Amos Williams of Tesseract Talks Bass Tone | Reverb Interview

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  • čas přidán 19. 12. 2016
  • Amos Williams, bassist of English Progressive Metal band Tesseract, stopped by the Reverb office to discuss his bass tone. Williams revealed his theories behind cutting through the mix with carefully equalizing and compressing his bass as well as with his style. Read more about Amos Williams and his rig at bit.ly/2ho089T
    tesseractband.co.uk/
    Amos plays:
    Kiesel Vader VB5 Headless Bass - bit.ly/2i7k5pI
    Avalon U5 Direct Box & Instrument Preamp - bit.ly/2hXg1oN
    MXR Ten Band Equalizer M108 - bit.ly/2hWGouW
    Electro-Harmonix Black Finger Compessor - bit.ly/2hXmHD8
    Darkglass Electronics Vintage Deluxe Overdrive Preamp - bit.ly/2hQZMJZ
    Darkglass Electronics Super Symmetry Compressor - bit.ly/2hXhSKi
  • Hudba

Komentáře • 250

  • @you_tube618
    @you_tube618 Před 7 lety +661

    I want this man to narrate audiobooks.

    • @returntolifeband
      @returntolifeband Před 7 lety +5

      Just listen to Parallax on repeat

    • @red9317
      @red9317 Před 6 lety +4

      You Tube we have the same shade of red, nice

    • @Cheeseboiga
      @Cheeseboiga Před 4 lety +3

      Him and Guthrie Govan.

    • @fleamarketfloppydisk
      @fleamarketfloppydisk Před 4 lety +1

      @@returntolifeband as much as I am a fan of btbam and tesseract, when I first heard that part I started laughing my ass off. pretty corny

    • @surajkatuwal7088
      @surajkatuwal7088 Před 3 lety

      😂😂😂

  • @veridianmusic2084
    @veridianmusic2084 Před 6 lety +612

    This guy sounds exactly how he looks.

  • @patrickhunter
    @patrickhunter Před 7 lety +169

    An absolute legend, love the emotion he puts into his playing

    • @perryv.d.veekens3649
      @perryv.d.veekens3649 Před 7 lety +7

      The way he talks about his tone makes me think about how I approach my tone and rig. I also find it really interesting that he finds specific tonal regions to sit in when playing with his band, might do that myself too. Great vid!

  • @lkzprd
    @lkzprd Před 5 lety +35

    he approaches bass like a scientist ... its also interesting to note that his playing truly serves the song ... i can tell the riffs from which tesseract song they are but on their own they sound quite weird, but hear in them with drums and in context and they are massive

  • @somnus6179
    @somnus6179 Před 7 lety +74

    he's so composed and articulate

  • @Metalweasel
    @Metalweasel Před 3 lety +8

    Came to hear about a bass rig, 1 min in now I'm meditating.

  • @Shad0wz69
    @Shad0wz69 Před 7 lety +193

    I think we need an Amos solo album

    • @andymcleod8276
      @andymcleod8276 Před 7 lety +2

      Shad0wz69 definitely

    • @HayterTater01
      @HayterTater01 Před 2 lety +3

      I think he has tons of solo albums under the moniker "Tesseract"

  • @Philtoid
    @Philtoid Před 7 lety +57

    ive never found a bassist more interesting. this man is a genius

  • @LeonTodd
    @LeonTodd Před 7 lety +201

    Looks like Hugh Grant and Jaco did the fusion dance from DBZ.

    • @MikeEnx
      @MikeEnx Před 5 lety +4

      and it went wrong

  • @offtherealm5438
    @offtherealm5438 Před 6 lety +135

    I just seen him live....he Roadies his own gear before the show, he wears a black hoodie.... it's funny, removes the hoodie, then he's the bassist in the band.

    • @rocioiribe5841
      @rocioiribe5841 Před 5 lety +36

      he removes the hoodie and the SHOES, then he's the bassist in the band ;)

    • @GlennMcComb
      @GlennMcComb Před 4 lety +7

      Heh yeah he sold me the t-shirt I bought before the gig. Was rad.

