Tim Commerford-like sound?

[Surly]

With notice to the first RATM album, I was wondering if any of you guys can get/have some sort of bass tone like that. IMO possibly one of the best, punchy tones in rock. As most of you probably know, Tim plays a Stingray on that album.

 

[fidooda]

i tought he played J basses?

anyhow, great tone, you can get real close with a MM and some overdrive.

 

[KennethB]

The first Rage- record was indeed done with a Stingray. He started using Jazz-basses on "Evil Empire".
I think he used SWR-amps with his Stingray on the first one, and a Marshall Gov'nor- pedal for the parts with distortion (like the breakdown in "Know Your Enemy").
The way to get the tone from that record is simply to boost the treble a little bit on your bass, and playing with a firm attack with your right hand placed over the pickup and having fresh strings on the bass.

 

[Oldtoe]

It is a rather meaty SR4 sound, isn't it? I always kinda figured there was some layering going on. "Killing in the Name of" has a great bass tone.

Does he play with a pick? Sounds like it to me.

 

[Micolao]

pretty simple...
you need one of this:

 

[Surly]

LMAO!!

No, he does not play with a pick.

His actual setup is documented somewhere on the web. It may not be totally accurate, as he is a bit secretive about his effects. He actually uses 2 amps- one clean and one "dirty" to get that punchy, yet still overdriven sound. This is especially important when using the wah (2 wahs in parallel).

 

[aixelsyDevaHI]

According to Wiki he used

Ampeg Pro Series Amplification: 2x Ampeg SVT-2PRO heads, connected to 2x Ampeg 8x10 Cabinets

during his time with Rage. The effects he used while in Rage are

BOSS DD-3 Digital Delay Pedal
BOSS OC-3 Octave Pedal
Homemade Overdrive Pedals
Jim Dunlop 105Q Bass Wah
Marshall Guv'nor Distortion Pedal
MXR Flanger Pedal.

I've heard he's really secretive about his settings though so it'll take a bit of fiddling.

 

[Oldtoe]

I have a Bongo and a tuner.

 

[tkarter]

Do you use that tuner Ben? The bongo really should be enough.


tk

 

[syciprider]

IMO, one of the best bass tones ever recorded is from Take The Power Back.

 

[Alz®]

Tim Commerford like sound?

That'll be an SR4 played with attitude and a lot of practice.

 

[SLUGGO]

I sat in with a cover band one night and we did "Killing in the name of." I used a SUB SR4 Passive and a SansAmp programable pedal and dialed the sound right in. I set it with about 3/4 Drive, tap out the Blend, add a little extra prescence. Mix tone as the room dictates. (oh yeah and add salt!)

 

[jamesattard]

i achieved that sound with a SR4 flatwounds, with EQ set to max treble and max bass and flat mid

 

[Surly]

IMO, one of the best bass tones ever recorded is from Take The Power Back.

I agree. Also I love slapping my 'Ray and especially that song. Drop D slap is sooooo cool.

 

[Oldtoe]

We did a pretty funny version of "Killing in the Name of" last night at rehearsal. We had a blast doing it. The DD SR5 with its good ol' bridge pickup got real close to the tone.

Hey, you can't play blues all the time, and that riff is FUN.

 

[KennethB]

According to Wiki he used Ampeg during his time with Rage.

He used Ampeg in later Rage. The period we're talking about (recording of debut album); SWR.
This clip is from early period Rage:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTeffcyyzVM"]YouTube - Rage Against the Machine - Bullet in The Head[/ame]

 

[Moondog]

Love that album & love that bass tone.

Heavy, D-Tuned, 2-band Ray with some drive!

PERFECT!!!

 

[Surly]

Love jamming that song

The 'Ray rules I tell you...RULES!!!

 

[KennethB]

What difference an amp makes....

....to the sound. This is a interesting clip. Now it's 1994, and Tim is using Ampeg but is still with the Stingray. Really different. You can also spot his next main bass "standing in the shadows" waiting to put that poor 'Ray out of a job.
Also cool backing vocals by Tim starting at 03:09 and a really cool looking guitar that Tom Morello is playing in this clip. When will EBMM do a chrome Axis??


[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjStNJ-qUKg"]YouTube - Rage Against The Machine - Killing In The Name (Pinkpop1994)[/ame]

 

[Caca de Kick]

It is a rather meaty SR4 sound, isn't it?

That's because it's a 2-band StingRay.

I love my 2 bands!