TesseracT "April" Bass Guitar Play Through by Amos Williams

I recently asked which TesseracT song our fans would most like me to do a play through video for. The result was "April". This is a very straight forward track that focuses mainly upon the feel and the groove. I honestly don't think I play this track precisely the same twice, as the intensity and emotion will change each performance depending upon my mood, the environment and the sound I'm hearing.
Seeing as we're about to release an new version soon, I decided to film myself recording that one. So, I filmed and recorded three separate takes for three different angles, and then created a comp track for the final bounce. This is just a rough mix by me at my home studio, that is slightly bass heavy so you can more clearly define whats going on. I hope to soon have enough time to transcribe the whole album, at which point I will also publish tabs and manuscripts for our debut album 'One'.
In this recording I chose to use a Warwick Thumb BO BN for the deep dark sound it produces. This then went into an Electro Harmonix Black Finger Tube Compressor, and then straight into Pro Tools. The only plug in used was the Waves' G series EQ/Compressor Channel strip.
The new EP will be a collection of songs from One that have been approached at from a different point of view. All of this was inspired by an acoustic session we filmed whilst on tour in New York during our 2011 tour with Protest The Hero.
I am currently taking questions and teaching both Bass guitar and Sound Recording at www.bandhappy.c...
You can also get in touch with myself or any of the band members through facebook/tesseractband or formspring.me/amoswilliams
Many Thanks to Warwick Basses; Mesa Boogie; Planet Waves; D'Addario; Kristell Gathoye Photography.
(c). 2012 TesseracT/Century Media Records

[@MosTesseract]

Acle and James used these tunings on ONE: (Low to High) Bb, F, Bb, Eb, F, Bb, Eb. (It's a version of DADGAD but with an extra top string) And then a few of the songs dropped the low string to Ab. We have been playing with a few other tunings too. A seems like the tuning for our next album.

[@MosTesseract]

Yes, we're kind of tired of listening to most modern mixes. It was mastered at Metropolis studios which is an incredible balanced and flat room, so what you hear is what we wanted you to hear. It feels right, and is how we feel the music when performing it. We appreciate that it won't ever sound fantastic on ear buds or laptops, so decided not to stress about making it work for those formats.

[@ennui8523]

An easy way to avoid re-tuning for this song is to drop your B-string to A and throw a capo on the first fret. Instant Bb, F, Bb, Eb, Fb.

[@Nialzzz]

without a doubt, the most horrifically beautiful stutters at the beginning of this track. Amos is THE DADDY!

[@tuckerdrums3514]

2:00 Great fill. So simple yet so effective.

[@stigigonzalez5355]

Really great playing! That one guy who disliked this probably thought it was the download button :P

[@MosTesseract]

@dvr554 Only the top 4 strings are needed for this track (low to high) Bb .135, F .85, Bb .65, Eb .45. Yeah, the tone of this bass is nice for sure.

[@deliciousmentalfudge]

I love it when bands and musicians interact and share with their fans like this, it really adds a personal touch that you don't often get from many acts.

[@deftonesordie]

It's Like Mos is still playing old tesseract and everyone else's reached some transcendant meditational djent around the bass grooves!

[@oozingswagger]

I'm stoked I discovered this. I've always been such a huge fan of this groove ever since I heard the track. It's impossible not to bob your head along to.

[@andys3035]

One of the baddest bassists out there! Sick man!

[@MosTesseract]

@Danelawz Thanks man! I'm hoping to have the time to do the whole of 'One'. We'll just have to see...

[@SergiuCrisan]

the mixing is just perfect !!!

[@socratesantypas1424]

I bet you're an excellent archer too!

[@cl10]

+Socrates Antypas Straight from Rivendell

[@MosTesseract]

Hate to tell you but the last riff on CFp1 is just me. I popped the bass control on my bass up a third, a WHAM...massive sub hit. I think we only put sub hits on Lament and Nascent.

[@theralphband]

Mos, you are just awesome :-) cheers from a big TesseracT fan from Croatia ;-)

[@0tibby0]

Thats how I dance to your songs!

[@mplayer46]

love that bass

[@00user001]

This is just so... tasteful. Amazing!

[@EirikStenSyrdalen]

That bass sound so badass Amos... Cool video, always loved the bassline of this song.

[@IsacDanielsson]

I find myself replaying the fill at the 2 minute mark. Those bends are so fucking tasty! You continue to be an inspiration for me.

[@miomimomiro]

Yeah. I like the fact that the songs on the album consists of rather "simple" building blocks, but still sound so full and you actually get the feeling that there's more going than there actually is... Well constructed! (Sub-bass hits on concealing fate part1's last riffs, well put...well put indeed.)

[@MosTesseract]

@edthehead83 That's the plan! It might just take a while. What with us recording the new album.

[@helloitsnicko]

I just posted my bass cover of the version from 'One' as a video response to this. A little nerve-racking seen as how you're the actual Amos from actual TesseracT! Hope I did it justice. Ps. This video is ace and can't wait to get my hands on the acoustic EP! :]

[@BethSchm]

You can play this on your 4 string. i took the lowest 4 strings from 5 a string bass. tuning : A#, F, A#, D#; stringe gauge: 135, 105, 85, 70 i think it is a good way

[@MosTesseract]

@loborneta Awesome...we haven't been to Croatia yet. Hopefully we'll plahy there soon.

[@guitaroffthecuff-davids5528]

Wow.

