Don’t take that tone with me

Sometimes you see something that defines your thoughts. It clarifies your vision and helps you dig deeper into your dream. It’s even better if it makes you laugh.

Sometimes a picture says it all.

I recently was doing a session for the uniquely talented singer/songwriter Katie Howell and learned something new. We hired a buddy of ours, Jonathan Smither, to play bass. Jonathan’s a great player who knows how to groove and has a great sense of tone.
For the session, he brought his custom 5-string which sounds great. We smacked it through my Hamptone tube preamp (which loves bass guitar), but it wasn’t the right tone for the track. It was too bright and clear. It really needed a P-Bass. WARNING: You’ve got to take me with a grain of salt here. I think a P-Bass through an Ampeg is the greatest bass tone know to mankind. Almost every song needs a P-Bass.
Jonathan actually has a beauty P-Bass, but he didn’t have it with him. I mentioned that I wished we could get more of that vintage tone, and he pulled out a trick I’d never seen.
First, grab some Kleenex. Preferably not the kind with lotion in it. Toilet paper works fine. Stuff just enough under the strings down near the bridge, and it creates a fair approximation of that slightly dampened sound I love so much. Kudos to Jonathan for teaching me a new trick!

Bassist Jonathan Smither and his nifty trick!

Detail of bassist Jonathan Smither's trick