learn how to get different tones with your fingers, play close to the bridge, close to the fretboard, over the pups, different attacks(pluck hard or easy). everything you do affect yor tone.

+1. I'd like to add something thaat may be contrary to what others have posted. For me it was detrimental practicing without an amp because I tended to play more aggressively just to be heard. This had an adverse affect on my technique and dynamics. My advice is to practice playing an electric bass through an amp.

agreed

Todd's spot on Susan.

I get the impression you are new to bass, so the only thing I would add is that just be patient and get lots of practice in. Your tone will come in good time.

Tone through playing methods is a learned experience rather than a taught one is another way of putting it I guess.

All the best and don;t be afraid to keep on asking questions no matter how you feel about asking.

Mo

This is a very valid topic. Tone is a sum of many parts: Touch, Technique & Tools. Of all the parts touch and technique are so often over looked I am a strong believer in fundamentals. I find that the easiest and best approach to develop touch is to play the instrument unplugged as though it was an acoustic instrument (which it always is), once you have a sound that you are happy with acoustically then move on to tools. Each time you tackle a new technique going back to the acoustic is a way to really nail it.

Tools or instrument, string, set up, effects (or not) and amplification are certainly valid concerns but having a solid grounding in touch and technique will make all those aspects your tool instead of your enemy. Players often get caught up in the "tool" aspect and sometimes look to the tools to fix or blame their problems before they have the touch and technique parts down much to their continuing frustration. Remember the old saying "it is a poor worker that blames the tools".

Interesting, Brad. So you are suggesting I should practice with no amp? That might be invaluable advice for me, since at the moment, I'm down here in Florida and my amp is back in Michigan.

Yes, because if it does not sound good acoustically then it will sound even worse electronically. I recall a video on Bass Player where they were talkingt to Flea about various bass lines where he played unplugged, it still sounded like Flea and that is true for many of the great players who have amazing tone.
If the tone sounds good at the bass then you can use the electronics on the bass and amp to improve or modify the sound, but if it starts out sounding like poop it will always sound like poop.

I think I'll give it a try, though I may have trouble hearing it with my tinnitus. Thanks.

Yo Brad...

Sorry to have to disagree... but my Hofner violin bass copy sounds really awful when played unplugged... but beautiful through an amp...

Dr Leroy...