    • @offtherealm5438
      @offtherealm5438 Před 4 lety +4

      @@rocioiribe5841 Damn it, I forgot to mention he plays barefoot. He's obviously very passionate about bass playing in general.

    • @bassguitar1919
      @bassguitar1919 Před 3 lety +2

      I get the impression that generally that's the type of people the whole band is. They're humble guys who enjoy making music, and they seem to have a real respect and appreciation for their fans.

    • @offtherealm5438
      @offtherealm5438 Před 3 lety +1

      @@bassguitar1919 😎 Cool

  • @andymcleod8276
    @andymcleod8276 Před 7 lety +13

    Absolutely love his work in TesseracT.

  • @dumbohill42
    @dumbohill42 Před 7 lety +23

    Voice of a narrator, face of Hugh Grant, bass skills and tone of a god!

  • @richardgudino7630
    @richardgudino7630 Před 7 lety +6

    Wow, probably the most helpful bass tone chat ever. Amos Williams, thank you!

  • @worstghosthunting3466
    @worstghosthunting3466 Před 3 lety +5

    This guy makes the concept of playing bass guitar sound like the name of his band

  • @cleveryetdull
    @cleveryetdull Před 7 lety +68

    I miss the growl of his Warwick, but still a good tone.

  • @bassguitar1919
    @bassguitar1919 Před 3 lety +6

    Absolutely one of my favorite bass players and favorite bands!

  • @mattnsim
    @mattnsim Před 4 lety +11

    When David Attenborough passes, I vote for Amos to narrate all wildlife documentaries. 👌🏻

  • @seth691
    @seth691 Před 7 lety +4

    the Avalon is absolutely amazing..used one in the studio and fell in love with it.

  • @sacredxgeometry
    @sacredxgeometry Před 7 lety +13

    Feels a little cut short, I can't be the only dude to notice that...anywaus, Amos is awesome and his diction is incredible. I love musicians that know what they're talking about.

  • @Yriel129
    @Yriel129 Před 5 lety +3

    I like this guy's approach to bass. Very intuitive thinking and delivery.

  • @bassheadjazz2708
    @bassheadjazz2708 Před 7 lety +156

    Love the look of the new Kiesels, but his tone is so much "better" to me when hes playing his Warwicks

    • @themodernguitarist
      @themodernguitarist Před 7 lety +36

      His tone WAS better with the Warwicks. Carvin/Kiesels sound pretty flat, while Warwicks tend to have a signature growl. Guys like Amos Williams, Ryan Martinie, and Robert Trujillo just sound so distintive because of their Warwicks.
      Although Im personally more of a fan of Spectors. :p I'm sure Kiesels are extremely well-built, but they just sound extremely meh.

    • @matthewcurtiss7557
      @matthewcurtiss7557 Před 7 lety +12

      Kiesel as a company has been way better to him so i get it

    • @bassheadjazz2708
      @bassheadjazz2708 Před 7 lety +12

      Matthew Curtiss Yea, Kiesel is on a grassroots mission with the Djent/Prog crowd

    • @matthewcurtiss7557
      @matthewcurtiss7557 Před 7 lety +1

      Oh yeah dude they got everybody

    • @Herreken
      @Herreken Před 7 lety +3

      Do you know why he switched to these basses? I haven't really followed the band since their first album so I'm out of the loop. I wonder if the weight of the Warwicks had anything to do with the switch to these Vader basses. I definitely hear the Stingray sound in that bass which is a good thing to me. Warwicks are cool too.

  • @mattnsim
    @mattnsim Před 4 lety +4

    So articulate, and he plays so beautifully too. My favourite bass player. 🤘🏻

  • @eddiekalista3222
    @eddiekalista3222 Před 5 lety +11

    I love when a musician actually KNOWS his gear and his tone. I've always been anal about my guitar tones, often spending weeks fiddling with dials and settings to find the sweet spot for every pedal, channel, and song. It drives me nuts to meet players with the "I just turn all the dials all the way up and play" mentality.

