’s the gear.
It's actually all in his mind, he just shows us the settings via holographic projections
....the FINGERS and the ATTITUDE!!!
@@someonesomewhere8805Are you seriously denying that attack affects tone?
You guys knocked this out of the park!!! Thank you for showcasing the rig perfectly!!! 🤘🤘🤘🤘
Thanks SO much for showing examples in a mix, particularly just the guitar and bass together. Too many videos show a great bass tone that does not sit well in a mix.
19:44 Especially in this part I can hear the Geezer Butler sound despite he’s playing an Iron Maiden’s song. To me this means that this GK has its own personality but really helps the bass to express its natural sound. Those EMGs have a very distinctive sound and I can hear it very clearly. Amazing!
Every tone was great and did what it was meant to do. Would like to see more of this type of thing for different genres.
I've had a GK half stack many years ago and sold it. But when my current amp blows up some day. I've been thinking about going back to GK amps for good. I know they are pricey but I really like that they are made in the US. And they really are superior quality amp. Very good video guys. 🤘🍺
This should tell you something about GK. These are like the go to amps for slap funk and gospel. But you dialed in awesome metal tones. Darkglass not necessary.
The main player on this video is a beast!! Chops for days.
Welp, gonna need one of those GK fusions...
For my tone, I love sending a scooped and bright bass signal into an amp that has strong mids and some presence rolloff. It ends up balancing out really nicely, I get a nice high end without the ugly clank. I'll also cut some sub lows uo to 30Hz if the bass cab is feeling loose and boomy
I've heard in stories of legends josh used to play a bass guitar without strings and still got a metal tone
Great video. Really shows the versatility of that GK head too. That thing is awesome.
Dear Chris,
THIS is a perfect video.
Congrats and thanks.
Big GK fan. You gentlemen done good!
Wow dude, excellent video. I thought you worked in audio industry based on your knowledge, but you say you're just a guy that does it for love of music... Man, you gotta move that ears and brain to some record company. There are thousands waiting for someone with your knowledge to make great sounding music.
Cheers 🍻🍻
Yep! You got the tones right!
Awesome! Your ear is great, and your playing is superb! Thoroughly enjoyed this video and your explanations for how you got there are great!
MAN! These were FANTASTIC! Some of those tones were God tier. Major congrats to another awesome video.
Man, where to start... Years ago when I was active with my band, we did a large indoor show and I was told all I needed to bring was my Alembic. I showed up and they had a GK full stack and my bass sounded INCREDIBLE!!! I play loud anyways, so I cranked it up to 11 and the sound guy kept asking me to turn it down!! ;) My current rig is the absolute best setup ever and I love it, although its older. Eden Navigator World Tour Class, Crown 4002 XTi, SWR Big Bertha, SWR Goliath Senior and Sennheiser wireless. I play an ALembic Epic 4 string I abolutely love!
big props on your rig!
A much needed video. Beautiful.
I can listen to gear talk all day long.
Awesome clip 😎🤘🏻🎸 metal is definitely what I play and I’ve been a long time gk player. I also use overdrive and distortion pedals to get my tone and I rock out to some of the more underrated basses like the schecter stiletto and the Yamaha trbx and bb basses.
Such a cool video! I'd love a repeat of this but with a more "generic" rig like a J bass, Fender Rumble, and Boss Overdrive
I must say, there is really crisp attack for playing finger style. I'm gonna approve.
Just discovered your channel. That was a great video! Excellent work guys! That Steve Harris tone was perfect.
Same Amp I was running in my last band.
This video is awesome, thanks guys!
Props to the nWo TShirt. \m/
Seriously dig every tone you sent through that GK. Just outstanding! Do you know if it can be tamed for more generic/standard tones? (Not that I don't have enough gear already) 😛
Absolutely
Awesome video i like the fact you never used a pick so i can hear it with fingers...
So helpful and enjoyable! Thanks!!
Killer video as usual
Thanks for the tips, Sir ❤❤❤❤
excellent video! Helpful
I'm new to playing metal bass (have played metal guitar for 20 years) and this has been a HUGE help and really eye opening. Can I ask what pickup position you were using or on board EQ settings you were using for them?
THANK YOU. i must have watched 4 or 5 other demos of this amp and was totally unimpressed. but you really showed what is possible, and with amazing playing... not just some mary had a little lamb, 12 bar blues shit. helped me make up my mind on the next amp for sure!! great job!
Great demo, great playing, great song choice. That amp and cab combo KILLED.
Ampeg SVT provides the best metal tone, for me, when connected to a speaker stack. No scooped mids either. You want the bass to cut through the guitars. Also, no humbuckers required. Single coil all the way.
Always blown away about how good metallica COULD sound if their bass would be louder 😂
Very good video guys!
When it was time for me to replace my amp I wasn't really thrilled with the way the GK's impedance matching was set up, and couldn't find any info online. It took me five minutes to find a chart from the Mesa Subway Dev team.
Add to that GK's most famous endorsee had left them due to reliability issues, I was pushed over the edge. I went Mesa and haven't looked back.
Awesome video! Next use my bass and my helix for me! lol
Holy Angel of Death ☠️💀☠️
you are such a great bassist.
Definitely the 70s & 80s Era is the best sound for bass ..but i like to try new things
Couldn't agree more. Had way more character to the sound and mix.
AYYY YOU THREW THE IN WAVES RIFF IN THERE FOR THE REAL ONES
Great video like it 🤘
EMGs fo lyfe!
Dude thank youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
Can u do Pantera bass tone?
He did halfway through...
