Bass Recording Setup & Pedals with Jon Button - Warren Huart: Produce Like A Pro

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We recently did a recording session for Jonah Smith at Sunset Sound Studios with the wonderful Jon Button on bass. Jon is a fantastic bassist who has toured and recorded with many of my favourite artists and bands and artists like The Who, Sheryl Crow, Shakira and many others.
So I thought I'd take the chance to interview Jon about his bass recording chain and setup!
Jon has a wonderful collection of basses and an insanely versatile pedalboard. The tones he gets out of that thing within seconds is absolutely incredible. Please enjoy this video! Thanks so much for sharing you knowledge with us Jon, as always it was an absolute pleasure working with you!
Have a marvellous time recording and mixing,
Warren
Produce Like A Pro is a website which features great tips to help the beginning recordist make incredible sounding home recordings on a budget.

[@noisesoundtonevibe]

4 things that are cool: bass, pedals, Jon and Warren. The amount of cool in this video is too much for human beings... Thanks Jon and Warren!

[@Producelikeapro]

Aw shucks! Thanks ever so much! Jon rocks! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi Warren, I hope you're doing marvellously well! Today, we're blessed to sit down with the wonderful Jon Button. Jon is an amazing bassist who has toured and recorded with some of my favourite bands and artists such as 'The Who', 'Sheryl Crow' and 'Shakira'. Jon and I have been working together for a many years and he tracked bass for 'I'll Be Your Man' by James Blunt, which I co-produced alongside Kevin Griffin. In our recent session at Sunset Sound I took the chance to interview Jon about his bass recording chain and setup! Jon has a wonderful collection of basses and an insanely versatile pedalboard. The tones he gets out of that thing within seconds is absolutely incredible. Please enjoy this video! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks very much Rage By Nightfall! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

[@DanRodriguez1]

Warren you are THE MAN! thanks for all these videos!

[@JohnHancotte]

Love all things bass - you brightened my day with flatwounds and foam!

[@FlyWithMe359]

SOooooo sweet interview!!!! Thank u guys, u made my day!

[@heikosteinweg]

Such a cool dude, I love his sounds and clever setup.

[@mikegreenebass]

This is , well, everything a bassist wants.

[@Producelikeapro]

Marvellous!

[@soeffingwhat]

A lot of bassists don't use pedals though.

[@SchergeFX]

Thank you for the amazing videos! I love KZbin for guys like you, you give us new possibilities to make our own music

[@Producelikeapro]

Aw shucks you Rock!! Thanks every much! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

[@claudius3124]

Wow! Great bass setup! Thanks again for another amazing 'behind the sound' video! ;-)

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi Claudius, agreed! It's an amazing set up! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

[@michaeltsouris8190]

25 years of playing bass, never heard of the foam trick (auto palm muting) Such a beautifully wonderful sound.

[@shrimpflea]

You're kidding. All the Fender basses up until the late 70's came with the foam installed under the bridge cover.

[@Al_Mac125]

Its the sound of Motown

[@siggidori]

Killer tones! Love it!! :)

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi Sigurdór Guðmundsson, yes indeed! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

[@KBP4]

This was a good one. Thanks....

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much KPM! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

[@valente8500]

That Eventide H9 Harmonizer sounds Amazing. Love the Video!

[@AntiDot70]

Agreed... but at $800 it really should sound amazing.

[@Producelikeapro]

Yes indeed Valente! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

[@Producelikeapro]

Yes, not cheap, but does sound amazing! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

[@andrewperez4810]

such great tones!

[@Producelikeapro]

You Rock Andrew!! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

[@davidallenhammond2777]

Excellent interview. Seems like a fun guy to work with. Bump on the Eventide, sounds great. Thanks Warren.

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi David, yes, Jon is an amazing Bass Player and a great guy to work with! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

[@ErixSamson]

really great video

[@haysfordays]

Love the Button.

[@Producelikeapro]

Yes, Jon is amazing!

[@stephenfell4338]

Hi John when you are recording to you mix a DI distorted/overdrive signal with a dry signal and blend them both together at the mixing stage basically a wet dry mix

[@willb3698]

Thanks. Woooh.....Some lovely old kit there, nice pedal layout too. It's a big ask for the Eventide price - but considering what it does and how good it sounds, you would spend many times that amount on seperate pedals to do it. this channel's never a let-down and always fresh. Well done. Off to check out Noble!

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi will will thanks ever so much! Yes, I was really impressed with the Eventide!! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

[@boochbass]

Great sounds! It made me wanna buy the Eventide H9!!! And i think warren also wants one haha

[@catty999]

Like the bass guitar ... crazy for bass...

[@rainermichaelcom]

what a nice guy!

[@thenashvillebassmentor594]

Hey Jon Button! Which H9 do you have? Basic or Max?

[@grdmusicandproduction]

Awesome! How good is Jon's Feel.?. Such a tasty touch!!! :) & Tone!!! Yessssss....

