Cliff Burton

[CROZ]

It was a Morley...

[Boplicity]

Without trying to sound like pro wrestler "The Rock", I tend to think it doesn't matter what brand of wah you use because unless you are using exactly Burton's same distortion, same bass, same strings, same set up, same amp and speakers, same rack effects, same compression, and so on...you won't sound exactly like Burton anyway.

More important than using his exact same equipment is playing "Anesthesia" in the way he did even if you do have minuscule variations from his tone. If you plan to play his solo in public, I really feel very few will notice slight differences in tone between a Vox and a Morley or other wah. And if you are just learning the solo for your own edification, it will matter even less if you have the same brand of wah he used.

"Anesthesia" is challenging. Coincidentally, I set out to learn that years ago myself. I got bogged down in a hurry, because it really was a slow going bar-by-bar experience and I was just a beginner, so it soon became clear I had bitten off more than I could chew. I hope you have a far better experience than I had. If you do master the entire peice, you will learn a lot of tricks you can put to use in original solos of your own. Maybe you can even be the next Cliff Burton. I'll tell everybody I knew you when you were just starting. :-}

Jason Oldsted

[VictorLeMonteWooten]

i recommend a dunlop crybaby. Just my opinion. It has a nice bite to it.

[nirvanafan13]

Jason(LOVE THE NAME!!!), i have only been playing for about a year, a little less, but i have already gotten about half of the song(i'm only doing the cool parts, not anything after the drums enter..) When i first heard it, i was like i gotta play this .. it took about a week for me to get the feel of the speed and playin high frets with my hand all squished against the body(i play a p-bass which only has 21 frets..) i kinda stopped playing a little while back but i got a processor with distortion and i was wondering how he got the sound without sounding like Jason does on his solo on the Live Sh*t CD.. so does he just use more distortion than Jason does or a different wah, or, just like you said, his rack and amps and setup..????? Thanks for Posting..
Evan

[Erich Zann]

Well, acording to "Encylopedia Metallica" Jason Newsted uses a big muff and a morley wah, and Cliff just uses a morley wah! so I'm guessing he was just overdriving his Mesa Amp. Cliff was aparently influenced by Lemmy and "the way he got distortion."

[FaultLine423]

Cliff Burton was God at bass as far as I was concerned UNTIL I began listening to Dream Theater. Dream Theater then replaced Metallica as my favorite band, and John Myung replaced Burton as my favorite bassist. One of the reasons for this is that Burton only had 2 or 3 definitive basslines: Anesthesia, Orion, and a couple others. However, Myung has a definitive basslines in. just about ever song he plays in. Also, Myung is technically superior to Burton. Just listen to the bass solo in the song "The Dance of Eternity." However, I'm sure by today, if Cliff was still alive he could be as good and possibly better than Myung, and Metallica could still be the greatest metal band there ever was.

[maxoges]

Stop this idolizing of a dead thrash bassist!
Yes he was good, yes he inspired a lot people. But for gods sake he wasn't Jaco or anything... Jason does his job good enough and I don't see any reason compering the two. Jason has proven very versitile... I'm sure he could play any style if he wanted to.
I've been a big fan of metallica since 198...? And I think "and justice for all..." is the best album, followed by "master of puppets" and "the black album". I had "Kill em all", but I recently sold it since I didn't find a single reason to keep it. I still have the cliff em all video though.

[The Mock Turtle Regulator]

"And Justice For All" had some good songs on it, but hardly any bass in the mix (just a bit on the title track and on "One").
Lars should stop worrying about Napster and do a remixed and remastered version of that album- as Metallica's songwriting seems to have really gone downhill lately.

ps. re. Burton, in addition to Orion and Anaesthesia/Pulling Teeth I really like what he did in "The Four Horsemen" too.

[Edited by The Mock Turtle Regulator on 12-28-2000 at 09:14 PM]

[bass_player_cd]

I need to know if anyone knows where I can get some cool Cliff Burton merchandise. I've tryed ebay, but the prices are too high and there aren't very many items. I love Cliff, and need some memorbilia of him. Can some help?

[damageinc11]

I know cliff used a 4-string Rickenbacker, but can any one tell me the model number? thanx

~Jeremy~

[killer B]

I'm pretty sure it was a 4001 Rickenbacker. Later he used and Aria Pro II bass an Integra model I think.

[Stealthco4545]

I know Newsted played with a pick, but i'm not sure if Burton did. I was looking at the tabs to Orion and.....jeez!! That looks rough to play with your fingers!!!

[JMX]

As far as I know Cliff never used a pick.

[Dave Castelo]

yeah! he´s pure finger power!

that´s why he was so cool...while most metal bassist played with pick (and sucked).

and also his headbanging style... man, i don´t know how his head stayed glued to his body.

[sn0wblind]

Orion really aint that bad too play, and the day after alot of gigs Cliff would complain to his parents that his neck hurt, (VH1 Behind the music)....


...Cliff definately uses his fingers... Check out the "Cliff 'Em All" video...

[seamus]

Yes, they are correct, all fingers.

Orion will be easy for you in no time I bet.

[Stealthco4545]

Yeah, battery looked almost impossible to play with your fingers, so I guess orion isn't THAT difficult.

[ytsebri]

Originally posted by Stealthco4545
I know Newsted played with a pick, but i'm not sure if Burton did. I was looking at the tabs to Orion and.....jeez!! That looks rough to play with your fingers!!!

If you think Orion is bad, what about Whiplash or Damage, Inc. ?

[ikickuintheballs]

He ALWAYS played fingerstyle. go buy Cliff 'Em All. The second song they play is Damage, Inc. (or 3rd song). It's sick. I can almost do it right now. Orion is easy on your fingers.

[merlin]

Anathesia (Pulling Teeth) is a nightmare even for me who uses a pick. But then again its all a matter of practice and sticking with it. Burton didn't wake up one morning and could play bass. Only Lars woke up one morning and played drums, and it shows.

Merls