bass_reaper
New member
hey guys. I been listening closely to Cliff's sound(specially Anesthesia pulling teeth) but I just can't get the tone right.
which pedals and settings should I use?
which pedals and settings should I use?
how to get a Cliff Burton like distortion tone
- Thread starter bass_reaper
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Falloffthebonetone
New member
Re: how to get a Cliff Burton like distortion tone
http://www.uberproaudio.com/who-plays-what/387-cliff-burton-bass-rig-metallica
Here is all of his recorded gear he used, though there may be a mistake or 2. I know for a fact the bridge pickup in his Rick was a Duncan Jazz bass pickup and not a Dimarzio.
That being said he used a Big Muff for distortion and a Morely wah to get the Anesthesia tone. The particular wah he used is discontinued but I have gotten great results using the Fulltone OCD and the Dunlop Bass wah, most kinds of distortion will do as long as they don't suck out your low end.
As for settings, he used a good amount of highs and mids. If you have a bass with 2 pickups then you will get closer using both on for his earlier stuff and the neck pickup for Puppets but thats just my experience.
I should also mention that most of the time, he used steel bass strings and played with his fingers.
http://www.uberproaudio.com/who-plays-what/387-cliff-burton-bass-rig-metallica
Here is all of his recorded gear he used, though there may be a mistake or 2. I know for a fact the bridge pickup in his Rick was a Duncan Jazz bass pickup and not a Dimarzio.
That being said he used a Big Muff for distortion and a Morely wah to get the Anesthesia tone. The particular wah he used is discontinued but I have gotten great results using the Fulltone OCD and the Dunlop Bass wah, most kinds of distortion will do as long as they don't suck out your low end.
As for settings, he used a good amount of highs and mids. If you have a bass with 2 pickups then you will get closer using both on for his earlier stuff and the neck pickup for Puppets but thats just my experience.
I should also mention that most of the time, he used steel bass strings and played with his fingers.
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bass_reaper
New member
Re: how to get a Cliff Burton like distortion tone
thanks for the link.
I also had some questions about what noise gate settings I should use since my current settings suck my tone
thanks for the link.
I also had some questions about what noise gate settings I should use since my current settings suck my tone
Falloffthebonetone
New member
Re: how to get a Cliff Burton like distortion tone
If you're having problems then I would either lower the threshold to almost nothing or just turn it off. Cliff didn't use an absurd amount of gain to produce that kind of noise nor did he use a noise gate.
If you're having problems then I would either lower the threshold to almost nothing or just turn it off. Cliff didn't use an absurd amount of gain to produce that kind of noise nor did he use a noise gate.
bass_reaper
New member
Re: how to get a Cliff Burton like distortion tone
oh k. and some guys recommended that I place the wah pedal after the distortion pedal. your opinion?
oh k. and some guys recommended that I place the wah pedal after the distortion pedal. your opinion?
jon the art guy
Nerdy Nerd
Re: how to get a Cliff Burton like distortion tone
here's this. If you can get past the Hawaii drawl.
here's this. If you can get past the Hawaii drawl.
Falloffthebonetone
New member
Re: how to get a Cliff Burton like distortion tone
Heres a picture of the order his pedals were in. It looks like the wah is in the middle so sure, you can put the distortion before, though I find the wah more controlled and effective before it.
Heres a picture of the order his pedals were in. It looks like the wah is in the middle so sure, you can put the distortion before, though I find the wah more controlled and effective before it.
bass_reaper
New member
Re: how to get a Cliff Burton like distortion tone
whats the pedal after the wah?
whats the pedal after the wah?
Falloffthebonetone
New member
Re: how to get a Cliff Burton like distortion tone
I believe the one on the right is a boss compressor. And I also believe the green looking pedal there is an Ibanez tube screamer, which he used some times in place of the big muff.
The guy in the video had it, distortion, wah, then compression, and that seems like how he has it in the picture, though I prefer the distortion to come later and the compression earlier in the chain.
I believe the one on the right is a boss compressor. And I also believe the green looking pedal there is an Ibanez tube screamer, which he used some times in place of the big muff.
The guy in the video had it, distortion, wah, then compression, and that seems like how he has it in the picture, though I prefer the distortion to come later and the compression earlier in the chain.
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bass_reaper
New member
Re: how to get a Cliff Burton like distortion tone
the order of the effects makes no sense :/
the order of the effects makes no sense :/
Falloffthebonetone
New member
Re: how to get a Cliff Burton like distortion tone
When you get the pedals just mix them around until you find an order that works for you. He used the wah in the middle so you can work from there.
When you get the pedals just mix them around until you find an order that works for you. He used the wah in the middle so you can work from there.
bass_reaper
New member
Re: how to get a Cliff Burton like distortion tone
^ thanks guys
^ thanks guys
zenmindbeginner
New member
Re: how to get a Cliff Burton like distortion tone
I recorded a band that had two bass players (no guitarist or keyboard players). One had a James Jamerson like thumpin' bass sound out of a vintage SVT rig with the 8x10 cabinet. That bass player played with his fingers and was all vintage warmth.
