Pushing the Mattisson To Its Limit?
Does a clean sound work in heavier music?
I’ve become quite fascinated lately about the bass’s roll in different styles of music, and just how necessary certain “must have” pieces of gear are to achieve a musical result.
In the latest installment of the “Could I Play Bass With” series, I recorded a new bass part for Plini’s “Electric Sunrise.
Aside from my addition of some chordal reharmonization in the intro, I played the song pretty much like the original. Except, that is, for the typical overdriven chugging bass sound we’re quite used to hearing on music in this style.
This is no slight towards Simon Grove! I think he’s a fantastic bass player, and although I’ve not been able to catch them live yet, I’m always a fan of the sounds Simon gets on the YouTube videos I’ve been able to check out of the band.
It’s just curiosity more than anything on my part. I started out thinking I’d grab the Darkglass Microtubes X Ultra, dial it in something like Nolly Getgood, and then go ripping at the song as “authentically” as I could.
It turns out the most authentic thing I could do was just be myself. Instead of fussing for hours over eq settings and low comp vs high distortion ratios, I just got on with it and had fun. I learnt the song in about 25 minutes, and then dialed in my brain to play with the E-string tuned down to Db.
I’m curious to hear your thoughts on whether or not you think the clean sound works. If I was called for a gig like this I think I’d obviously spend a ton of time dialing in sounds so the artist was 100% happy with what they were hearing. But for my own amusement of making some youtube videos at home, and challenging myself to quickly learn and play music I don’t normally get to perform, I’m very impressed with what the Mattisson can do straight into the amp.
More soon,
Janek
P.S. Our Signed physical books are still shipping, and are shipping WORLDWIDE now! However, due to massive demand (really, you guys have been going crazy and I really appreciate the support. Going to the post office and doing the extra work vs giving Jeff Bezos 40% of sales is a total no brainer) some of the books are starting to sell out. I have a massive re-order in to the printers and they should be here in about 4 days 🎊 I’m adding Altered, Giant Steps, Sight-Reading, and a bunch more!
Going back and forth between the original and your version, I have to say I really like the sound of the clean Mattisson in the mix. To my ear, the clean tone adds clarity to the low end and a nice contrast to the other instruments. Multifaceted Mattisson!
I think it does! And often works better (to my sensibilities) even though it's outside the norm. When everything is heavy, then nothing is.
Although it's guitar and not bass, on Porcupine Tree's latest album, Steven Wilson switched from higher gain humbuckers to a Tele, something we don't associate with heavy "chug." I think the wiry, more biting attack worked perfectly for the the heavier tracks.
Your higher action and clean tone gave it a lot more dynamics imho.