@@ModPhreak when
very cool!
very cool
PJ is the best pickup config for metal, fight me
Loved the video! Can you guys throw an Ernie Ball Music Man Bongo into the bass rotation more?🙏
We have reached out to Ernie Ball many times… they aren’t interested in working with us 🤷🏻♂️
wowwwwwww
amazing video
Cutting around 250hz is the best thing you can do to cut through the mix. This frequency competes with the kick drum too much and just makes your sound muddier tonally in a metal setting.
Its good for Extreme-death metal tone?
If Ibanez etc. just made a 3-stringed electric (sub)contrabass, there would be no need for 6-string basses 🧐😝
can you make all that tone on a video, just using maybe sansamp2, 1 mxr 10band eq and 1 darkglass x ultra
Good job my man, but Rick goes with Ampeg amp!
All tones but Geezer's are heresy!
I'm kidding of course, Jo Bench's tone on The Killchain is godly. So that's acceptable as well.
All else is heresy!
Except Steve Di Giorgio's tones. Those are acceptable as well.
But anything else is definitely heresy!
What about Cliff?
Of course Cliff! Cliff goes without saying!
But anything else? Absolute heresy!
Nice! I just would put some more bass and contour for sad but true. Greatings from Mexico.
I am having a hell of a time getting a sik distortion tone from my big ampeg rig with My DG X ultra I need some tips
Orange guitar head, medium overdrive. Bass drum mic
Would love a video on ben shepherds tone
I am 💯 down to do that!!!
slaye bass tone can't be further from what it actually was.
👍🏻😎👍🏻
What about darkglass? is it good?
Darkglass is exceptional.
the perfect bass tone is on Justice for All...we all know this ;)
You mean the invisible setting?
i wish you guys would do this video using the dark glass mt 900 or 500
Does this amp need a load since it’s a tube?
🤘🤘
Bass extention... nope it's bass EQ boost/attenuation. Helpfull would be to specify the frequencies, since we know the fundamentals of the notes played. Good video, but could have used a tad more the with the bass only sounds.
Is there a reason for why you are not using/representing Warwicks in this topic?
Cause it’s not about basses it’s about GK.
'Cause Spector is better 😎
@@Therealchuckbaileymakes sense, just thought it'd make sense to bring a warwick in. don't you? listen dick lövgren, for example
@@thierry18i would imagine so, from what i know about the two manufacturors. i've always wanted a spector
Love Warwicks. Didn’t exclude them on purpose.
MARRY ME HANDS0ME!!
How do you play bass? Ridiculous question 😂😂
Did Josh lose weight ?he looks so good
That's funny because we are tring to have the sound of people of 70' and 80' with a far superior technology, but we still have problems with that.
Studio tracks may sound cool, but the best bass is gonna be live, if the player is capable.
I got the master effects super 800 +
What? No Mudvayne??
no im an alpha omega guy but thanks ... bass channel
I spoke to Sweetwater and they said alpha has issues getting lost in the mix. For recording is fine but it will get lost in a live show
What? No Warwick here??
Roll Off All Above 200Hz
Perfect metal tone, buy a darkglass microtubes pedal
I can only afford a Fender Rumble 40 🎸
I’ll take an Orange rig over GK ANY DAY.
buy spector done
Is this a bass tone tutorial or a sales pitch for GK? The title is absolutely misleading.
You can do this with any rig. I used the GK because it has a lot of flexibility on board which meant I didn’t have to do any EQ in post. On amps with a more simple EQ section, you may have to do additional tweaking in post but the principle of knowing how to fit a mix remains.
get rid of the drive ,get a nice crisp low tone. and good to go.
metal tone: get an Alpha Omega and a compressor, a five. 35-inch scale or larger, you welcome!!!!
NIce tones, to bad it was not as general, as the title could let one to believe.
For everyone who does not have around 1000 bucks to burn on this amp: Get a (used) guitar tube preamp (19") and slap it together with any PA amp and some bass cab and you're set. Guitar preamps are relatively cheap to get, compared to bass tube pres at least, and will serve you well, while also giving you at least 2/2.5 channels (Clean/Crunch and Lead).
I was hunting a nice, gritty, growly rock/metal tone for way to long, and bought and resold way to much gear till I got to this rather simple solution. In my case it is a Hafler Hellrazor preamp running to some random 500 Watts PA amp and into a Hartke 1x15 + 4x10 cab combination... I also use a Tech 21 bass driver DI, but it isn't really necessary, just had it before and it's the version with 3 memory slots, so I kept it for the veratility, and to boost the Hafler a bit, rather cause of it's own tone.
I'm not sure if engineers are either ignorant or guitarist are too self centered that you can't hear bass in a live mix.
Just buy a spector and youre set
but now do it with a less awesome bass.. spector is like the ultimate metal bass tone
How to get a perfect metal bass tone, get a sans amp
A sansamp will only give you scooped grit. Darkglass all the way
@@ileutur6863 over rated and over priced. Sans amp is much more versatile than you are claiming it to be.
What about a MXR M85 distortion pedal?
@@stevenvalenti3722 mxr di would be better
that amp is the big part of the tone so sad, there is a modern voice
Im I the only one who really can't stand the clangy bass tone that is in all modern metal?
Its either that or no audible bass at all
@@ileutur6863exactly
Great video, love it an thank you for this. But I must comment and ask you to always say "Hertz", not "Hert". The unit of measurement was named after Heinrich Hertz, a German physicist. It is not plural, that's just how it is, and I really can't stand for you to hert my ears with that mispronunciation.
LOL I've never heard anybody say "Hert" as if it was singular. I have to assume that was just a speaking malfunction on Chris's part (rather than him actually thinking it was the right word).
@@TheBassChannel One would think, but I have actually heard people say "Hert" because to them it sounded like a plural and they overcorrected. I've even known other electrical engineers who were unaware it was a guy's name. It happens.
O it's just an amp commercial. Booooo