Motown thump on a P bass?

bigblue · #1 05-09-2011, 06:15 PM

I've got a brand new Am Std P on the way and a fresh set of Labella flats. I am thinking of installing a bridge cover and some foam like they used to to get that muted thump you hear on all the old records. Is this still the way to get that sound? Is it worth putting 2 holes in the bass to accomplish this? Can I get close to that sound without the cover and foam?

**Matthew_84** · #2 05-09-2011, 06:21 PM

you can slide a piece of foam underneath the strings at the bridge

funkifiedsoul · #3 05-09-2011, 06:25 PM

edit: Mathew beat me to it.
Sure, just stick a piece of foam under your strings, roll the tone back, and you're in 'thump' land. No need to deface your bass unless you like the look, or like a hand rest for picking. (or if you want this bass to be always muted, then why not, looks cool) You could go one step further and swap the pickup for a vintage one.

Stumbo · #4 05-09-2011, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigblue

...fresh set of Labella flats.

Gotta also wait for the LaBella flats to deaden out.

Help! I need to get rid of that new string sound!
Household stuff to dull my strings?

faulknersj · #5 05-09-2011, 06:30 PM

Home Depot or Lowes will have the big yellow sponges that are used to clean the mess caused from grouting tile. Buy one of those and cut pieces out with scissors. Experiment with different lengths (from the bridge toward the pup) until you find the level of (or lack of) sustain you are looking for.

fourstringdrums · #6 05-09-2011, 06:33 PM

Don't forget the amplification. A 15" speaker, or even a 12" with some compression will add to the thump.

thmsjordan · #7 05-09-2011, 06:53 PM

YouTube - The Funk Brothers & Chaka Khan - What's Going On

Watch around 3:10 and you'll see the classic P bass setup for this sound. Flatwounds with a sponge under the bridge - this was actually done to make the sound a little more upright like with less sustain. I don't think the bridge covers made any difference in sound to these guys. Babbit and Jamerson can both be seen in photos with all covers removed from their P basses.

Much more importantly than equipment though, I think it bears mentioning that these guys (Jamerson and Babbit along with a lot of other guys) were doing this in the early 60's as jazz players who had started on jazz upright bass. I think a lot of what they play makes sense from this perspective. The way they move the lines along with the changes makes a lot of sense to a jazz player who has done walking lines in jazz combos for years and years. This is a much overlooked aspect of this type of playing.

Many studio guys in this period frequently used Ampeg B-15 amps or similar - and that was a big part of the sound as well, though I am sure anyone could find exceptions to these rules.

fourstringdrums · #8 05-09-2011, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thmsjordan

I don't think the bridge covers made any difference in sound to these guys. Babbit and Jamerson can both be seen in photos with all covers removed from their P basses.

I don't think I've seen any pictures where Jamerson had the bridge cover removed, but in his case, the bridge cover had foam glued to the under side.

Bassman822 · #9 05-09-2011, 06:59 PM

Don't forget about years of chicken grease on the strings (and to NOT wipe down the strings)

funkifiedsoul · #10 05-09-2011, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thmsjordan

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZTRUpALajc]

Much more importantly than equipment though, I think it bears mentioning that these guys (Jamerson and Babbit along with a lot of other guys) were doing this in the early 60's as jazz players who had started on jazz upright bass. I think a lot of what they play makes sense from this perspective. The way they move the lines along with the changes makes a lot of sense to a jazz player who has done walking lines in jazz combos for years and years. This is a much overlooked aspect of this type of playing.

+1 Well said.

craigb43 · #11 05-09-2011, 07:55 PM

check out Barker Basses , he makes a little foam kit that you guys should like , and he is a great guy

Tracebassplayer · #12 05-09-2011, 07:56 PM

That's not a sponge under the strings. It's a piece of open cell foam from a cheap couch cushion or similar product.
I have seen it before and had some in my hand a few years ago... OK.. 12 or so ago

.. though a sponge would probably work as well... to uhh .... soak up the extra sound..... ugh OK bad pun

funkybass · #13 05-09-2011, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tracebassplayer

That's not a sponge under the strings. It's a piece of open cell foam from a cheap couch cushion or similar product.
I have seen it before and had some in my hand a few years ago... OK.. 12 or so ago

.. though a sponge would probably work as well... to uhh .... soak up the extra sound..... ugh OK bad pun

If you are referring to the link that is a sponge. I read an article where bob says he found the sponge backstage and put it under the strings.

stiles72 · #14 05-09-2011, 10:55 PM

+1 to everything mentioned: flats that have had a chance to break in, roll the tone off, foam under the bridge, and a 15" speaker with a tube amp or some compression.

I always keep foam under the ash tray, but sometiems I'll add another piece providing even more muting, similar to the sound on "Same Old Song".

Tracebassplayer · #15 05-10-2011, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funkybass

If you are referring to the link that is a sponge. I read an article where bob says he found the sponge backstage and put it under the strings.

Um, no... I was refering to the youtube video mentioned above. You can see a greyish green piece of foam under the strings by the bridge...

Stumbo · #16 05-10-2011, 01:27 AM

Here's a little deal I came up with: Motown-James Jamerson sound

I also suggest trying it out around the fretboard next to the nut instead of near the bridge.

bigblue · #17 05-10-2011, 05:22 AM

I kinda think the covers look cool, is having that big chrome pickup cover in place a hinderance to hand position or playing technique? I'm just a beginner so I don't have any certain habits developed as to favorite hand position or anything yet so I may just go with the covers and foam trick. I just bought my first amp, a Ampeg B100R, I couldn't afford a real vintage B15 but it's on my list!

JimmyM · #18 05-10-2011, 06:23 AM

i hate chrome covers, but marcus miller and will lee like them. go figure. but i don't ever want anything in the way of the strings, because that's one less area of the strings i can't use. i also would never drill into a fender after doing a lot of modding to my 76 fender back when it was new and seeing the insane prices they go for now.

then again, it's not my bass so do what you want, but i'd be as non-invasive as possible with fenders these days.

funkybass · #19 05-10-2011, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tracebassplayer

Um, no... I was refering to the youtube video mentioned above. You can see a greyish green piece of foam under the strings by the bridge...

Yeah that's the link im referring to. On bobs forum he said it was a sponge. I can't get the link to load on my phone.

JimmyM · #20 05-10-2011, 07:13 AM

does it really matter if it's a sponge or foam? who cares? don't bog yourselves down in minutiae that doesn't matter.