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10-24-2008, 08:06 PM
| | | | "Whatcha Gonna Do For Me" and "Whip It"
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I'm curious to know if anyone knows anything much about the bass sound on these two classic recordings.
I know Anthony Jackson played bass on Chaka Khan's classic tune "Whatcha Gonna Do For Me" but there is SOMETHING going on with that tone that is amazing. It can't just be a bass guitar - there's some kind of synth doubling that line or something. Does anyone know how they got that tone?
Also, the bass sound on "Let It Whip", the Dazz Band. I know they say that's a "Moog" Bass line, which sounds like they just doubled the normal bass with a keyboard, but that is NOT enough info for me. I LOVE that bass part - and all those amazing fills the bass player plays in the second bridge section of the tune. Anyone have any light to shed on the recording process for this song? I haven't been able to find anything online.
Thanks in advance. |
10-24-2008, 09:20 PM
|  | OVNIFX
EXAR pedals rep for North & Central America | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: PDX, OR | | Dazz Band "Let It Whip": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bspAdq02zls
You have correctly identified the sound: a Moog (or similar analog synth keyboard) doubling the BG. You can barely hear the BG at all except for occasional slap fills. There is no special recording process at all- two musicians, two instruments, two tracks in the studio. You can either do the same (two tracks, two musicians) or you can use a synth pedal like the Korg G5 (read here for more info) but that means you couldn't also do the clean slap breaks.
Chaka Khan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixLCJkmgOp4
I don't hear even one iota of BG in there, it's pure keyboard as far as I can hear. So for that one the synth pedal is an easy choice.
For more about synth effects, search in the Effects forum. But again, in all seriousness, there is no special recording technique there. Just a person playing a keyboard. |
10-24-2008, 10:07 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: West Side SA | | great thread, i have always wondered about the Chaka tune..
bump 
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10-24-2008, 10:22 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: I been everywhere, man... | | | The Chaka tune is a mix of AJ's bass guitar and bass synthesizer, doubling his bass part. Back when that record was done, bass synth stompbox pedals weren't available as we know them now. As the track goes on, the bass synth is cut back a little, and you definitely hear more bass guitar. He does some very characteristic fills during the tag as well, around the 3:30 mark
The note choices and overall feel of the bass parts on this tune are unmistakably the products of Anthony Jackson. The same holds true for the old Madonna tune "Borderline", but unlike "What 'cha Gonna Do", there's absolutely no bass guitar to be heard on that cut, even though AJ is credited on it.
Anthony posts on here TB once in a blue moon. Maybe he'll chime in.
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Last edited by 20db pad : 10-24-2008 at 10:28 PM.
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10-24-2008, 10:23 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: santa maria,california | | whether its greg phillinganes or a.j., whoever is playing those fills at the end is a f'n genius (well,they both are already absolute monsters  ). floors me everytime i listen to that track  |
10-24-2008, 10:31 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: I been everywhere, man... | | Quote:
Originally Posted by narud  whether its greg phillinganes or a.j., whoever is playing those fills at the end is a f'n genius (well,they both are already absolute monsters ). floors me everytime i listen to that track | Let's both PM Anthony and see if he'll give us the 411 
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10-25-2008, 01:08 AM
| | OVNIFX
EXAR pedals rep for North & Central America | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: PDX, OR | | | I'm open to being schooled on AJ's moves, but I've listened to that track a couple times now and those fills still just sound like keyboard to me. |
10-25-2008, 07:10 AM
| | | | Now here's an interesting one!
Thanks for bringing this up, paul_bass .
I'd GUESS that the chaka tune may be bass and synth doubled with those fills played just on bass.
Last edited by cnltb : 10-25-2008 at 07:24 AM.
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10-25-2008, 07:27 AM
|  | The Funkfather
Endorsing Artist: Kohlman Bassworks | | Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Hampton Roads, Virginia | | | I can definitely hear Anthony playing along with the synth. That run he does near the end is definitely live bass. As stated above, Let It Whip is also a mix of Moog and slap bass. Both songs can be done without the synth bass as I have done both live before. The Chaka tune you will need a 5 string bass though. I believe Anthony played his Contrabass on that. |
10-25-2008, 08:49 AM
| | | | what does "bump" mean? |
10-25-2008, 09:09 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: santa maria,california | | Quote:
Originally Posted by DWBass I can definitely hear Anthony playing along with the synth. That run he does near the end is definitely live bass. As stated above, Let It Whip is also a mix of Moog and slap bass. Both songs can be done without the synth bass as I have done both live before. The Chaka tune you will need a 5 string bass though. I believe Anthony played his Contrabass on that. | im pretty sure that was the career girl tuned down. |
10-25-2008, 09:06 PM
| | The Funkfather
Endorsing Artist: Kohlman Bassworks | | Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Hampton Roads, Virginia | | Quote:
Originally Posted by narud im pretty sure that was the career girl tuned down. | Could be... |
10-26-2008, 01:01 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2004 Location: Oklahoma City, OK | | | Anthony posts here on TB? What's his handle? |
10-26-2008, 09:50 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Metro St. Louis | | Quote:
Originally Posted by bongomania Dazz Band "Let It Whip": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bspAdq02zls
You have correctly identified the sound: a Moog (or similar analog synth keyboard) doubling the BG. You can barely hear the BG at all except for occasional slap fills. There is no special recording process at all- two musicians, two instruments, two tracks in the studio. You can either do the same (two tracks, two musicians) or you can use a synth pedal like the Korg G5 (read here for more info) but that means you couldn't also do the clean slap breaks.
Chaka Khan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixLCJkmgOp4
I don't hear even one iota of BG in there, it's pure keyboard as far as I can hear. So for that one the synth pedal is an easy choice.
For more about synth effects, search in the Effects forum. But again, in all seriousness, there is no special recording technique there. Just a person playing a keyboard. | If you listen to the end of "Watch'a Gonna Do For Me," you can hear some of AJ classic fills. On that song, I believe Greg Phillenganes is on keyboard bass and AJ is doubling.
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10-26-2008, 10:04 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Winston Salem, NC | | | WYGDF is by AWB
Note that "What's ya gonna do for me" is an Average White Band tune.
Go listen to the original, done on a short scale fender Mustang.. |
10-26-2008, 10:18 AM
| | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese If you listen to the end of "Watch'a Gonna Do For Me," you can hear some of AJ classic fills. On that song, I believe Greg Phillenganes is on keyboard bass and AJ is doubling. | Philiganes is credited on the album, but not on this specific track.  |
10-26-2008, 10:43 AM
| | The Funkfather
Endorsing Artist: Kohlman Bassworks | | Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Hampton Roads, Virginia | | Quote:
Originally Posted by azureblue Note that "What's ya gonna do for me" is an Average White Band tune.
Go listen to the original, done on a short scale fender Mustang.. | Yep. The original is pretty d@mn good too! |
10-26-2008, 10:57 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Montreal, Canada | | Quote:
Originally Posted by ElMon Anthony posts here on TB? What's his handle? | http://www.talkbass.com/forum/member.php?u=118755
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