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05-05-2010, 06:52 AM
| | |  John Wetton (King Crimson, et al) goes back to Fender!
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After using different equipment from the mid-80s onwards, such as Gibson, Zon and Fernandes basses, the legendary John Wetton has finally gone back to his 1961 Fender Precision Bass for the latest Asia tour.
Initially John didn't welcome the idea of touring with this iconic instrument as it was, to paraphrase: "Irrecplaceable."
Subsequently, it was retired for nearly 30 years.
The bass is, however, back on the road, and it is the same bass that is featured on all King Crimson, UK and Uriah Heep recordings, and the debut Asia album.
Tracks like Larks Tongues in Aspic, Red, and In The Dead Of Night were all recorded and performed using this bass, and it is immediately identifiable as John Wetton's P-Bass, in much the same way that Chris Squire is notorious with his Rickenbacker.
Great news for all Fender fans!  |
05-05-2010, 07:52 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Akron New York | | | That is cool!!!! Interesting pickguard mod. |
05-05-2010, 08:14 AM
|  | Registered User | | | | | That's the Crimson bass? Last time I saw it (which was JW's next-to-last Crimson show) it had an added J near the bridge. Did he take it out?
/rick |
05-05-2010, 08:25 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: WI, USA | | | Maybe his hand's in the way of the J pickup? |
05-05-2010, 08:30 AM
|  | Fingers, pick, and a little bit of slap | | Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Terrapin country (Crofton, MD) | | | When I saw Asia way back when, Wetton had three P-basses, all painted white with little or no pickguard. I definitely remember a vanilla P and another with double soapbars, and I'm pretty sure the third was a PJ. I think they all had Fender headstocks, but I have no idea how many may have been vintage. |
05-05-2010, 08:34 AM
| | | There is no J-pickup on this bass, there never was...
In early 1973, it was it was a walnut brown finish with a tortoise pickguard until in late 1973 he had it refinished Olympic White and filled the P/U cavity and screw holes. The pickguard was replaced with a custom metal place covering the control knob cavity.  |
05-05-2010, 09:04 AM
| | Registered User | | | | Quote:
Originally Posted by the hen  There is no J-pickup on this bass, there never was...
In early 1973, it was it was a walnut brown finish with a tortoise pickguard until in late 1973 he had it refinished Olympic White and filled the P/U cavity and screw holes. The pickguard was replaced with a custom metal place covering the control knob cavity. | My mistake; you are correct. Funny how the mind can play tricks on you (well, me  )
/rick |
05-05-2010, 09:20 AM
| | | | His sound in King Crimson has always been the ideal heavy rock P-Bass sound for me. I'm glad it's back.
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05-05-2010, 09:49 AM
| | Registered User
Managing Editor, Bass Guitars Editor, MusicGearReview.com | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, PA | | | The Zon lacked punch when I saw Asia last August. Plenty of bottom, but little else.
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Lakland 55-94D, Steinberger XL-2, Hofner Icon, Kala U Bass, Stagg EUB, Line 6 Studio 110, Genz-Benz Shuttle 6.0 112T & NEOX 112T.
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05-05-2010, 09:59 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: West Los, CA | | | I bow in reverence to the master and his modified instrument.
KC '72 - '74, FTW. |
05-05-2010, 11:09 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Scotland | | Quote:
Originally Posted by the hen There is no J-pickup on this bass, there never was...
In early 1973, it was it was a walnut brown finish with a tortoise pickguard until in late 1973 he had it refinished Olympic White and filled the P/U cavity and screw holes. The pickguard was replaced with a custom metal place covering the control knob cavity. | All that custom work and he kept the tug bar on?
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Electra/Westone Club #19, Guild Club #27 (snuck in with a Dearmond).
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05-05-2010, 01:22 PM
| | Registered User
Endorsing: Ampeg | | Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Apopka, FL | | | forget the bass...i can't believe that with all his cts troubles that he's still picking like that close to the bridge. i want to buy him a lesson with carol kaye.
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Ampeg Portaflex Club #1
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05-06-2010, 07:09 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: London, England | | | That's great news, his Crimson-era tone is one of the touchstones of rock bass. I'm seeing Asia at High Voltage Festival soon, I look forward to hearing it!
Pretty sure 'In The Dead Of Night' is his Jazz bass though...
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'Tis no man... 'Tis a remorseless eatin' machine! |
05-06-2010, 11:41 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Lafitte, LA | | | Oh man, his tone on the whole Red album is orgasmic. I've been trying to copy that for years! |
05-06-2010, 12:32 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Canada. | | Has anyone tried out the "original 62 fender precision pickups" for the John Wetton vibe? I love his tone  |
05-06-2010, 12:47 PM
| | Registered User | | | | | For my money, Julie Slick got pretty good Wetton-like tone from her rig when I saw her with Adrian Belew. Lakland Glaub into an SVT4 Pro, I believe. Not a total cop - Julie has her own thing going on - but definitely made me think of it.
/rick |
05-06-2010, 10:12 PM
| | Registered User
Endorsing: Ampeg | | Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Apopka, FL | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Randall Has anyone tried out the "original 62 fender precision pickups" for the John Wetton vibe? I love his tone | i have. they're really good.
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05-07-2010, 12:37 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: College Station, Texas | | | me likey |
05-08-2010, 08:12 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Finland | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Kink Rimson
Pretty sure 'In The Dead Of Night' is his Jazz bass though...
| Me too. Many other UK tracks as well, like "Rendezvous 6:02". |
05-08-2010, 09:31 AM
|  | Supporting Member | | Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Williamsburg, VA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by RickC For my money, Julie Slick got pretty good Wetton-like tone from her rig when I saw her with Adrian Belew. Lakland Glaub into an SVT4 Pro, I believe. Not a total cop - Julie has her own thing going on - but definitely made me think of it.
/rick | She's since switched to a G-K rig, and that tone is still there. She gives some credit to her Keeley compressor, but I think most of it is in her hands. | | Thread Tools | Search this Thread | | | | 
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