How the hell do you get the Bass tone in Pearl Jam's 'Go'

[saggsy]

I have often wondered this for years, how do they get that bass sound in the song 'Go' by Pearl Jam.
It almost sounds like its a fretlless bass (quite likely, as Jeff Ament plays fretless a bit) that has been re-amped in a large room or something ??

I love the sound, it sits great with the two guitars and drums.

Cheers from
Matt

[saggsy]

bump

[s.d.finley]

I thought Ament used an 8 string too...

[saggsy]

quite possible that he used the 8 string for tracking 'Go'

mm, 8 string fretless, interesting

still love to hear some ideas on how one would achieve that 'bass amp in a cow shed' kind of sound though

Cheers from
Matt

[Gregg Sartiano]

That song sounds like pick + distortion -- PJ and King's X were artistically close enough that I've heard bootlegs from this era with Doug Pinnick singing on w.m.a., for instance.

Check out the KX sound on the first 3 or 4 albums if you're into that bass vibe. "Fine Art of Friendship" off "Faith, Hope, Love" or "Chariot Song" from the self-titled record (is that the one with the bass-only intro? Sick, sick, sick!). The low end on these CD's is a little light -- mixing/mastering -- so don't be afraid to juice it up a bit on the stereo. Saw them in that era...jeez...9 SVT 8x10's...

It sounds to me like clean lows & distorted top end with pick, if I remember. I'll have to listen back. Obviously Jeff has/had 12 string basses ("Jeremy"), so that's a possibility. I haven't heard "Go" in a while, but if I get a chance, I'll give it a listen again. I wore that CD out the first time around.