John Taylor of Duran Duran

[Bruce Lindfield]

Originally Posted by Hifiguy

He was playing a fretted Ovation bass when I saw them in (I think) 1979 or '80 and he got that exact sound live.

Well the Ovation was a lined fretless - like in this :

YouTube - Magazine - Song From Under The Floorboards

and here he is using it on Permafrost:

YouTube - Magazine - Permafrost

Here's a review :

SECONDHAND DAYLIGHT (1979) is only slightly less brilliant than its predecessor. Legend has it that Peter Gabriel was approached to produce and he suggested Robert Fripp, though it ended up being Colin Thurston (who was an engineer on Bowie's HEROES, the first two Human League albums and produced Duran Duran's RIO). The songs continue to be uniquely textured and new drummer John Doyle adds a more interesting counterpoint to Adamson's bass playing, which tightens the band noticeably. The quiet menace of "Feed The Enemy", the bizarrely hooky "Rhythm of Cruelty" and the album closer, "Permafrost" are high points of the album . The latter is the darkest and most menacing relationship song I can think of (and I use the word relationship loosely, since it seems to be about a particularly sinister form of date-rape) but delivered in an hypnotic atmosphere generated largely by Adamson's fretless bass lines.

[Hifiguy]

A fretless Ovation? Never heard of a critter like that before but that surely doesn't mean it can't exist. Cool.

Live and learn! Incredible bass sound in any case.

[Bruce Lindfield]

Try this link

Google Image Result for http://www.rocknrollvintage.com/prodimages/thumbs/1981-Ovation-Magnum-Bass-Fretless.JPG

[Hifiguy]

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

Try this link

Google Image Result for http://www.rocknrollvintage.com/prodimages/thumbs/1981-Ovation-Magnum-Bass-Fretless.JPG

Neat, but man, that is a whole lot of ugly for just one bass.

[Danhorse]

Just wanted to add my thoughts to this thread.

Those early to mid 80s were amazing times for bass playing. Coming off the back of Japan, DD and John's playing blew me away. When Arena came out, well, i wore the tape out pretty soon, the energy and melodic driving bass lines just gave me shivers every time.

John's playing back then is something I have not heard since in similar context, up front melodic lines, totally infectious!

I am saddened that bands and producers (mixers/masterers?) stay with a 'this is the way its done' structure of keeping bass in the background and only 'lead' instruments can be up front.

I bought my Aria SB1000 20 years ago, still have it, and am only just getting back into playing bass after a few years dallying with guitar. BUT! I am still going back to my old DD, Japan tracks for inspiration. I wish he had kept dominating the bands sound, or really pursued bass driven music.

I would love to know what effects he used on the Arena tour too. Great tones.

Anyone know what types of strings he used? Rounds?

[zuma]

Originally Posted by Danhorse

Just wanted to add my thoughts to this thread.

Those early to mid 80s were amazing times for bass playing. Coming off the back of Japan, DD and John's playing blew me away. When Arena came out, well, i wore the tape out pretty soon, the energy and melodic driving bass lines just gave me shivers every time.

John's playing back then is something I have not heard since in similar context, up front melodic lines, totally infectious!

I am saddened that bands and producers (mixers/masterers?) stay with a 'this is the way its done' structure of keeping bass in the background and only 'lead' instruments can be up front.

I bought my Aria SB1000 20 years ago, still have it, and am only just getting back into playing bass after a few years dallying with guitar. BUT! I am still going back to my old DD, Japan tracks for inspiration. I wish he had kept dominating the bands sound, or really pursued bass driven music.

I would love to know what effects he used on the Arena tour too. Great tones.

Anyone know what types of strings he used? Rounds?

I have no idea what gear he was using besides the SB-1000. I will take a guess and say that there is a touch of chorus in there. It also sounds like there is a fair deal of the mic'd amp sound in the Arena mix too. A friend of mine once mentioned he used GK amps at one point. It certainly does have a bit of a Duff McKagan vibe to me. I agree that it's one wonderful tone. The pops at the end of Is There Something I Should Know get me every time...Union of the Snake too.

Here is what I really want to know. In his book, JT states that when Rio was being done he switched to a dual pickup Aria, the SB-1200. He probably meant SB-900 but, any way, it does sound like it could be a dual pickup bass on certain tracks. My question is - If he switched to a dual pickup Aria for Rio and Seven and the Ragged Tiger, then why did he go back to the SB-1000 for the Arena tour?

[Danhorse]

Originally Posted by zuma

I have no idea what gear he was using besides the SB-1000. I will take a guess and say that there is a touch of chorus in there. It also sounds like there is a fair deal of the mic'd amp sound in the Arena mix too. A friend of mine once mentioned he used GK amps at one point. It certainly does have a bit of a Duff McKagan vibe to me. I agree that it's one wonderful tone. The pops at the end of Is There Something I Should Know get me every time...Union of the Snake too.

