That Bryan Adams/Steve Harley Original Recording Sound

[REDLAWMAN]

I'm struggling to emulate this at close quarters: what is it; that deep, glorious, clear, harmonic, bright, yet slightly 'over-driven' tone on the original recordings...??

Are we talking pure Ampeg 'tube' sound...?

As daft as this might sound, the only way I can describe the sound is 'Golden'.

[JimmyM]

Not sure how they recorded his bass, but it's always sounded like a combination of Fender Jazz, DI, and mic'ed Ampeg rig to me.

[REDLAWMAN]

Neither of them ever came near a 'J', Jimmy: it was 'P' all the way.

Perhaps the finest examples are Steve Harley & C R on 'Make Me Smile' and Bryan on 'Back to You' (MTV Unplugged) on which Bryan himself played his original '62 P.

[will33]

Trying to recall the specific tone from my memory banks. To me, it sort of sounded like a blend of both a big, wide-open, "modern" sounding rig and a top notch tube rig like the SVT with the best parts of both being highlighted.

Probably means some high-end mic pre or classic channel strip was involved and no less than 3 tracks melded together. How to get that in a live bass rig without involving an entire PA and a rack full of processors....I have no idea.

[JimmyM]

Funny...I always thought those lines on Bryan Adams albums were done with a J. Must be the mid scooping and treble boosting that often went on with 80's bass. Anyway, not a difficult sound to reproduce. Most Ampeg rigs will allow you to cop that sound.

[REDLAWMAN]

Don't tell me I'll have to go shopping again, Jimmy......

[jasper383]

Nice guitar sounds on those records, too.

[REDLAWMAN]

Very nice indeed, Jasper.