Lemmy's playing style

Eyesee7 · #1 10-19-2009, 06:13 AM

I don't own any Motorhead albums but I'm familiar with a good number of their songs from having listened to all-metal college radio stations back in the day. I guess I wasn't paying close attention to the sound then because his bass didn't stand out, but watching live videos on Youtube he appears to be playing chords with a pick.

I still don't hear a distinct bass part but that's to be expected with a Youtube video. Is his playing style just to give a thicker sound, like a beefier guitar part? The only other bassist I've seen do this is Joey DiMaio from Manowar, but his bass is almost like a piccolo bass with the strings closer together and a sound more like an "octave guitar" than a bass (i.e. what a mandola is compared to a mandolin).

I would expect playing bass chords like this along with a guitar to sound like mud, but it doesn't. What is he doing as far as strings, pickups, tone, amp settings, etc. to avoid the mud?

Fullmetal · #2 10-19-2009, 06:22 AM

I have listened to some Motorhead and I don't think he plays chords with a pick. He uses a pick, that's right but he uses alot of distortion on his signal which is very distinctive and stands out alongside the guitar.

That's my opinion anyways.

MeanBassMachine · #3 10-19-2009, 06:33 AM

Lemmy connects his Ric into the Marsh, turns the gain and volume on FULL and beats the strings with the pick.

He beats them hard, raw, and ruffffff!.
HAHA

Qvist · #4 10-19-2009, 06:57 AM

You can hear the bass very clearly on a lot of motorhead, it just not an usual bass tone. He plays the bass more like a rhythm guitar I'd say.

Smurf-o-Deth · #5 10-19-2009, 07:00 AM

And, yes, he does play a lot of chords. He has a very mid-present sound, which cuts down on the mud. He really is, as stated, more of a rhythm guitarist, he just does it on a bass

Godbody · #6 10-19-2009, 08:50 AM

Yep, +1 for Lemmy being a rhythm guitarist on bass. I saw him live last month and was very close to the front of the crowd (which was literally the friendliest, most considerate crowd I've ever been in at a concert). He plays two-note chords most of the time.

Also, keep in mind that he uses two heavily modified Marshall amps (called "Murder One" and "Marsha," IIRC), each one feeding custom cabs, a 4x12 loaded with Celestions, and 4x15. That plays a big part in his sound being mid-heavy and not necessarily muddy.

During the concert, the guitarist (Phil Campbell) had technical issues in the second song of the set, and Lemmy just kept the song pumping without him. You could barely tell the guitar was gone. He's responsible for about 80% of what you're actually hearing Motorhead play, and the guitar only becomes prominent for wah-ed out solos.

Prime BASS · #7 10-19-2009, 09:28 AM

I understand where you are all coming from, for the faster heavier songs in my band, I play the 2 note chords your talking about, with a hint of distortion and less bass and more low mid, to cut out it being muddy, it just gives the rhythm section a bit more whack.

Lazylion · #8 10-19-2009, 12:18 PM

Great story on Lemmy in the latest Rolling Stone (Madonna on the cover). Made me want to get a Motorhead t-shirt!

guitfiddle0409 · #9 10-19-2009, 12:30 PM

I love his Rick - the 4004LK.

guitfiddle0409 · #10 10-19-2009, 12:44 PM

Godbody · #11 10-19-2009, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prime BASS

I understand where you are all coming from, for the faster heavier songs in my band, I play the 2 note chords your talking about, with a hint of distortion and less bass and more low mid, to cut out it being muddy, it just gives the rhythm section a bit more whack.

I also am a fan of two-note chords, more mids, and Jaguars. Maybe we should start a club.

Kink Rimson · #12 10-19-2009, 03:01 PM

Lemmy's Marshalls are set with the volume and gain at 3 o'clock, mid cranked full, bass and treble totally off.

He does often play double stops, but usually has the open E or A ringing out underneath as a drone to fill out the sound.

I love his style, utterly unique and a devastating tone. He always describes his style as 'blitzkrieg', and I can't put it better.

blendermassacre · #13 10-19-2009, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lazylion

Great story on Lemmy in the latest Rolling Stone (Madonna on the cover). Made me want to get a Motorhead t-shirt!

When ozzy doesn't know how you've done it all these years, you know you're no longer human.

Snakeman1066 · #14 10-19-2009, 03:50 PM

guys I'm a big Motorhead fan here....Lemmy started life as a guitard....as did Geezer Butler...as a result he uses a lot of double stops and power chords

His real name is Ian and was nicknamed Lemmy cause he was always quoted as saying "Lemmy a quid till friday!"

Lemmy was also a roadie for Jimi Hendrix...he played Bass with the Damned and wrote Ozzy's Hellraiser which he is quoted as saying that the royalties from that one song were more than he has earned in 30 years from Motorhead

He uses the bridge pickup exclusively (giving his bass sound more definition) and turns all the tone and volume knobs on the bass up full. On the amplifiers, he turns off the bass and treble, and the midrange up all the way, with the volume and presence up to the 3:00 position. The result is a biting mid-range sound he is famous for

He has used Ricki's since the early 70's and was well known for putting Gibson T bird pups in the neck position

there are 60 4004LK's floating around out there (Lemmy's however has been modified) as well as a limited edition Marshall 1992LEM which is a copy of "Murder One"

He uses hot-rodded Marshall JMP Superbass II amplifiers from the late 1960s/early 1970s. Each amp, with a nominal output of 100 watts, is used with a 4x12 speaker cab and a custom-made 4x15 cab. two such stacks on each side of the drum riser.

you guys should read White Line Fever his biography

Lonnybass · #15 10-19-2009, 04:12 PM

From all I've seen and read...how does this guy not constantly blow stuff up???

Sartori · #16 10-20-2009, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lonnybass

From all I've seen and read...how does this guy not constantly blow stuff up???

His amps are only 100 watts (albeit, tube) and he cuts out all his lows instead of boosting them.

zagralin_arf · #17 10-20-2009, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MeanBassMachine

Lemmy connects his Ric into the Marsh, turns the gain and volume on FULL and beats the strings with the pick.

He beats them hard, raw, and ruffffff!.
HAHA

Don't forget Midrange...he cranks that midrange and turns everything else down.

Sharko · #18 10-20-2009, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakeman1066

He uses the bridge pickup exclusively (giving his bass sound more definition)...

...He has used Ricki's since the early 70's and was well known for putting Gibson T bird pups in the neck position

Why replace a pickup that is turned off?

Prime BASS · #19 10-20-2009, 03:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Godbody

I also am a fan of two-note chords, more mids, and Jaguars. Maybe we should start a club.

the "Epic two-note chord players, with Jaguars Club." - I'll join.

Does he not change the bridge pickup? I can't just us the bridge pickup, the treble takes over the boom of the low end too much.

Russell foulkes · #20 10-20-2009, 03:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sharko

Why replace a pickup that is turned off?

i think back in the late 70s/early 80s he was using the neck pup on its own,listen to stuff off overkill.well,sounds it to me.

some great lemmy moments-

keep us on the road,
stay clean,
motorhead intro offve no sleep til hammersmith,
lots of songs off kiss of death...
sod it,ALL of motorhead is great!