    • @jery3385
      @jery3385 Před 3 lety

      I'm still 2 months into playing bass,I have a bb234 and as an amp I have a blackstar fly amp,I know every combination at this point in order to get a nice tone.
      I believe that a lot of bass and guitar players don't get to know their gear and tone,and half of them have no idea how to get a certain sound,or don't know why they can't get that tone.
      I mean some guys put stratocasters in drop G ffs.

    • @JeDxDeVu
      @JeDxDeVu Před 7 měsíci

      Yea but those are the people that make albums. Stephan carpenter has pickups because they look cool and just uses presets. Couldn’t care less about gear. Has a sick tones.

  • @ironblast5
    @ironblast5 Před 5 lety +3

    Big influence on my current rig. I have used very similar gear from my start as a bassist. I used a warwick fna jazzman with a tech 21 sansamp vt deluxe instead of a darkglass b7k, digitech synthwah boss ns2 noise gate tc polytune, and a black finger for the same reasons. Now im running a tech 21 qstrip parametric eq/ di, two notes torpedo cab, darkglass hyper luminal compressor, fortin zuul noise gate, morley mini wah/ volume, and a custom Verellen Meatsmoke tube preamp with in ears. This setup is a game changer

    • @rainbowslushy223
      @rainbowslushy223 Před 4 lety

      Whats settings do u use for the synth wah and what context

  • @nonono7973
    @nonono7973 Před 7 lety +5

    So happy that he finally has a signature bass with kiesel.

  • @Stratocoaster08
    @Stratocoaster08 Před 5 lety +9

    I just keep finding more and more reasons to love this guy! Amos is quickly becoming one of my all time favorite bass players! ...I'd say #1 favorite, but I'm sure you'll understand why I can't take that distinction from Geddy Lee...

  • @ferna2294
    @ferna2294 Před 7 lety +12

    I have never listened to a musician talk this deep and technically about the sound of their instrument. He is actually backing up what he says with frequencies and stuff that is not abstract or subjective. Most musicians nowadays can´t really explain to this degree the reasons of their gear. Also Periphery´s bassist is a beast when talking about his sound.
    They really know their shit.

    • @rainbowslushy223
      @rainbowslushy223 Před 4 lety

      Ive never liked nollys bass tone this guy he HAS TONE nollys bass sounds like it was eqes by a guitarist

  • @alejandroguerrero5130
    @alejandroguerrero5130 Před 7 lety +36

    im about to move into bass only because this guy is an inspiration

    • @ianwichmann2697
      @ianwichmann2697 Před 7 lety +4

      No lie, that's why I bought a bass! Amos gives such an incredible soul to the instrument that it persuaded me to give it a try. I've been loving it every since.

  • @stormcorrosion176
    @stormcorrosion176 Před 6 lety

    Great interview!

  • @santiagovanegas3812
    @santiagovanegas3812 Před 6 lety +72

    Jedi Bass. Would love to see Amos jam with Abasi or Govan.

  • @down7unedpc740
    @down7unedpc740 Před 7 lety +29

    OH MY GOD I WAS NOT EXPECTING THIS TO HPPEN

  • @Yakushii
    @Yakushii Před 4 lety +16

    His voice is my ideal bass tone.

  • @padureancalin8096
    @padureancalin8096 Před 5 lety +1

    This guy is on it! His knowledge is amasing!

  • @JakeStaffin
    @JakeStaffin Před 4 lety +4

    He's an orchestral percussionist? Damn, I always pictured him to be classical or jazz bass player outside TesseracT!! I'm a classical percussionist and drum set player, very inspired by Jay from TesseracT but I've always wanted to learn guitar and bass in a more prog context. I guess those techniques can really cross over!!

