CapeFran
Joined: Jan 23, 2015
Posts: 24
New Orleans
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Posted on Apr 07 2015 04:18 PM
Ok, I'm a lifelong guitar player and a rather new surf player. No real experience with bass, but I want to be able to help out our band's bassist (who is also pretty new to surf as well as live gear). Everything I've found about surf bass focuses on gear and to a lesser extent playing style/technique, but not so much on how to get a tone that will play nice with the drums and guitar.
What I'm trying to find is how to get a nice surf tone from the bass. It's a Jazz bass through a Fender combo 4x10 bass amp (for now). Should the mids be scooped? Or drop treble as well so it's just bottom? What about pickup volumes?
The stuff I've listened to (Chantays, Dick Dale), the bass is muted yet punchy and staccato, almost like an upright bass.
— Ghost Coast
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WaimeaBay
Joined: Jul 05, 2006
Posts: 969
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Posted on Apr 07 2015 04:19 PM
a lot of surf players use a pick to get the thud sound.
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bigtikidude
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25682
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
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Posted on Apr 07 2015 05:54 PM
I'm not in a band, but when I do plug into an amp to sit in with some friends. I prefer flat wound strings. The bass, turn everything up.
The amp, turn the highs down all the way. The mids at 2 or 3, the bass
7-10.
— Jeff(bigtikidude)
Last edited: Apr 07, 2015 17:54:48
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dirkkahuna
Joined: Dec 21, 2012
Posts: 77
Willow Street, PA
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Posted on Apr 07 2015 06:00 PM
I like D'Addario Chromes flatwound bass strings and (for surf) use a Fender medium or hard pick 80% of the time. I have the tone, on my bass, ( Danelectro Longhorn re-issue) rolled off almost all the way. I like the tone of using both pickups together. My amp (Ampeg) is also set very mellow/bassy with high mid and treble almost at"0". JMO
— give me 3-fingers of 1st Wave SURF
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heepeejeep
Joined: Feb 28, 2013
Posts: 350
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Posted on Apr 07 2015 06:57 PM
I think picking mostly downstrokes also adds the right character. I also prefer to use a small amount of reverb, so I can hear the click of my pick (quoting Mr. Dale) in the sound.
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