Cliff Williams - Changes?

isher1992 · #1 02-07-2009, 01:16 PM

Well, I watched the Live In Donnington DVD a bunch of times before I went to an AC/DC concert for the Black Ice tour in Little Rock, AR.

I've always seen Cliff play Fender P-basses through Ampeg SVT-2 PRO's with Ampeg 8x10 cabinets.

At this concert a while back I saw him use a (I assume to be pre-Fender) Ernie Ball MusicMan StingRay with a no pickguard through an Ashdown 8x10.

Hamrhed · #2 02-07-2009, 01:37 PM

Cliff has switched between Fenders and Stingrays since the Highway to hell days... he is currently using Ashdown rigs on tour but recorded the bulk of Black ice w/ Ampeg stuff

isher1992 · #3 02-07-2009, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hamrhed

Cliff has switched between Fenders and Stingrays since the Highway to hell days... he is currently using Ashdown rigs on tour but recorded the bulk of Black ice w/ Ampeg stuff

It kind of caught me off guard when he comes out with a StingRay!

But I thinks he sounds much better through the Ashdown, with a StingRay.

Hamrhed · #4 02-07-2009, 01:45 PM

I am surprised that he is using the Stingray onstage- he has favored P basses in concert (saving the Music mans for the studio).As far as the amps go, Cliff might have taken a que from Nate Mendel of the Foo Fighters: Nate and his tech tested out several companies Heads & 8x10 rigs and chose Ashdowns for their lowend response and clarity... plus its no secret that Ampeg has dropped the ball big time w/ the overseas production move that has resulted in an inferior product in the opinion of many

Alvaro Martín Gómez A. · #5 02-07-2009, 01:58 PM

He also played one of these (Check it out at 1:10).

isher1992 · #6 02-07-2009, 02:00 PM

That's a Steiberger...Wow, that's uncommon.

The Golden Boy · #7 02-07-2009, 11:15 PM

There were 3 of his basses on consignment around town somewhere around 10+ years ago. They were custom made Ps. All had some sort of active pickups, heavier than all hell, ebony fretboards and two had fancy pants inlays. One was all black with no position markers or inlays. One was the bass used in the "You Shook Me All Night Long" video- blue with inlays of a naked chick crawling up the fretboard. And one was black with penis and testicle position markers.

I'm totally not making that up.

isher1992 · #8 02-08-2009, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Golden Boy

There were 3 of his basses on consignment around town somewhere around 10+ years ago. They were custom made Ps. All had some sort of active pickups, heavier than all hell, ebony fretboards and two had fancy pants inlays. One was all black with no position markers or inlays. One was the bass used in the "You Shook Me All Night Long" video- blue with inlays of a naked chick crawling up the fretboard. And one was black with penis and testicle position markers.

I'm totally not making that up.

They were all active?

s4001 · #9 02-08-2009, 08:32 AM

No wonder he sold 'em.

The Golden Boy · #10 02-08-2009, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by isher1992

They were all active?

Active.

I seem to also remember there was either no volume or tone knob- or just no blend. I think they were also P/J pickup configured. Very "plug in and go."

Truthfully, none of them sounded very good and they were heavy and uncomfortable to play. At the time they were $1800-

isher1992 · #11 02-08-2009, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Golden Boy

Active.

I seem to also remember there was either no volume or tone knob- or just no blend. I think they were also P/J pickup configured. Very "plug in and go."

Truthfully, none of them sounded very good and they were heavy and uncomfortable to play. At the time they were $1800-

To me, no blend knob is like no EQ.

What's the point?