But the other player played with a pick and used a vintage Big Muff + Morley combination through a Sunn Coliseum with the 1X 18 inch cabinet. he was all Cliff Burton and he absolutely nailed the tone.
So in my personal experience, the Big Muff + Morley wah combo through a quality amp will get anyone most of the way there.
I recorded a band that had two bass players (no guitarist or keyboard players). One had a James Jamerson like thumpin' bass sound out of a vintage SVT rig with the 8x10 cabinet. That bass player played with his fingers and was all vintage warmth.
But the other player played with a pick and used a vintage Big Muff + Morley combination through a Sunn Coliseum with the 1X 18 inch cabinet. he was all Cliff Burton and he absolutely nailed the tone.
So in my personal experience, the Big Muff + Morley wah combo through a quality amp will get anyone most of the way there.
bass_reaper
New member
Re: how to get a Cliff Burton like distortion tone
so, I bought the bass muff. I've tried it out with my wah(I can't afford a Morley one) but it sounds kinda electric-ish than the raw-ish tone that cliff has.
so, I bought the bass muff. I've tried it out with my wah(I can't afford a Morley one) but it sounds kinda electric-ish than the raw-ish tone that cliff has.
Falloffthebonetone
New member
Re: how to get a Cliff Burton like distortion tone
You can try lowering the gain and increase the low end to get less buzz and more fundamental. That way it will sound less electric and more gutsy and growly.
Here is his isolated tone from Ride the Lightning, try to match it.
You can try lowering the gain and increase the low end to get less buzz and more fundamental. That way it will sound less electric and more gutsy and growly.
Here is his isolated tone from Ride the Lightning, try to match it.
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zenmindbeginner
New member
Re: how to get a Cliff Burton like distortion tone
The Morley Wah brings a very unique tone to the mix... it's a very vocal wah with lots of midrange grunt and snarl. I'm pretty sure the vintage Power Wah is the Cliff approved pedal that my friend used.
The Big Muff he used was the vintage type and I can probably say that there is quite a lot of difference between the vintage Big Muffs and the bass ones.
The Big Muff + Morley Wah just flat out thins out the tone BIGTIME. The right amplifier then fills the bass back in.
That's why my friend (who is a HUGE Burton bass nut and truly played on Cliff's level even if it was his own style) used a Sunn Coliseum head and 18 inch cabinet combo... that definitely brought the bass.
The good thing about the Bass Muff is that it will retain more of your low end and you won't have to compensate at the amp end quite as much.
Bangladesh huh? WOW! You go man! Our Media Director Scott Olson spent weeks there as the first storm chaser in Bangladesh... this is a GREAT coincidence!
The depressed economy in Bangladesh is insane... the fact that you are buying gear at all is amazing! I wish there was a lower cost alternative to the vintage Morley Power Wah... the newer ones just aren't as good as the older ones.
The Morley Wah brings a very unique tone to the mix... it's a very vocal wah with lots of midrange grunt and snarl. I'm pretty sure the vintage Power Wah is the Cliff approved pedal that my friend used.
The Big Muff he used was the vintage type and I can probably say that there is quite a lot of difference between the vintage Big Muffs and the bass ones.
The Big Muff + Morley Wah just flat out thins out the tone BIGTIME. The right amplifier then fills the bass back in.
That's why my friend (who is a HUGE Burton bass nut and truly played on Cliff's level even if it was his own style) used a Sunn Coliseum head and 18 inch cabinet combo... that definitely brought the bass.
The good thing about the Bass Muff is that it will retain more of your low end and you won't have to compensate at the amp end quite as much.
Bangladesh huh? WOW! You go man! Our Media Director Scott Olson spent weeks there as the first storm chaser in Bangladesh... this is a GREAT coincidence!
The depressed economy in Bangladesh is insane... the fact that you are buying gear at all is amazing! I wish there was a lower cost alternative to the vintage Morley Power Wah... the newer ones just aren't as good as the older ones.
bass_reaper
New member
Re: how to get a Cliff Burton like distortion tone
@falloffthebone- thanks man the settings really made the tone sound a lot better!
@zenmindbeginner- I'll see it if I can get a vintage power wah but a getting the amp is a bit out of my budget :/
and yeah the financial condition of the country is depressing but the music scene here is absolutely on fire! though we don't have a lot of options and the prices are sky high, we're trying our best
@falloffthebone- thanks man the settings really made the tone sound a lot better!
@zenmindbeginner- I'll see it if I can get a vintage power wah but a getting the amp is a bit out of my budget :/
and yeah the financial condition of the country is depressing but the music scene here is absolutely on fire! though we don't have a lot of options and the prices are sky high, we're trying our best
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