John McVie

64jazzbass · #1 02-24-2007, 10:36 AM

Does anybody know what bass(es) John McVie was using for "Rumours" and the "Fleetwood Mac" albums. I'm guessing a P-bass but I'm not sure. Thanks.

Kink Rimson · #2 02-24-2007, 03:41 PM

I think I read somewhere that Rumours was recorded with a graphite-neck Alembic through a Pignose amp.

SBassman · #3 02-24-2007, 04:30 PM

I haven't thought about that stuff in a long time.

It Was good tone, wasn't it?

64jazzbass · #4 02-24-2007, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SBassman

I haven't thought about that stuff in a long time.

It Was good tone, wasn't it?

Yeah, very warm, round, and fat.

Folmeister · #5 02-24-2007, 07:46 PM

If you watch The Dance DVD he covers all of those tones with a Tobias.

64jazzbass · #6 02-24-2007, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Folmeister

If you watch The Dance DVD he covers all of those tones with a Tobias.

Yeah, I've seen him live or on video with different basses including the Tobias and an Alembic, but does anyone know what bass he recorded those old tunes with? Also, is it just me, or is he and Mick Fleetwood one of the better rhythm sections in pop history.

Sneckumhaw · #7 02-24-2007, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 64jazzbass

Also, is it just me, or is he and Mick Fleetwood one of the better rhythm sections in pop history.

It ain't just you. They did some TASTY stuff especially with Peter Green, Jeremy Spencer and Danny Kirwan. Typical guitarists, all three of those guys lost their marbles.

DEVILMAN · #8 02-24-2007, 11:59 PM

Definetly Alembic, not sure about the graphite though...

~S~

Kink Rimson · #9 02-25-2007, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Folmeister

If you watch The Dance DVD he covers all of those tones with a Tobias.

I've seen that , the bass sounds so soulless and dry.

BillyB_from_LZ · #10 02-25-2007, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 64jazzbass

Does anybody know what bass(es) John McVie was using for "Rumours" and the "Fleetwood Mac" albums. I'm guessing a P-bass but I'm not sure. Thanks.

Interesting that you just started this thread, I borrowed The Dance DVD from the library the other day, listened to Fleetwood Mac this morning and just visted the Bassist' forum to seek out the very same answers...

Rhiannon is still one of my all time favorite songs! Interesting how some songs grab you in your youth and you never let them go. LaGrange (ZZ Top) is another... Must be the interplay between bass and drums.

darkblack99 · #11 02-25-2007, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEVILMAN

Definetly Alembic, not sure about the graphite though...

According to Rick Turner, Geoff Gould did the graphite for the Wickershams, and an Alembic bass using it was delivered to McVie in mid-1976.

stanknuckle · #12 02-26-2007, 01:55 AM

I believe that the graphite neck Alembic was the first for Alembic. McVIE may have been using a Pbass just before the Alembic. I saw Fleetwood Mac in '84 and 2005. At the 84 concert he was using a Precision bass and in 2005 he was playing a Tobias and 2 different Rick Turner Basses. The TURNER basses sounded very very good, better than the Tobias IMO.

Mojo-Man · #13 02-26-2007, 06:18 AM

Seen them back in 1976- 1977.
John used two Alembics, one fretted, one fretless.
I think, they were 32" scale necks.

64jazzbass · #14 02-26-2007, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillyB_from_LZ

Interesting that you just started this thread, I borrowed The Dance DVD from the library the other day, listened to Fleetwood Mac this morning and just visted the Bassist' forum to seek out the very same answers...

Rhiannon is still one of my all time favorite songs! Interesting how some songs grab you in your youth and you never let them go. LaGrange (ZZ Top) is another... Must be the interplay between bass and drums.

Yeah, I was just driving home and "Dreams" came on the radio and even though I'd heard it a million times, this time the bass tone just cut through the speakers. Simple part, great tone!
Then I realized I never thought about what bass McVie was using during those recordings. Sounds like it was the Alembic with a possible graphite neck....

Jeramaya · #15 02-26-2007, 09:02 PM

Recently I watched the VH1 making of "Rumours" and I'm pretty sure it was an Alembic. Whatever it was, though, between that tone and his feel, it's pretty magical. And I'm not one to use that descriptive term often...

these_go211 · #16 02-27-2007, 09:06 AM

i watched the making of rumors too, sometime last year. i was so blown away i posted the same question here. yea, that tone is so fat, warm, and HUGE. he's a very good player. plays just what is called for.

and extra kudos for once being married to christine mcvie. she is aging extremely well