[@Producelikeapro]

Exactly Grant! Yes he's amazing!! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

[@grdmusicandproduction]

Thanks Warren... If you get a chance, listen to Jon's interview on the "I'd Hit That" Podcast... Awesome stuff...

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks Grant! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

[@Guitar5986]

Ordered the Noble DI and thought I'd be satisfied but now I want that Eventide H9! :(

[@Producelikeapro]

Haha yes indeed the Eventide is AMAZING! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

[@lockedowng]

Guitar5986 I feel you dude. I loved this video but it's gonna cost me another $400 bucks at least

[@martinheath5947]

+lockedowng Not if you check out the Zoom MS60b in its latest firmware version 2 which includes a B15 Flip top amp emulation. You can get very close to the Eventide loveliness, even that exact interval pitch delay and plenty more with a bit of tweaking and for less than 100 bucks.

[@zistheword]

So cool

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks very much Z!! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

[@technodro8628]

Can someone explain how he exactly he is blending clean with dist/fuzz?". I mean he adressed the modulatin effect being "before the DI" with his splity thingie...., but what about those distortion sounds? I liked their subtlety. Anyways if anyone can explain the signal chain more I would appreciate it alot. Is it simply placing a the fuzz after the DI? Good stuff

[@RootsBassCanada]

I like that bass case. Does anybody know what it is? Thanks.

[@alanglasgowbassist]

Jon seems like a really nice guy

[@EricGPLAP]

Great setup!! This is going to help a ton! Just got a bass, time to begin adding the pedals!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks very much Eric! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

[@lucavisigalli3455]

Good job, Warren! And such a great player! I'd like to know more about the routing patch box...thanks a lot! Luca

[@Producelikeapro]

Great question Luca! Let's see of we can get Jon to answer!! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

[@jonbutton5963]

It's just a simple pedal order-switcher, or sometimes it's called a fip-flopper. I forget who makes mine, but several companies make them. They're intended to change the order of pedals in a pedall board. (For instance if sometimes you want your delay before your distortion, or sometimes you don't.) So I just use that to change the "order" of the D.I. and my effects loop. Basically choosing whether the effects come before or after the D.I.

[@lucavisigalli3455]

Thanks a lot, Jon! I hope to see you soon playing in Italy!

[@mykllynyrd]

I just spent 2 hours with pencil & paper plus Visio trying to figure this out, I'm I close? Bass in to Flip-Flop In; Flip-Flip right Snd to Keeley In; Keeley Out back to F-F right Rtn; Keeley loop Snd to FX board returning back to Keeley loop Rtn; Flip-Flop left send to DI in, DI Out back to F-F left RTN; Flip-Flop Output to Amp input. I need more coffee

[@luispato9335]

wow, that Eventide pedal sounds soooo cool!!! Love it!!! Just a pity i would need to stop eating for a couple of months to afford it! :P

[@Producelikeapro]

Haha yes indeed Luis, it's a great pedal! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

[@AngelaFernando1]

i loved this video! I'm not even a bassist haha cheers!

[@Producelikeapro]

Haha I hear you! Jon is the man! Happy New Year!

[@jebomey]

Great video and some sweet tones & playing! I'm a bit late it seems but I am very intrigued by Jon's pedal switching setup with the Keely & flip flop loopers. I am trying to wrap my head around the signal chain for this setup and I can't quite envision it. It seems that the Keely switches the big pedal board on & off but I don't understand the loops in the flip flop for the amp & DI. Also where does the signal go from the output on the left side of the flip flop. Thanks!

[@mostyncole]

I have exactly the same question. How does he split the signal to run FX only through the amp and clean through the DI?

[@bklynbass]

@@mostyncole copied from above... plug the bass into the right side of the flip flop. the first send and return on the flip flop goes to/ from the DI. the second send and return goes to / from the Keely loop switcher which is weird to/from the pedals. then send the output of the flip flop (left side) to the amp. the flip flop will decide whether the bass goes to the DI before the pedals or the pedals before the DI. It's a complicated setup but worth the convenience.

[@michaelparson-mcnamara782]

Excellent! That was as informative as it was enjoyable.You should have checked out his case! It looks very interesting! Custom made? I'd take one with a '65 P, '62 Club and '58 P with flats! Yes indeed!

[@Producelikeapro]

HI Michael, agreed, amazing collection of Basses! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks very much Jon! You Rock!! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

[@michaelparson-mcnamara782]

Thanks Jon! It does look handy and I like the concept of the upright shell. I've really enjoyed your videos both with Warren Huart and Pete Thorn. Best of luck to you, both.

[@bklynbass]

Hi, great video! Could you please tell me what pedals you use for the loop as well as the switch between amp/DI for your effects? I've wanted to do a setup like this for years. Thanks!

[@jonbutton5963]

The loop switcher is Keely true bypass looper and the other is a "Flip Flop" from american loopers

[@bklynbass]

Ah! The flip flopper pedal was the missing piece of the puzzle. I was racking my brain trying to figure out how you’d be able to choose between amp vs amp plus DI. Thanks!!!! Keep rockin!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks for the answer Jon! You Rock!!

