Upright Unplugged - Page 8

Paul Warburton · #**141** 03-28-2010, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calivox

If they had lived, they probably would have been on the front edge of amplifiers and steel strings. Certainly Pettiford and Lafaro were all about soloing.

Don't count gut out. I just made the leap to gut. I still amplify it and, in fact, it was an order of magnitude easier to amplify than steel strings. I keep the action relatively low (still higher than with Spiros though) and get a really cool sound. I just pulled my steel string bass out to mess around with after 4 weeks solid of nothing but gut and had to put it away after about 5 minutes. It just sounded puny. I miss the singing tone in the upper register and soloing was a bit of a paradigm shift but I'm pretty committed to it now. The sound while walking a line is just a thing of beauty.

mark

Yes, Lordy.

salcott · #**142** 03-30-2010, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

Yes, Lordy.

I'll second that.

Alexi David · #**143** 03-30-2010, 05:29 PM

The old guys that are still here almost always do steel/amps. They wouldn't be caught dead with gut/mic anymore (except for Charlie Haden - though he uses a pickup) Reggie, Buster, Grimes, Ron Carter - none miss gut.

Paul Warburton · #**144** 03-30-2010, 06:50 PM

Lexi, do yourself a favor and check out Mark Perna's ( TBer calivox) clips up there. Guts, .....killer MoFo.

I still spend time listening to Red Mitchell's gut string, ampless playing from the 50's. That sound and the fact he was able to give that legato spin on ampless gut playing still amazes me.

Alexi David · #**145** 03-30-2010, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

Lexi, do yourself a favor and check out Mark Perna's ( TBer calivox) clips up there. Guts, .....killer MoFo.

I still spend time listening to Red Mitchell's gut string, ampless playing from the 50's. That sound and the fact he was able to give that legato spin on ampless gut playing still amazes me.

I heard all of his MyFace stuff...killer - great group interplay.

I get a legato gut sound...Only because I have my strings an inch lower than everyone else in NYC!

Paul Warburton · #**146** 03-30-2010, 11:05 PM

You know Neal Miner? One of my favorite NYC bass players. (along with Ed). No amp...guts.

Alexi David · #**147** 03-30-2010, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

You know Neal Miner? One of my favorite NYC bass players. (along with Ed). No amp...guts.

Never actually met him, oddly enough. I do know Ari Roland though, who is like the dean of Bebop bassists these days. Swing City.