80’s bass tones

[JJTee]

Lots of mentions of Duff McKagan. He’s the reason I picked up the bass, and this is still my favourite ever pick tone 35+ years later. Fender Jazz Special (the TBX circuit gives a certain emphasis in the upper mids/low highs, that’s not present in my other PJ basses), fresh round wound strings, Dunlop Tortex pic (the yellow 73mm one):

 

 

[Lozz196]

That is a great tone, I’m a Duff fan too

[Stub Mandrel]

3 hours ago, JJTee said:

Lots of mentions of Duff McKagan. He’s the reason I picked up the bass, and this is still my favourite ever pick tone 35+ years later. Fender Jazz Special (the TBX circuit gives a certain emphasis in the upper mids/low highs, that’s not present in my other PJ basses), fresh round wound strings, Dunlop Tortex pic (the yellow 73mm one):

 

 

 

That's an 'I change my strings for every gig' tone

[Musicman666]

20 hours ago, Cat Burrito said:

Personally I like the tones of Simon Gallup (The Cure) and Craig Adams (Sisters of Mercy era), and both helped shaped my early playing days.

...add hooky and severin while your at it...  opening bars of israel and rock and a hard place ...less is more. 

[MacDaddy]

Deon Estus.

 

His bass work for Wham! was sublime.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[LowB_FTW]

On 27/10/2025 at 19:05, JJTee said:

Dunlop Tortex pic (the yellow 73mm one)

Erm …

 

Mark

[JJTee]

5 hours ago, LowB_FTW said:

Erm …

 

Mark

Ooh, yeah, that would be a bit chunky….