John Wetton in UK band 78-79

Dogame · #1 12-11-2009, 06:33 AM

Hi everyone. I've noticed that this guy, a P-bass man like me, used a Fender Jazz Bass during the time of his short-term band UK, in the late 70s. Actually, you can watch it on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC1_W82gLeo

Anyone saw them live during the late 70s? I know that he did a tour there on the States and perhaps someone could add more info. Thanks.

**JxBass** · #2 12-11-2009, 06:39 AM

I saw John Wetton when he and Bill Bruford were with King Crimson. They were performing Larks Tongue In Aspic as the current album. If memory serves he was using a P-Bass.

Hoover · #3 12-11-2009, 07:01 AM

Wetton was pictured on the 2nd UK album with that pickguard-less white Precision Bass that you can see on a stand behind him in the OP's video link.

He's playing it in this UK video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RC6X...eature=related

PhR · #4 12-11-2009, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dogame

Hi everyone. I've noticed that this guy, a P-bass man like me, used a Fender Jazz Bass during the time of his short-term band UK, in the late 70s. Actually, you can watch it on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC1_W82gLeo

Anyone saw them live during the late 70s? I know that he did a tour there on the States and perhaps someone could add more info. Thanks.

It's a mimed performance so he could have used anything on it but some of the tracks on both UK studio albums sound like a Jazz Bass. He had that same Jazz Bass already back in Crimson but probably used it only as a spare:

On this live clip he uses an Ibanez RS-900:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYJdv...eature=related

Joeykun · #5 12-11-2009, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dogame

UK, in the late 70s. Actually, you can watch it on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC1_W82gLeo
.

Bozzio looks like Kelso from That 70's Show in this video. LOL! Awesome band though. Check out their live album. Great stuff!

Fishheadjoe · #6 12-11-2009, 08:47 AM

I saw him with Asia in I beleive the late 70's early 80's and if
I recall correctly, he was using a Jazz Bass at the time.
Interesting concert as they only had one album out at the time, but had Steve Howe on guitar and Carl Palmer on drums... Howe played an extended acoustic solo to help fill in some time... and I think Palmer played a solo as well..
What can I say, it was "the heat of the moment"!
Fishheadjoe

corinpills · #7 12-11-2009, 12:17 PM

Early hero of mine, I wore that live UK album down to a smooth unplayable disc. I also recall him playing a telecaster bass with Asia. I thin it was actually shaped like a tele.

Dogame · #8 12-11-2009, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoover

Wetton was pictured on the 2nd UK album with that pickguard-less white Precision Bass that you can see on a stand behind him in the OP's video link.

He's playing it in this UK video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RC6X...eature=related

Didn't know it was a P-bass.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhR

It's a mimed performance so he could have used anything on it but some of the tracks on both UK studio albums sound like a Jazz Bass. He had that same Jazz Bass already back in Crimson but probably used it only as a spare:

On this live clip he uses an Ibanez RS-900:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYJdv...eature=related

Interesting! I've recently seen one of these on sale but with a "natural" or "dark stain" look.

Quote:

Originally Posted by corinpills

Early hero of mine, I wore that live UK album down to a smooth unplayable disc. I also recall him playing a telecaster bass with Asia. I thin it was actually shaped like a tele.

That one was used with Crimson too.

Anyway, I guess that our man's sound during that time is probably Jazz Bass or early active stuff like that Ibanez.

mccartneyman · #9 12-11-2009, 03:36 PM

Saw him with Asia in July and he was using a Zon.

corinpills · #10 12-11-2009, 11:35 PM

Does anybody know: did he play with a thumb pick back in the Crimson/UK days, or is that a new thing?

PhR · #11 12-12-2009, 03:34 AM

The only bass I've seen him using with Crimson (1972-1974) is the natural Precision with a rosewood fingerboard and a tortoise pickguard. He removed the pickguard and painted it white in early 1974. It was his main bass with Roxy Music, Uriah Heep and UK (at least for live work).
Precision 1973:

And 1974:

PhR · #12 12-12-2009, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corinpills

Does anybody know: did he play with a thumb pick back in the Crimson/UK days, or is that a new thing?

On some '73 Crimso footage it looks like he uses the thumb pick for strumming on "Easy Money" but it was mainly (hard) finger style.

I read somewhere that he has to use the thumbpick nowadays because of his hands (or right hand). Something wrong with it that prevents the fingerstyle playing.

jtb · #13 12-12-2009, 04:24 AM

I saw him play in UK sometime in the late '70s - white p-bass (no pickguard) through Marshall amps.

Barkless Dog · #14 12-12-2009, 04:32 AM

I saw the UK Tour, great show. Wetton's tone was great. Still his best work is on Red. I always like Eddie Jobson as well.

I read an interview with Holdsworth talking about how bored he was, playing in that band, that he would be daydreaming, while playing about drinking a pint.

fretlessguy · #15 12-13-2009, 05:11 AM

John had carpel tunnel surgery a couple of years ago. It did not solve the problem, and he now is relegated to using a thumbpick that they tape to his thumb.

mccartneyman · #16 12-13-2009, 06:18 PM

I saw John with Krimson in 1973, with UK in 1979 and with Asia in 1982 and 2009. His sound this year wit the Zon was very bottom heavy, but still clear. Used the thumb pick for the entire show.

Dogame · #17 12-28-2009, 03:11 PM

Hey, thanks for the feedback. Now I'm gonna use my P-Bass more instead of my 51!
BTW I've got an Ashdown MAG 300, how should I put the eq to sound much like him? Perhaps mids at 10 and treble & bass at 5? Thanks for your answers.

JimmyM · #18 12-28-2009, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhR

On some '73 Crimso footage it looks like he uses the thumb pick for strumming on "Easy Money" but it was mainly (hard) finger style.

I read somewhere that he has to use the thumbpick nowadays because of his hands (or right hand). Something wrong with it that prevents the fingerstyle playing.

right. he gave himself carpal tunnel syndrome from playing bass with a pick like a guitarist.

Jim C · #19 12-28-2009, 07:39 PM

I always like his playing on the 4 solo Brian Ferry records

Playing with a pick can also lead to drinking problems

corinpills · #20 12-28-2009, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

right. he gave himself carpal tunnel syndrome from playing bass with a pick like a guitarist.

To be fair, John Wetton has payed with both pick and fingers throughout his career, but it's his more aggressive pick tone that he gets noticed for. His King Crimson tone with the ripping Hiwatts is what he's most known for. It's rather a shame that part of his arsenal of playing techniques has gone away. That must be very frustrating.