[@joshrochanroolzutoob]

I got your huge EP bundle the other day and the band signed it. Fanboy squeeee!

[@VANDAD]

Hey man, was talking to you before the show in Glasgow. Inspired me to get my finger out with my bass playing. Turn it up a notch! Thanks dude.

[@Conntick]

Sooooo fuckin grooovey I cant stand it

[@tapaddtiiiii]

You guys are AWESOME!!! I is huge fan. :D

[@DragonSuushi]

I beg to differ. It sounds amazing at all times to me.

[@ChristopherSchackt]

This is simply inspiring, Mos - great bass work. Hope to see you in Norway sometime. ;) KUTGW!

[@twowongs8266]

Class all the way!

[@miomimomiro]

Oh! That's clever, sounds massive anyways. And to be honest, I hate the overuse of sub hits nowadays.. Looking forwards for the EP and new album later on. Especially the Dream Brother-cover. I think Grace still has some of the best mixes I've ever heard in my life.

[@x-Gingerbeard-x]

You're an awesome bass guitarist. You even inspired me on picking up on playng bass guitar. I am an experienced guitarist, playing 6 and 7's. But now I'm going to buy myself a nice little bass guitar to learn and master bass guitar as well. I'm now currently playing on my best friends Ibanez bass, but I'm getting a Warwick too soon enough, lower end model though :) Still good! Best wishes to you and Tesseract Amos! Cheers.

[@beyondhairy]

that pattern/rhythm you play in the beginning.. its amazing, its a tricky one for sure though, I can't get the racking done well with my right hand enough to make it sound as awesome as you lol

[@SebThePeters]

That Warwick is so tasty it hurts. I'm gonna go ahead and guess it wasn't cheap...

[@trikpa]

+1 for nationality and over 9000 for you playing in Croatia.

[@PunkCheVara]

gracias Internet stranger.!!!!

[@minami_izzumi4755]

sensei

[@sjsphotog]

nice playthru. sweet bass. love the wood. but the bass didnt cut thru really mixed down too low to hear it well. Love Tesseract!

[@miomimomiro]

Listened "One" today at my studio on Genelec 1038B's. The whole album is heavy on the lower frequencies, was that what you were going for? I like the heavyness though! Gives that punch I've grown to like and you can really "feel" the mix if you know what I mean. If you have a tour around Europe, be sure to reach in to Scandinavia as well! Greetings from Finland!

[@bogdi232]

yes a warwick thumb

[@EliArnoldVox]

America. You guys need to tour in America. Southern California, specifically, but America nonetheless.

[@dimeowns100]

The d'addario 160 set

[@DomSchu]

Where can I get this acoustic instrumental version of April?

[@DIRDANMUSIC]

+DomSchu In the Perspective EP

[@theralphband]

@MosTesseract can't wait for that to happen :-) oh, and you need more views on your vids :/ I'll spread the word here ;-) Cheers

[@TheGallery213]

Love your work, you and the rest of the band too! Is there any chance of getting an isolated recording of the bass for this video? As a fan and fellow bass player I'd love to hear it just because I find a lot of what you are doing is rather buried in the mix :/

[@CamxCam.]

TesseracT feat. Ravi Shankar on guitar.

[@DaleGorham]

Hey, I'm just curious as to what scale lengths you play with, the gauge strings you use and the effect it has? I'm playing a 21 fret 4 string and need to play as low as Drop B/A at times which is obviously not great on a shorter neck, just wandered if much larger strings are the way to go to maintaining tension on the strings in that tunings

[@PunkCheVara]

What size strings are those? they look massive >< And what company makes them?? Peace. Great feel to the song, true that bass adds a whole F**k Ton when played right.(im a bassist as well) Lovit

[@xx2]

is it bubinga? it looks like ovangkol. do u experience a brootal neck dive like some ppl talking about it ?

[@otherthrakker]

Do you just use your fifth string as the dropped Ab so you don't have to tune down? in that case your tuning would be Ab Bb F Bb Eb?

[@evilhamsterzz]

if the E string is tuned that low then whats the low B string tuned to?

[@magicianNevar]

I think they are in Drop A

[@atomsktheforgiver]

racecar by periphery. just one half step lower.

[@KamiDisturbed]

What year model is that? I got excactly same (Thumb bo-bn) but not sure what year, i have 2001 :P im hoping to get NT now like ryan martinie have or that was my aim all along, but when i got the bass i didint know that he's was NT and didint know it would matter that much to get excatly same tone as with him :S

[@xDoveMasterzx]

Does anyone know what kind of strings does he use for his tuning? If he uses the G# A# F A# D# tuning i'd imagine it's some sort of custom set. If anyone knows the gauges that would be helpful.

[@xydex99]

I'm pretty sure his is a bit thicker. They work fine for tesseract tuning? I got a bass, I was thinking of tuning to their's to see how it works out.

[@iPeezza]

can i play this on my 4string bass? cause looks like he's not using the fifth string

[@28KillsL8r]

just curious, what tuning do you guys play in?

[@NicoVese]

so are you in the same tune or different?

[@woottipat06]

What is the tuning?

[@splitface3481]

Woottipat Herabat ACAB instradamento EADG

[@BassThrasher]

I'm confused.. What's a sub hit?

[@sasukeduality]

its a warwick ???

[@arjunxchauhan]

Is this confusing to play or am I just stupid? Asking for a friend.

[@postmortemspasm]

The way he moves his head is weird as fuck jhaha