I have an Ibanez SRMS805 bass, and a Mesa WD-800 head going into a 1x12 Darkglass cab. I’m happy with my tone for the most part, except I kind of wish there was maybe just a tad more warmth to it. Not sure how others feel, but even though I love Ibanez basses, I’ve always thought the tone on them was a little cold. Can anyone recommend a pedal or anything that I could add to my signal chain that might give me that little bit extra? I like my sound to be very clean, so I don’t want to use drive unless it can stay clean. Also I realize that new pickups would have a big effect on the tone, but I don’t want to go down that route just yet. To add, I am probably going to pick up the Origin Effects Cali 76 bass compressor. I realize compression isn’t necessarily supposed to alter tone a lot, but I’ve heard that this one does color it a bit. Anyone have this pedal have any thoughts on it adding any warmth?
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Add Warmth
- Thread starter Titanium
- Start date
Have you tried plucking a little farther up towards the neck?
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I guess rather than adding warmth you should remove hi fi if that makes sense.
Low mids and mid mids are where the warmth is at IME. So you could start by rolling off high frequencies and higher mids and try to focus on 800 hz and below to make up the bulk of the sound you are looking for and add top end to taste.
Low mids and mid mids are where the warmth is at IME. So you could start by rolling off high frequencies and higher mids and try to focus on 800 hz and below to make up the bulk of the sound you are looking for and add top end to taste.
I have a YYZ pedal and the manual has a several suggested setups. One that impresses me is called "Warm Studio Tube" , I like to use this setting on slow ballads as it adds a little compression and takes some of the edge off. This might be what you are looking for.
Before you buy the Cali have a look at EBS’s multi comp. It has a tube setting I think you might like. Used to have one before I got the Cali and still miss it. My Ultra P and J have much warmer tones than the Elite and I use Markbass gear so no lack of warmth there either which is why I sold it. Good luck.
This is the approach I would also try first,
And then, I'd try out different strings before going down the rabbit hole of effects. The difference strings can make is amazing - I'd try some warm nickels.
Yep, that's exactly the approach I would take too.
Musicians -- and producers, and engineers, etc. -- often have a really hard time articulating exactly what they mean by "warmth". And even if they can describe it in terms that translate to a tone-shaping action that can add or subtract said "warmth" their description may not match the description of the other folks in the room.
But what does seem fairly universal is that whenever a bass has lots of high frequency information -- sizzle, tinkle, zing, clank, whatever euphemisms or onomatopoeias you want to use to describe that ultra-clear hi-fi elevated treble response -- everyone agrees that it is not "warm". So start by reducing that.
I feel like I fought that battle for years with a Schecter Stiletto Elite model. The playability was\is fantastic but it's always been more metallic\modern sounding than I prefer. I replaced the pickups, replaced the onboard preamp, ran through some different string brands, and pissed around with a few pedals just trying to get a slightly warmer vibe...and eventually accepted the sound quality would just never be on par with what I prefer from my P & jazz basses.
A Broughton Fliptop or P15 will give you a warm tube-like tone.
Personally though, I would exhaust all EQ possibilities before putting a pedal in front of a WD-800. Follow the advice @makanudo gave above first.
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String changes can make huge differences. This can vary by bass. This is so subjective that our opinions are ours. You might be a bright picker. Your touch. So a string may offer you warmth where to someone else the results are mud.
My advice take your time.
Also turn your plucking index finger parallel to the strings from joint to tip. Might surprise you. Enjoy the quest.
My advice take your time.
Also turn your plucking index finger parallel to the strings from joint to tip. Might surprise you. Enjoy the quest.
1. more neck pickup in balance
2. warmer strings, try some nickels
3. boost around 800hz, tweak to taste. maybe some high cut as well
2. warmer strings, try some nickels
3. boost around 800hz, tweak to taste. maybe some high cut as well
I am a huge proponent of the Cali76. It's the first compressor I've gotten along with since my Distressor. And it does impart some vibe to the tone, I don't think it will be the magic bullet that you're looking for here. I'm not saying you won't love it, but I am saying that it won't solve your problem.
There is a bunch of great advice here already, I hope something here works for you.
There is a bunch of great advice here already, I hope something here works for you.
Try turning the tone knob down. Maybe swap the capacitor in the onboard electronics.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
I've been using an EBS compressor for probably 15 years now. The compression is decent, nothing spectacular really, but the little preamp switch is magical. Mine stays on the "tube" setting and honestly that is the only reason I keep it. There are better compressors out there but that little pedal does add some beautiful warmth and upper harmonics.
I would add more low mids, set high mids and treble to flat. Boost the bass a tad and a careful use of the HPF should get you there. Also, boost your input gain to the point it just starts to distort, the slightly back it off, then adjust the volume.
I have the six string version of that bass, and used to have the fiver. Have you tried soloing the neck pickup? I generally either one pickup or the other alone...I basically never blend. Solo the neck pickup, move your right hand closer to the fretboard and maybe even right on top of it, and I bet that will get you a lot of the way there.
You think boosting 800 Hz is going to add warmth?? IMO that's way too high for "warmth."