the amazing John Entwistle's bass tone!

[Dethrats]

John Entwistle: “Won’t Get Fooled Again” Isolated Bass

blown away at the richness and crunchy tone! i can see Sunn cabs behind him, leading me to believe hes using Sunn amps.

[JimmyM]

Good guess...Sunn Coliseum power amps but he used some sort of custom pre in front of them, whose name escapes me.

[Doctor Dirt]

Honestly I don't get it. Sounds like a typical mid 1960s sound were the bass is shelved and all this mid-range is rolled on. Every west coast bass player could play like that back then and although this guy was a great fit in his band I don't see how anyone can consider his playing and tone as anything inovative. He plays alot of patterns a fustrated guitar player would use playing a bass. I'll give him alot of credit for holding everything together in that band. To play with a drummer who has no concept of beat and no structure to apply to song must have been abit frustrating. I know theres people that think the players in the Who band were great but I'm not one of them. Although I'd say the bass player is easily the best musician in the band. Doc

[fourstringburn]

Great vid! Amazing how his tone is similar to the twangy brightness of some one slapping.

[michael_atw]

His thumb position on the fret hand makes me chuckle.

[michael_atw]

Originally Posted by Doctor Dirt

Honestly I don't get it. Sounds like a typical mid 1960s sound were the bass is shelved and all this mid-range is rolled on. Every west coast bass player could play like that back then and although this guy was a great fit in his band I don't see how anyone can consider his playing and tone as anything inovative. He plays alot of patterns a fustrated guitar player would use playing a bass. I'll give him alot of credit for holding everything together in that band. To play with a drummer who has no concept of beat and no structure to apply to song must have been abit frustrating. I know theres people that think the players in the Who band were great but I'm not one of them. Although I'd say the bass player is easily the best musician in the band. Doc

You're talking satire....right?

[rickwebb]

i remember reading somewhere he was using Stramp preamps with this rig. i could be wrong...

[cassanova]

I think the tone I'm hearing sounds like crap. YMMV.

[Epidrake]

To the haters. John was the first guy to put a bass lead break into a rock song. He made it cool to play bass. The Who was a very cool band and he was the coolest.

[BritPicker]

It's all about context. On it's own I find it sounds too distorted and messy, but as part of the track it's completely awesome, one of the best long rock songs ever.

Bit like when you listen to the isolated bass on the Beatles "Helter Skelter", it's pretty nasty, but as part of the track...

[Bibby]

I like it....what else could you ask for in a loud rock tone? Crunch and Punch!!

[esa372]

Originally Posted by Doctor Dirt

Every west coast bass player could play like that back then...

...I don't see how anyone can consider his playing and tone as anything inovative.

These are two of the wackiest comments I've ever seen on TB.

[Doctor Dirt]

Michael_atw, not really! I don't see how this fellow is considered inovated or that his "sound" "tone" is great. As I said that tone was being used on the West Coast in the states back in the early 60s. Listen to early Jack Cassidy he had a springy mid range sound on some recordings and at lives shows too. I'm not try to berate anyone hear I just think that if the group didn't become a pop hit anyone would be raving about his style or sound. As I said hes easily the most talented musician in that group. I saw live a few times and the guitarists was NOT good and the original drummer didn't even play to the songs. He blew every ending and didn't maintain any time. When people become stars by the pop cultures they annoint them as master players too. This gentlman is not a great player in my view, thats all. I don't mean any harm and everyone has their own opinions. If he and the drummer were paid by the note they could retire after 3 gigs with all the money in the world.
Their style may make all the sense in the world to someone else but to me I hear no groove, theres never a backbeat, I can't "feel" anything resembling a dance beat.
I understand that on a bass forum this guy could be singled out because his sound and his playing does stick out very loudly and theres plenty of notes to digest. Lots of bass players have that insecurity about not being noticed or have a problem with how others in a band become focal points. I'm not saying that anyone needs to feel the way I do, theres no right or wrong here its just a topic on a forum. I personally feel funny even talking about someone else whos not IN the conversation but I'm not saying anything that I wouldn't say if he was here. Not trying to defame or degrade anyone, just talking about a sound and a style. I'm not from the lead running bass generation, I came up in a time when the bass was a key foundation instrument and not a free lance piece. As for sound I like a 4 string Fender that when you go down near the third fret on the E string it gets down to that low B five string depth. Not a twangy tinny roto sounding quirky corky thing hahahahaha oh hell this is way to involved. Hes great! Doc

[punkinfantry]

i've heard it said that entwistle kept the rhythm while moon just went bonkers, like a swapping of roles. in any case, it worked brilliantly, and i'd give my left nut for some vintage Sunn gear

[SoCal1]

Moon and Entwistle did battle every time they played. Terrific individual skill sets...NOTHING resembling locking or grooving together. Those two reportedly personally disliked each other as much as Bruce and Baker...but the Cream guys didn't try to stab each other until AFTER the set was over.

