Twangy Sound for my musicman

[jamesattard]

Hi people I need some quick tips as I have an important gig tonight and this will make me decide whether to use the musicman stingray 3EQ maple neck 1996 model or another bass (custom 5 string).

What I like in my custom 5 string is that twangy round sound (which do not come because of new strings since they are quite dirty and old by now, around 6 months). What I don't like is its slappability (strings too close, and i believe that NOTHING will beat a musicman in slapping).

What I want in the musicman - i like its current slap tone, so i don't want to change it. But I would like a similar twangy sound of my 5 string bass. How can i achieve it? I know very little of the custom 5 string bass - i don't even know what strings are there since the previous owner have fitted them and cannot reach him anymore.

What are the factors to produce a round twangy sound? (imagine the timber of when playing a bass with a pick, but you are actually playing with your fingers to make it rounder). I think the strings contribute a factor - whether they are nickel or stainless steel - but i don't know which is which to use. What about EQ?

I need to tell you also that i have a SANSAMP and a BOSS EQ in my rig.

Thanks
james

 

[jamesattard]

to give you an example of what i meant of the twangy sound I get on the 5 string, it is basically a cross between Duff (Guns and Roses) and Steve Harris (Iron Maiden) sound...

 

[SentientEntity]

Bassplayer just had an interview with Steve Harris.

http://www.bassplayer.com/story.asp?storycode=15883

Seems he uses flatwounds, which surprises me never, used them myself, but I would think they would sound more, well, flat.
He uses part of his fingernail to get more attack.

Hope this helps a bit.
If I were you I'd just go out and try them.

 

[PocketGroove82]

I would try doing extreme things with the EQ on your head. Like crank it to max, boost the highs and mids and cut the bass. You can get some very different tones from your ray if you get creative with your EQs, on and off the instrument