  • @josephharvey1762
    @josephharvey1762 Před 3 lety +3

    Man, that massive, massive Dystopia slap line. I've been working on that, and I can see that he finds it as addicting as I do :D

  • @jacoblopez659
    @jacoblopez659 Před 7 lety +36

    2:58 thought he was going to play Portrait of Tracy by Jaco Pastorius

    • @andromeda6463
      @andromeda6463 Před 6 lety +1

      Jacob Lopez I honestly wish e did. It's a masterpiece

  • @alex_experience9188
    @alex_experience9188 Před 7 lety +1

    Made my day!

  • @BruceHeffner
    @BruceHeffner Před 7 lety +3

    Brilliant musician with a fresh approach. Thank you Amos and have a great new year from "old man" Bruce Heffner.

  • @volpe_sol
    @volpe_sol Před 7 lety +3

    Love your movies, mann. Especially About A Boy, It was awesome.

  • @kwaapie
    @kwaapie Před 7 lety +5

    Wow, how he uses the darkglass on the high mids is great!

    • @rainbowslushy223
      @rainbowslushy223 Před 4 lety

      Its funny i’m watching this on my phone and when the dark glass came on i was like that bass dam!!!

  • @pavlovsbell7979
    @pavlovsbell7979 Před 7 lety +45

    I keep expecting him to break into the parallax monologue

  • @FrinkyDinky
    @FrinkyDinky Před 7 lety +225

    asmr? more like Amosmr...I'll leave now

  • @TheHunter2
    @TheHunter2 Před 5 lety +2

    I have no clue what he's talking about it, but somehow I love it

  • @MartinBergnerGuitar
    @MartinBergnerGuitar Před 4 lety +1

    Amos' sound is so good... dear lord!

  • @This1sSp4rta
    @This1sSp4rta Před 2 lety +3

    Amos sounds exactly like Peter serafinowicz and I love it

  • @shanewalton3769
    @shanewalton3769 Před 7 lety

    I keep watching this video eagerly anticipating my own AW5 from Kiesel. :D

  • @shadowfox3051
    @shadowfox3051 Před 4 lety +2

    I take lessons from jay, but man, Amos is a great bassist, cant wait to meet him

  • @MarkArandjus
    @MarkArandjus Před 4 lety +1

    I don't usually like headless basses, but that guitar is GORGEOUS and holy shit that distorted tone!

  • @jakedoingmusic
    @jakedoingmusic Před 7 lety +29

    Ed O'Brien's long lost metal brother

  • @alecifitation
    @alecifitation Před 7 lety +8

    It says 'Smile' on the green tape, like the name of the new single

  • @abshmusic
    @abshmusic Před 7 lety +2

    I really miss you playing Warwick basses, Sir Amos Williams!😭

  • @angryman4484
    @angryman4484 Před 6 měsíci

    This man plays on a different level, and thats why he's the best

  • @pillepalle3614
    @pillepalle3614 Před 4 lety +1

    This guy has brought the whole thing a step further

  • @Cpmnk
    @Cpmnk Před 3 lety +2

    Amos and nolly in one room must be incredible

  • @dngrouscrgo
    @dngrouscrgo Před 7 lety +42

    Hearing him swear was so unexpected XD

    • @thunderthumbs83
      @thunderthumbs83 Před 7 lety +20

      Bradley Hudson though said with context and class

  • @carmushroom
    @carmushroom Před 5 lety +2

    Amos is a really fitting name for a prog metal band member

  • @jmiddlefinger
    @jmiddlefinger Před 4 lety +3

    Wow, Amos’ analysis and understanding of the signal chain seems almost like PhD level, especially as compared with mine, which is more crayons and coloring book level. Between this and trying to figure out the polymeters in TesseracT’s music, my brain just feels woefully inadequate, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t find it kind of an enjoyable state.

  • @ansonstiles
    @ansonstiles Před 7 lety +1

    Brilliant

  • @40ozSLURPEE
    @40ozSLURPEE Před 7 lety +4

    just learnded a lots

  • @ryc.9400
    @ryc.9400 Před 7 lety +8

    man that first and last riff is sick! new album material?

    • @FDBCandTCFD
      @FDBCandTCFD Před 7 lety +1

      Jack Black its dystopia from the album polaris

    • @johntodd495
      @johntodd495 Před 7 lety +6

      It's off polaris; dystopia if i remember correctly.

