S. Harris and Roto Flats

tyiu · #1 06-30-2009, 04:39 PM

So, i just bought a P-Bass with seymour pickups and B.ass II bridge just like Steve Harris.
And im trying to achieve his tone. The bass came with Stainless Steel strings, and the tone is great and pretty much close to steve harris, but without the deep punchy tone.

So i bought the Roto Flats RS77LD standard gauge and strung my P with them, and i found that the tone doest come even close to steve harris... they are dull just like dead roundwounds.

This made me wondering if the RS77 and SH77 have any differences besides the gauge.

countrybassist · #2 06-30-2009, 04:56 PM

Did you get the same rig too. You'll need that. Also you will need to hire the same soundman, unless your going for the studio sound, then you need to get all the same studio gear for that time period and hook up with the same producer and sound engineer and so forth.

JFace · #3 06-30-2009, 04:58 PM

He has a signature set of roto flats. They are thicker, and a bit brighter than usual.

dragon574444 · #4 06-30-2009, 05:14 PM

It's been said that Steve Harris's tone comes from his technique more than anything.

btw, I plan on picking up a set of the SH77s as soon as I get the money...

Kyon` · #5 07-01-2009, 03:49 AM

It is my understanding that the Steve Harris Flats are still the RS77LD but with a different gauge and silk wrappings. So I don't know how much difference it would make in getting his signature set, though I don't know for sure since I've only tried the normal set.

MNAirHead · #6 07-01-2009, 04:22 AM

The comments about a sound team and technique are very close to being on.

It's amazing what tenured guys can do with a $$$$$$$$$$$$ worth of gear.

mr.hughes · #7 07-01-2009, 04:40 AM

On the cheaper side of options -try boosting your treble a LOT. I've read thats part of Steve's sound, and that he plays with his fignernails, rather than fingertips.

999emergency · #8 07-02-2009, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr.hughes

On the cheaper side of options -try boosting your treble a LOT. I've read thats part of Steve's sound, and that he plays with his fignernails, rather than fingertips.

I have flats on my BC Rich and rounds on my Ibanez - I can get either to get the stereotypical tone of the other by rolling my tone knobs up or down and cutting or boosting my amp's mids.

WayneS · #9 07-02-2009, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr.hughes

On the cheaper side of options -try boosting your treble a LOT. I've read thats part of Steve's sound, and that he plays with his fignernails, rather than fingertips.

He plays with his fingertips, not nails.

The RS77's are the same string, just in a different gauge. I use both and they sound the same, but the SH's are a tad bit deeper because they are bigger strings.

He uses custom made amps. Thats where he gets his sound (plus all of the sound guy stuff).

Greevus · #10 07-03-2009, 09:43 AM

Steve is one of my heros and maybe biggest influences. He definitely does NOT play with his fingernails. I heard Geddy say he did try that for a while, but not Steve. He uses two fingers 99% of the time. You will see him use his thumb once in a million times on an arpeggiated part, ie "Rime of the Ancient Mariner", and he even uses a pick in the intro to "Aces High"(watch the video and you will see the pick and the Lado Unicorn, which you will never see again). I like many others on here bought flatwounds back in the 80s to cop his sound, and the strings and gear alone won't do it. It is TECHNIQUE more than anything. You will hear 100 roundwound players come closer to his sound than flat players due to the brightness. If you really want his sound, focus on his right hand 'attack'. It is very unique in that he sort of "punches" the notes more so than a typical finger player. You will notice his hand moving more than a regular players. He gets that pingy clank from hitting the strings against the frets. He also has a very "tight" compressed sound that really evens out his right hand. I saw a Billy Sheehan clinic in the late 80s and he was saying that Steve's right hand was "erratic" and demonstrated examples. The compressor/limiter helps this a ton. Billy now praises Steve very much. I am not trying to be a total azz here, but I have tried to mimic Steve's style for most of my playing life, and I worship the early Maiden for sure. P basses help a little, but it's that right hand attack and where you hit in relation to the bridge/pickup that gives it that gurgly cut that we all want. But after numerous times with Rotosounds and flats, I don't care for either. I have much better results for me with cheap roundwounds any day.

hbarcat · #11 07-03-2009, 10:51 AM

Steve is one of the players I emulated when learning the bass and I will concur with the above poster that finger technique is a big part of his sound. I have the SH signature flats on my bass and I can get kind of close to his tone even with different pickups and amp (EMG jazz set and Mesa Boogie head) by copying his two fingered picking attack. He plays real "staccato" with his right hand almost snapping the strings instead of plucking them.

pc · #12 07-03-2009, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greevus

Steve is one of my heros and maybe biggest influences.

(...)

I have much better results for me with cheap roundwounds any day.

His action is also insanely low.

CamiloDíaz · #13 07-03-2009, 09:08 PM

the key to his technique is definitely lowest action ever plus hard finger hitting (rather than picking) on the strings, like some guy said here on TB, he plays towards the body and neck.

pc · #14 07-05-2009, 08:37 AM

Just tried this last rehearsal.

My bass tone is on the warm side, and I went deeper with the GHS precision flats. I never imagined this would happen, but I lowered insanely my action and voilà. Instant Maiden!

Unfortunately, I sounded more like Fieldy than Steve Harris due to the lack of technique and a decent amp. Clackity, clackity, clackity...

Not enough room to the strings to vibrate.

mookie stinkz · #15 07-05-2009, 09:02 AM

the mirror pickguard he uses helps reflect the soundwaves produced from his right hand attack hitting the strings. you need a mirror pickguard or it will never work.

Adamah · #16 07-05-2009, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mookie stinkz

the mirror pickguard he uses helps reflect the soundwaves produced from his right hand attack hitting the strings. you need a mirror pickguard or it will never work.

dragon574444 · #17 07-05-2009, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamiloDíaz

the key to his technique is definitely lowest action ever plus hard finger hitting (rather than picking) on the strings, like some guy said here on TB, he plays towards the body and neck.

Not true. Haven't you ever seen him play? He plays close to the bridge.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mookie stinkz

the mirror pickguard he uses helps reflect the soundwaves produced from his right hand attack hitting the strings. you need a mirror pickguard or it will never work.

I've come close to his tone with a polished aluminum pick guard.

**jmattbassplaya** · #18 07-05-2009, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mookie stinkz

the mirror pickguard he uses helps reflect the soundwaves produced from his right hand attack hitting the strings. you need a mirror pickguard or it will never work.

+1,000,000

It`s surprising how often people overlook the pickguard upgrade.

Greevus · #19 07-05-2009, 11:23 PM

Agree with the Dragon, Steve plays towards the bridge and above the pickup at best. Action is def a personal thing. I like mine high by luthier standards, but getting a nice low setup is very cool. It's whether you like the fret noise and grind or not. I attack very hard, so I get the clank with higher action. Harris is very concise with his attack. I love his right hand.

Greevus · #20 07-05-2009, 11:24 PM

You may need those tight leather pants to go with the pickguard.....