What's this bass tone?

Hambone 70 · #1 11-02-2012, 05:09 AM

Thompson Twins' "Hold Me Now". Love the tone... especially the mini-solo riff at 2:45.

Is it synth bass? Bass guitar?

dougjwray · #2 11-02-2012, 05:10 AM

I've always assumed that it's a synth.

Hambone 70 · #3 11-03-2012, 04:39 AM

Anyone?

Roy Vogt · #4 11-03-2012, 05:12 AM

That sounds like synth bass. You could approximate that with a fretless and judicious use of EQ, though.

Hambone 70 · #5 11-03-2012, 09:10 AM

Thanks, Roy!

Hambone 70 · #6 11-19-2012, 03:38 PM

I couldn't find an online answer, so I took a chance and e-mailed Joe Leeway, from Thompson Twins, who interestingly is now a hypnotherapist and neuro-linguistic programming trainer in California.

He kindly replied "1981 Oberheim synth"!