Here is what I really want to know. In his book, JT states that when Rio was being done he switched to a dual pickup Aria, the SB-1200. He probably meant SB-900 but, any way, it does sound like it could be a dual pickup bass on certain tracks. My question is - If he switched to a dual pickup Aria for Rio and Seven and the Ragged Tiger, then why did he go back to the SB-1000 for the Arena tour?

Interesting, thanks! I never knew about the SB900 factor.

Tempted to turn my beat up SB600 into a fretless, he used it quite a bit on the Arena tracks.

[zuma]

Originally Posted by Danhorse

Interesting, thanks! I never knew about the SB900 factor.

Tempted to turn my beat up SB600 into a fretless, he used it quite a bit on the Arena tracks.

You must resist and buy another Aria.

[Jimmy Stump]

The thread that refused to die. It started 12 years ago!

[Danhorse]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stump

The thread that refused to die. It started 12 years ago!

Well, why not indeed! Better one ongoing thread on him than many disparate ones hey

Zuma, I too loved the extra snapping and popping he did live, very cool and musically done!

I see the SB1000 is reissued, I wonder if they throw any fretless ones out now and then...

[SpectorDetector]

Anyone have the Bass Player Mag with the Girls on Film transcription in it? It's January 2005 with Dave Holland on the cover? PM me if you can help...

[zuma]

I definitely don't have that one but I remember the Rio one not being terribly accurate.

[Addison]

I love John Taylor... here's my YouTube cover of Rio, if anyone is interested.

I learned it before I ever knew the isolated tracks were available so it isn't perfect, but I think I came pretty close.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljLtF1JH1uo

[Danhorse]

Originally Posted by Addison

I love John Taylor... here's my YouTube cover of Rio, if anyone is interested.

I learned it before I ever knew the isolated tracks were available so it isn't perfect, but I think I came pretty close.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljLtF1JH1uo

Rock solid mate, very good time keeping there, not easy to do for the whole track!

[SpectorDetector]

Originally Posted by zuma

I definitely don't have that one but I remember the Rio one not being terribly accurate.

Yeah, that's what I found as well...

[obimark]

The girls on film tab they did looks good to me, but it uses mostly open strings for the main riffs on A & D, which I am not sure that is how JT actually plays it.

[Vince Klortho]

It isn't how I've seen him play it on videos.

I recently auditioned for an 80s cover band and one of the songs they asked me to learn was "Girls on Film". They specifically asked me to "slap the hell out if it" and I did. It was really fun.

[SpectorDetector]

Have you guys seen this? Pretty amazing if you ask me....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocHxhRUDffI

[SpectorDetector]

I have been on Duran Duran overload for a few weeks now, I guess in anticipation of my SB1000 coming in and finally wanting to learn some of JT's awesome bass lines!

So it got me thinking about the first 2 albums. What do you think is the better bass album Duran Duran or Rio? Rio definitely has the hits on it, but the bass playing is more upfront and funky on the self titled release IMO. Rio sold more and maybe influenced more players because of the hits like Rio, Hungry Like the Wolf and save a Prayer. But there is something about the more minimal sound of DD that hits me, Girls on Film is INCREDIBLE, Planet Earth is good also, but for different reasons. What say you on the subject?

Also, what is your favorite Duran Duran album of all time? Mine is Notorious, all killer, no filler! Well ok...maybe Winter Marches On isn't so killer, but hey the rest of the album is REALLY good!

[Danhorse]

Originally Posted by SpectorDetector

I have been on Duran Duran overload for a few weeks now, I guess in anticipation of my SB1000 coming in and finally wanting to learn some of JT's awesome bass lines!

So it got me thinking about the first 2 albums. What do you think is the better bass album Duran Duran or Rio? Rio definitely has the hits on it, but the bass playing is more upfront and funky on the self titled release IMO. Rio sold more and maybe influenced more players because of the hits like Rio, Hungry Like the Wolf and save a Prayer. But there is something about the more minimal sound of DD that hits me, Girls on Film is INCREDIBLE, Planet Earth is good also, but for different reasons. What say you on the subject?

Also, what is your favorite Duran Duran album of all time? Mine is Notorious, all killer, no filler! Well ok...maybe Winter Marches On isn't so killer, but hey the rest of the album is REALLY good!

Hey man, congrats on the SB1000! post a pic. I love mine to death.

Lots to love with the first album, its loser, funkier - Rio was the evolution to full effect for me, the more sensual & smokey vibe really hit the spot. Both those albums and Ragged Tiger live on Arena just took all the best tracks to even higher grounds of awesomeness.

but yeah, those first two albums had a sound and vibe that was never replicated again, warm and lush. I liked some of Ragged Tiger but the production had gone more compressed 80s.

what was it about theirs and Japan's sound that was so unique.... never replicated since, a shame. come on bassists, start another Art-House movement of bass upfront-ness again!!