S. Harris and Roto Flats

[KPAX]

Steve Harris always goes on stage with a brand new set of strings to get that brightness. New Rotosound flats are bright (like new roundwounds). A LOT brighter than what we expect from flats. They settle into the normal flatwound sound after a while.
But to get his tone I wouldn't get too hung up on the flats. He himself says he uses them mainly because he likes the feel.
He also uses Marshall 1960 4x12 cabs with with the drivers replaced with those super heavy (and expensive) EV 12's (I forget the models).
But when I hear his sound I hear his attack/style and major p-bass with plenty of top. I think you can get that sound with a maple fretboard p-bass and roundwounds. He plucks very hard, giving that knocking/clanking sound of the strings on the frets. It is an awesome sound. A lot of the bass players with the most agressive sounds play HARD (go figure). Like Harris, Geddy and Flea. I love the sound of basses being plucked hard. IMO all the rattle/buzz makes it sound better in a loud band setting.

[999emergency]

This thread inspired me to throw some Maiden on my turntable and try to cop some basslines...only partially successful, but a lot of fun.

I found for me to really nail that tone comes from what others have said - it's all about the right hand attack. Usually when I play I'm using the bottom of my fingertips and sort of pulling them across the string (the blue X's in the pic).



To get that Harris "clank" I use the very top of my fingertips and quickly and powerfully come down (the red X's in the pic).

Sure the type of string and your bass and amp's EQ's will play a part in getting that tone, but it's mainly perfecting that right hand technique.

[Richard G]

where can i get a mirrored pick guard?

[odin70]

Imh he plays pretty light with his right hand..even tough it looks like hes really working. With high tension strings like Roto 77 you can set the action really low, without sacrifice tone. Therefore he dont need to play hard. Playing hard night after night with strings like that would really kill your fingers.
People make a point of the fact that he changes strings every night (who doesnt in that league) but imo he could have used the same strings for a week and pretty much sounded the same. Its much more important to change rounds if you want brightness. Those flats stays the same much longer.