    • @ryc.9400
      @ryc.9400 Před 7 lety +2

      yea now that you say it i recognize it ^^ i love his percussive style

  • @kuringmundo
    @kuringmundo Před 4 lety +5

    at 0:30, is every bass player when you ask them "So you play bass?"

  • @illuminatiCorgi
    @illuminatiCorgi Před 5 lety +3

    Your Bassist is evolving!
    Adam Nolly Evolved into...Amos Williams!

  • @JeremiahFernandez
    @JeremiahFernandez Před 6 lety +1

    damn that darkglass' low end sounds gnarly

  • @jeremiahfernandez9161
    @jeremiahfernandez9161 Před 7 lety +8

    asmr with bass

  • @MMMCLXXX
    @MMMCLXXX Před 7 lety +1

    Bringing *that playing and tone* to the mainstage of the mix, made *_Polaris_* outstanding. So enjoyable in a dense-heavy and powerful way, which almost reverberates like atoms literally. • If you haven't seen *TESSER/\CT* live, it's time you did. Every instrument, including the vox, is its own obelisk, in the *T* entity. No exaggeration. • Saw them for the first time opening for *Devin Townsend* [Mr. IV-D]. Ran down from a mezzanine to buy some merchola and a CD, and I was face to face with the singer explaining that they were sold out of *EVERYTHING* . Mind blown. Looking around at everyone wearing tasty shirts laughing in down-pitch slow-motion...
    ¹ "Everyone?" ² "EEHHHHHVVVVRRRRREEEEEEWWWWWUUUUUUUNNNNN!!!"_

  • @moustaphabalde7581
    @moustaphabalde7581 Před 4 lety +1

    i like the tone

  • @wildturkey007
    @wildturkey007 Před 3 lety +1

    Such a badass

  • @Vonthelion
    @Vonthelion Před 7 lety +213

    His descriptions are so deliciously scientific it literally got me wet.

  • @Makkino
    @Makkino Před 5 lety +2

    What a fucking voice. Smart man too.

  • @johnrinehart8866
    @johnrinehart8866 Před 3 lety

    Yes

  • @nsiepmann
    @nsiepmann Před 7 lety +12

    He's put a LOT of thought into his sound - love it. (Also, can anyone place his accent? It strikes me as the sort of one that happens when someone from the South of England has lived in a bunch of different places for a long time... Not important, I'm just kind of intrigued!)

    • @joninawhitecoat
      @joninawhitecoat Před 7 lety +4

      Tesseract are from - I think - around Milton Keynes. Amos has a southern accent mixed with a bit of posh.

    • @nsiepmann
      @nsiepmann Před 7 lety +3

      Yeah, I figured it was something of that sort - combination of pronouncing his terminal Ts but words like 'through' coming out as 'fru'. As a child of American parents in the UK, I just get kind of interested in how accents are put together... ANYWAY BACK TO BASS TALK. Yum, Darkglass.

    • @joninawhitecoat
      @joninawhitecoat Před 7 lety +1

      Two compressors, the saucy bitch.
      What do you think of the Kiesel?

    • @nsiepmann
      @nsiepmann Před 7 lety +1

      Jon Hallam It's definitely pretty - I'm not usually that into that MusicMan style pickup, but this is making me wonder whether that's just because I usually hear it set to that scoopy, basketball-ish kind of slap tone...

    • @joninawhitecoat
      @joninawhitecoat Před 7 lety +1

      It's set further forward than on a Stingray. Almost in the P-pickup position. He also does emphasise the mids.
      Watching this is making me want to put my Blackfinger back on my board.

  • @VeryScaryBiscuits
    @VeryScaryBiscuits Před 7 lety +3

    I want to say I know what he's talking about. Anyway, totally bomb musician and fun to listen to.

  • @jeremiahfernandez9161
    @jeremiahfernandez9161 Před 7 lety +56

    I'm gay for his voice

  • @jamesgerbino9939
    @jamesgerbino9939 Před 7 lety +2

    That Kiesel Vader bass. !!!!!!

