Greg Ridley's tone

mario222 · #1 01-03-2009, 05:59 AM

Hi all,
Does anybody know what strings Humble Pie's Greg Ridley used to get that fat P Bass tone. They sound like tapewounds to me. Can anyone confirm this and if so what brand.
Thanx!

Petethebassman · #2 01-03-2009, 06:35 AM

It's nice to see Greg Ridley mentioned on TB, he was great. Don't know what strings he used, but he had a foam mute on his P-bass, it's clearly visible on the back cover pictures of Humble Pie's Rockin' The Fillmore live LP. I agree, great tone.

thumpbass1 · #3 01-03-2009, 07:16 AM

He is one of my fave players of all time! Other than his P-Bass and wall of Acoustic gear
I don't know what he used for strings. Whatever he was using, even if it was rounds, he sure nailed a huge, fat, punchy, flat wound style of sound.

Billy-Bob · #4 01-03-2009, 05:15 PM

You should check out Spooky Tooth for more of Ridley's bass work. Spooky II is probably their best work.

Billy-Bob

Eyesee7 · #5 03-03-2009, 06:43 PM

One of my all-time favorites, glad to see him getting a mention. (R.I.P.)

I always assumed he was using tapewounds but never knew for sure. What a great booming tone though, yet the notes were always distinct.

Some of his great lines come to mind - "Buttermilk Boy", "Strange Days", "Roadrunner"...

It's amazing that he just dropped out of sight after the Pie broke up in the late 70's, yet to see him on some of the "reunion" videos such as the Steve Marriott tribute or the reunion with Frampton, Clempson and Shirley, it's as if he never left. I haven't had a chance to check out the "Back on Track" album yet but it's too bad he never got to record with Steve Marriott again...