[@jannmaas]

how is this connected ? I see one send and one return from the DI, but how is the rest connected?

[@bklynbass]

@jannmaas plug the bass into the right side of the flip flop. the first send and return on the flip flop goes to/ from the DI. the second send and return goes to / from the Keely loop switcher which is weird to/from the pedals. then send the output of the flip flop (left side) to the amp. the flip flop will decide whether the bass goes to the DI before the pedals or the pedals before the DI. It's a complicated setup but worth the convenience.

[@shauncombs]

Does Jon ever use a jazz bass in the studio, or primarily a precision? Is that the original finish on his '58 P? Sounds awesome! Thanks for doing these type of videos, Warren.

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi Shaun, great question! I'm sure if requested he will bring a Jazz Bass! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

[@jonbutton5963]

I'm fortunate to have a beautiful '64 Jazz, but I find P-basses are better suited to me and the people I play for.

[@Producelikeapro]

I have to say that 99% of the time P Bass does the job, as Tony Franklin said the P Bass is the sound of Rock and Roll Bass! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

[@mannishboy1]

@@jonbutton5963 hi Jon! If you don't mind... What was the missing chorus pedal your buddy borrowed? Always looking for that killer chorus sound. Thanks, man! You're such a talented player...

[@jonbutton5963]

@@mannishboy1 Thanks for the kind words! The chorus is an "Analog Man."

[@peterhans7306]

Hey, I got one question about playing the B 15 live. Jon shows us his DI box on the pedalboard, right ? Does that mean he does not mic his amp when he plays live and just uses the DI on his pedalboard? And does he even use his B 15 for live gigs ? Many Thanks for the awesome interview!

[@jonbutton5963]

I generally don't use the B15 live. I usually use an SVT which I mic as well as use a DI and the Front of house mixer can blend the two.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks for the great answer Jon! You Rock my friend!

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi Peter, it looks as if Jon answered! Happy New Year!

[@pirhala]

@@jonbutton5963Jonah smith from Connecticut???

[@koenraadfoesters]

What brand of flatwounds is he using on the '58 P bass? They sound so good!

[@Producelikeapro]

That's an excellent question! Jon? Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

[@jonbutton5963]

The '58 has LaBella flats, I use .apex strings for my round wounds.- www.apex-strings.com

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks Jon for letting us know! I am going to look at those strings!! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

[@jeremylynch774]

I think you guys are just the coolest!! I want to record with you!! Let me know if you need some violin tracks sent your way! :-)

[@Producelikeapro]

Wow thanks Jeremy! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

[@Ithumpify]

I had a Hagstrom like that but it was red..

[@fosterferrellproductions]

Does anyone know what brand the guitar vault he's using is? Can't seem to find it anywhere!

[@Producelikeapro]

Wonderful question Foster! Let's see of Jon can answer! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

[@jonbutton5963]

The Vault is from Scott Dixon Inc I believe they're in the UK

[@fosterferrellproductions]

Thank you so much! Loved the video!

[@rome8180]

Vintage P bass with flats AND an Ampeg B-15? This guy has the best taste in bass gear.

[@arsenije_wav8620]

More like most generic. But that's what studio engineers like

[@hadmyfill8179]

Hi all. Does anyone know the H9 setting at the. 9:55 mark? I'm very interested in those types of sounds.

[@Producelikeapro]

Great question! That's a Jon question for sure! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

[@jonbutton5963]

I believe It's a stock Mod/Echo/Verb program appropriately named, "Ekospace-God"

[@Producelikeapro]

Now that is a great and very apt name!! Haha Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

[@timflagstad8411]

Who makes the patch cables in his pedal board setup? I've seen those before and didn't know the manufacturer.

[@jackwontknow1]

looks like george L's

[@timflagstad8411]

Thanks much

[@Producelikeapro]

Yes indeed Jack and Tim I believe it's George L's cables! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

[@jonbutton5963]

Yup, George L's.

[@Producelikeapro]

I use the same cables! God bless them! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

[@sratus]

This dude plays with The Who now

[@garrettrawks]

warren you know when he turns on the octaver and you say "you could write with that!" well..i rewrote with it anyway... prfmonthlytributeseries.bandcamp.com/track/the-lovecats-2 ps i learned most of what i know about production watching your series since about march of this year. thanks!

[@caucajunman5930]

B-15 √

[@mwebraniaonline7001]

HOW TO EQ BASS GUITER

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi Mwebrania R. Kihwele, Great question, I didn't do any EQ on this recording, I just captured Jon's love sound! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

[@nothingnothings2264]

Notice me Senpai.

[@Producelikeapro]

Haha thanks Nothing nothings! We notice you! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

[@nothingnothings2264]

Produce Like A Pro This is why we all love you.

[@Producelikeapro]

Aw shucks thanks ever so much! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

[@gimmeagig]

Those distortions pedals all sound alike to me.

[@jakegtband]

Anyone else think he looks like tom cruise?