  • @deanbunting75
    @deanbunting75 Před 7 lety +9

    Probably one of the 'sexiest' bass tones in any metal band, imo

  • @grantwilliams2650
    @grantwilliams2650 Před 5 lety +1

    I wish I had his composure

  • @Pure_KodiakWILD_Power
    @Pure_KodiakWILD_Power Před 7 lety +1

    the bass even sounds good on my phone 👍👍

  • @edgarspavlovics3540
    @edgarspavlovics3540 Před 4 lety +2

    this video has more views than most of tesseract songs

  • @rileylam2883
    @rileylam2883 Před 6 lety +3

    jeepers hes intoxicating

  • @leonardfrykman2960
    @leonardfrykman2960 Před 10 měsíci

    Please correct me if I’m wrong. It looks like he puts his Avalon at the end of his chain, which surprises me.

  • @The404Erorr
    @The404Erorr Před 6 lety +20

    Amos with shoes on.... wtf

  • @ashplaysbass
    @ashplaysbass Před 4 lety +4

    Is it just me or is he a rather attractive individual

    • @jestle
      @jestle Před rokem

      it's not just you 🥴

  • @Harrysound
    @Harrysound Před 7 lety +11

    a 200hz waveform is 1.71 meters long using the calculation of 343 (meters per second-speed of sound ) ÷200 (hz= cycles per second)
    Thats a big head....

  • @HaleBopp24
    @HaleBopp24 Před 4 lety +1

    Anyone knows about the music at 3:00 please ?

  • @ChilyCheezeFryz
    @ChilyCheezeFryz Před 3 lety +1

    Thanks Lord Elrond

  • @jeroenolislagers6227
    @jeroenolislagers6227 Před 5 měsíci

    But are the pedals first in the chain or is the Avalon di first?

  • @scottwarner6357
    @scottwarner6357 Před 4 lety +1

    Okay anyone know where I can find this strap though?

  • @andrewcoates4952
    @andrewcoates4952 Před 6 lety +1

    He’s got an interesting view on bass tone

  • @blacklotus3205
    @blacklotus3205 Před 4 lety +1

    5:43
    voice crack
    But jokes aside I love Amos and Tesseract

    • @VanLeucia
      @VanLeucia Před 4 lety

      Amos definitely uses the prod

  • @malodesi
    @malodesi Před 4 lety +2

    Dang, thx for that 200Hz and ear distance thing. My inner producer and my inner scientist are now kissing eachother! XD

  • @ZRisyad
    @ZRisyad Před 5 lety +2

    I want this man read a bedtime stories for me

  • @TheLastCrankers
    @TheLastCrankers Před 5 lety

    I just checked to be sure, but the wavelength of a sinewave (f=200Hz) is 1.67 meters. I haven't seen Amos IRL but I'm betting that he's not a giant, is he? But going down that logic, 1600Hz is about 21cm, so is bass everything down from 1,6kHz?

  • @user-qg6ld8te5h
    @user-qg6ld8te5h Před 4 lety

    When Jason Mraz started play the base?

  • @ARawFueledLife
    @ARawFueledLife Před 7 lety

    1:47 Did he say accenuate?

  • @jayw5122
    @jayw5122 Před 5 lety +2

    Lord Elrond

  • @DrummerRF
    @DrummerRF Před 7 lety +4

    I think everything above 600Hz is already longer than your head but perhaps below 200 it is significantly impaired.

  • @alfianbanjaransari4096
    @alfianbanjaransari4096 Před 7 lety +18

    I want this man to read Donald Trump's tweets.

  • @Deathptbr
    @Deathptbr Před 7 lety

    Wait, does he use a DI directly into his cab?

  • @thisguy8469
    @thisguy8469 Před 5 lety +1

    5:04, imagine having a serious conversation through a bass amp haha

  • @NintendoCaprisunish
    @NintendoCaprisunish Před 2 lety +1

    The Elrond of prog metal