[michael_atw]

Originally Posted by SoCal1

Moon and Entwistle did battle every time they played. Terrific individual skill sets...NOTHING resembling locking or grooving together. Those two reportedly personally disliked each other as much as Bruce and Baker...but the Cream guys didn't try to stab each other until AFTER the set was over.

False on both accounts. They were the two that would party with each other in the band and they locked up with each other on the stage.

[michael_atw]

Originally Posted by Doctor Dirt

Michael_atw, not really! I don't see how this fellow is considered inovated or that his "sound" "tone" is great. As I said that tone was being used on the West Coast in the states back in the early 60s. Listen to early Jack Cassidy he had a springy mid range sound on some recordings and at lives shows too. I'm not try to berate anyone hear I just think that if the group didn't become a pop hit anyone would be raving about his style or sound. As I said hes easily the most talented musician in that group. I saw live a few times and the guitarists was NOT good and the original drummer didn't even play to the songs. He blew every ending and didn't maintain any time. When people become stars by the pop cultures they annoint them as master players too. This gentlman is not a great player in my view, thats all. I don't mean any harm and everyone has their own opinions. If he and the drummer were paid by the note they could retire after 3 gigs with all the money in the world.
Their style may make all the sense in the world to someone else but to me I hear no groove, theres never a backbeat, I can't "feel" anything resembling a dance beat.
I understand that on a bass forum this guy could be singled out because his sound and his playing does stick out very loudly and theres plenty of notes to digest. Lots of bass players have that insecurity about not being noticed or have a problem with how others in a band become focal points. I'm not saying that anyone needs to feel the way I do, theres no right or wrong here its just a topic on a forum. I personally feel funny even talking about someone else whos not IN the conversation but I'm not saying anything that I wouldn't say if he was here. Not trying to defame or degrade anyone, just talking about a sound and a style. I'm not from the lead running bass generation, I came up in a time when the bass was a key foundation instrument and not a free lance piece. As for sound I like a 4 string Fender that when you go down near the third fret on the E string it gets down to that low B five string depth. Not a twangy tinny roto sounding quirky corky thing hahahahaha oh hell this is way to involved. Hes great! Doc

[SoCal1]

Originally Posted by michael_atw

False on both accounts. They were the two that would party with each other in the band and they locked up with each other on the stage.

Actually...it was Moons over the top loudness which Entwistle complained about but could not quiet down which resulted in Entwistle employing the Marshall stack to compete with Moon. As for those two locking and grooving...Perhaps it's a matter of opinion...but most musicians I've discussed this with would take the position that it was more competition than coordination. As a previous post stated...where's the backbeat???

But true...Entwistle did often pass the matches to Moon that he used to explode toilets across the world.

[Buster Brown]

Originally Posted by Doctor Dirt

Michael_atw, not really! I don't see how this fellow is considered inovated or that his "sound" "tone" is great. As I said that tone was being used on the West Coast in the states back in the early 60s. Listen to early Jack Cassidy he had a springy mid range sound on some recordings and at lives shows too. I'm not try to berate anyone hear I just think that if the group didn't become a pop hit anyone would be raving about his style or sound. As I said hes easily the most talented musician in that group. I saw live a few times and the guitarists was NOT good and the original drummer didn't even play to the songs. He blew every ending and didn't maintain any time. When people become stars by the pop cultures they annoint them as master players too. This gentlman is not a great player in my view, thats all. I don't mean any harm and everyone has their own opinions. If he and the drummer were paid by the note they could retire after 3 gigs with all the money in the world.
Their style may make all the sense in the world to someone else but to me I hear no groove, theres never a backbeat, I can't "feel" anything resembling a dance beat.
I understand that on a bass forum this guy could be singled out because his sound and his playing does stick out very loudly and theres plenty of notes to digest. Lots of bass players have that insecurity about not being noticed or have a problem with how others in a band become focal points. I'm not saying that anyone needs to feel the way I do, theres no right or wrong here its just a topic on a forum. I personally feel funny even talking about someone else whos not IN the conversation but I'm not saying anything that I wouldn't say if he was here. Not trying to defame or degrade anyone, just talking about a sound and a style. I'm not from the lead running bass generation, I came up in a time when the bass was a key foundation instrument and not a free lance piece. As for sound I like a 4 string Fender that when you go down near the third fret on the E string it gets down to that low B five string depth. Not a twangy tinny roto sounding quirky corky thing hahahahaha oh hell this is way to involved. Hes great! Doc

With all respect, you lost me with your first remarks.....I come from (basically) the same time you do....and I recall DISTINCTLY bass players going CRAZY when Entwistle began with the Who.....FINALLY, the bass became a "respectable rock star" instrument....

I don't know what you were playing in the 60s (but I would assume that it was along the lines of Gary Lewis and the Playboys or perhaps Beach Boys - BEFORE Pet Sounds) but after Entwistle, Bass Players could actually hold their heads up and were allowed to "participate" in the music....

And you are right....we are all entitled to our opinions and yours is as valuable as mine!!

[Hopkins]

Entwistle was good but I find no enjoyment in listening to him isolated. He sat in the mix well but that tone by its self is not enjoyable.