John Paul Jones tone

bubba_hotep · Post by **bubba_hotep** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 2:40 pm

Being an extremely dedicated Zeppelin fan, I was wondering if there was any pacticular way, setting, or setup to get that punchy bass tone from Jonesy, like in songs like "What it and what should never be" and the lemon song.

blazer · Post by **blazer** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 2:46 pm

From what I know he played his sixties fender Jazz bass on those.

Don't know for sure what amps he used.

lyle_from_minneapolis · Thu Feb 08, 2007 3:07 pm

Play loud.

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 3:10 pm

He claims that he used rounds all through Zeppelin. I don't really see how his tone from "Dazed and Confused" and anything off of LZ-I and II can even be achieved with rounds.

Acoustic 360's live.

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 3:55 pm

John, I agree; I always assumed he used flats.

stts64 · Post by **stts64** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 4:12 pm

I get the exact sound on my Jazz with flats.

tennis_nick · Post by **tennis_nick** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 4:15 pm

But if you find bootlegs of Black Dog, listen to how HUGE his sound is, so throaty and very roundwound... I just think he enjoyed rolling the tone off a bit!

thx1955 · Post by **thx1955** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 5:09 pm

When I saw him / them play in the late 60s he was using a Jazz through 4 Acoustic 450's.

teeder · Post by **teeder** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 4:07 am

I pretty much nail his tone with this Jazz.

It has GHS Boomer nickle rounds on it, which are fairly warm sounding to me.
He did use the Acoustics with folded horn 18's I believe.

thx1955 · Post by **thx1955** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 9:35 am

Kevin,
When I saw them play back in the late 60's and early 70's JPJ used 4 Acoustic 450 4x15's on stage, great sound. I'd love to get my hands on one of those old 450's.

rickfan63 · Post by **rickfan63** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 10:26 am

I once read an old 1975 Guitar Player magazine on Jonesy, and he stated that he used Rotosound flats with the Fenders until he started using his first Alembic. Then he switched to Roto RS66 Swing Bass rounds because he felt the Alembic needed it. As far as amps goes, he stated that he tended to blow up every amp that he used except his Acoustic 360's.

teeder · Post by **teeder** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 10:30 am

How do they differ from the 360's? Just wattage? I know nothing about them other than I like the 360 setting on my Bass Pod!

Jonesy and Macca are the reason I play bass!

captain_jetglo · Post by **captain_jetglo** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 1:51 pm

Very good reasons, in my case, besides Macca and Jones I must add Squire.

edski · Post by **edski** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 2:37 pm

I think the "3" models were amp heads from Acoustic, and the "4" models cabinets. I used to have a 402, a 2x15 cabinet. Another in the "wish I hadn't sold it" folder.

I never thought in a million listens that JPJ ever used a Rick, but some of his tunes had a brighter sound. The album Presence comes to mind, and an Alembic makes sense.

jps · Post by **jps** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 2:54 pm

Check this out:

http://acoustic360.homeunix.net/