Mel Schacher

eno50 · #1 02-06-2009, 08:29 AM

Ok, I'am going to give up my age now...
I was going thru some old records the other day and came across some Grand funk Railroad ,man I must have lost track of time or somthing all these years but listening to mel in those old recording brought back the reason I fell in love with the bass ,he was so powerfull back then, being in a power trio he had to work harder than the average bass player, but he had it going on.
I remember I think it was 1973 in North Carolina I had seen them in concert ,man my bellbottoms were flapping with the power of his bass cabs.
Any other bass player out there into mel's playing ?
he was an aggresive player and I remember trying to play like him back then ,I ended up holding back alot because other band members thought I was over playing or stepping on the guitar players toes.
Eno

Barkless Dog · #2 02-06-2009, 08:37 AM

Great minds think alike
Mel Schacher

eno50 · #3 02-06-2009, 09:05 AM

Thanks, Should have done a search
It is good to know that mel's is getting the respect by fellow bass players.
From what I have read he has not done an interview, he is a man of few words.
I sure would like to hear his view on bass playing and how times have changed.

Eno

Hamrhed · #4 02-07-2009, 01:50 PM

I am a big Mel fan and its great to know that he is still tearing it up w/ GFR! Mel reminds me of guys like Dee Murray and John Deacon in the sense that- as the 70's went- great players played what would now be described as overplaying... but thats what made them great! The songs that became classic had as much to do w/ those classic bass lines as anything

zon6c-f · #5 09-07-2010, 07:59 PM

First time I saw Grand Funk was at the second Atlanta Pop Festival, in Byron Ga, Summer of 1970....I was 15-16. I was impressed as I watched Mel's hair pulse with his bass, from his giant West Amplifier stack.

A few years back, my wife and I saw the original band play all of their hits, as well as a few new ones at the Variety Playhouse, in Atlanta. He used a precision and SVT.
Weekend before last, we saw Mel and Don, with Bruce Kulick on guitar and a couple of folks from .38 Special onm keys and extra vocals, perform at the Villages Ampitheater, in Fayetteville Ga.

Don Brewer can still sing as though those hits were recorded recently. Although we missed Mark Farner, Bruce Kulick was great .

Mel played what looked to my eyes, as well as my wife's eyes, as a Zon Sonus 4-String. His backline included one red light SVT and one Green light SVT. Mel played as great always. The show was great. Noy much more to add, regarding Mel; I just wanted to share. I'll probably repeat most of this in the Zon Club site.
Later, y'all.....zon6c-f.

electracoyote · #6 09-07-2010, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eno50

Ok, I'am going to give up my age now...
I was going thru some old records the other day and came across some Grand funk Railroad ,man I must have lost track of time or somthing all these years but listening to mel in those old recording brought back the reason I fell in love with the bass ,he was so powerfull back then, being in a power trio he had to work harder than the average bass player, but he had it going on.
I remember I think it was 1973 in North Carolina I had seen them in concert ,man my bellbottoms were flapping with the power of his bass cabs.
Any other bass player out there into mel's playing ?
he was an aggresive player and I remember trying to play like him back then ,I ended up holding back alot because other band members thought I was over playing or stepping on the guitar players toes.
Eno

When we do Grand Funk ("Some Kind Of Wonderful" and "American Band"), I really go for it, trying to nail Mel's tone and attitude. Every CD collection should include all three Grand Funk Live recordings.

C.Linton · #7 09-07-2010, 09:09 PM

It was Mel made me want to get a Jazz bass. Finally got one last year.

N.F.A. · #8 09-07-2010, 10:04 PM

Definite Mel fan here...Here are some clips of a show they did in my hometown in 1970. Was too young to go, but hey it was on tv! Yeah baby!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxFl0pod4wI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=An1bUUOfPDg
Check out the Alice Cooper, Traffic and Iggy clips too. (Infamous pineapple upside down cake in Alice's face, Iggy and the peanut butter incident,announcer says, "that's peanut butter"! good stuff)

DynaFlow · #9 09-08-2010, 07:48 PM

I'm a huge Mel Schacher fan. A style and tone like no other.

EASonBass · #10 09-08-2010, 08:57 PM

Oh yeah Mel!

We usually open with this one - Foot Stompin Music!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe-Vy3HDyQ4

Rick Robins · #11 09-08-2010, 09:04 PM

Love Mels playin, A definite influence on me. I am lucky to cover a bunch of GFR's classic tunes.

Tim Skaggs · #12 09-08-2010, 09:06 PM

I think I'm the biggest Mel Schacher in Arkansas. I've seen him play live three times; twice with the all original GFR. Jan 1975? All The Girls In the World Beware tour in Barton Collisium in Little Rock, AR (last night in Little Rock put me in a haze; American Band). Who knows what he was playing then, it was loud. My ears are still ringing....

1997 - Bosnia tour with re-formed original band in Robinson Auditorium in LR. Mel was playing a Zon through two 18" and two 410 cabs with all Peavey with Peavey amps. 2008 Little Rock, AR State Fair. Zon through and SVT head and 810 cab.

The man can play, he can play fast, clean, cool licks & he does it with a pick.

zon6c-f · #13 09-09-2010, 07:54 PM

I knew that ZON shape when I saw it 2 weeks ago. You confirmed it for me, THANKS, Tim. I asked my ZON CLUB bretheren, whether they thought Mel was using a Zon, but got no responses.

It wasn't his same tone from the 70's,rather it was distinct and articulate..just like a ZON. Can't say the same for his SVT's as his amp distorted only when ever he played anything on the deep end of his E-string.

Thankfully all Zon players aren't just a bunch of elitest 2-hand tappers.

Thanks and keep rockin'...Later... zon6c-f.

heavychevy · #14 09-11-2010, 04:43 AM

I had the honor of hanging with Mel a few weeks ago. He said he moved to the ZON bass because of the lighter weight and has a few back issues so this helps out.

BrickBatMansion · #15 09-11-2010, 04:52 AM

Mel RULES!

ARE YOU READY? and INSIDE LOOKING OUT from the black live album.............

Rocker949 · #16 09-13-2010, 04:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrickBatMansion

Mel RULES!

ARE YOU READY? and INSIDE LOOKING OUT from the black live album.............

+1

The Lurker · #17 09-13-2010, 08:04 AM

I've never seen GFR..... lack of opportunities, dontchaknow, but he's had such an effect on me that I have recurring fantasies about sticking a mudbucker in a Jazz bass.....

DHowardAir · #18 01-11-2011, 01:28 PM

I'm also a fan of 'old school' bass lines and Mel Schacher in my humble opinion laid down some of THE BEST grooves in rock history.

I hope they make it to the Tulsa area someday. Would LOVE to hear him play.

LAG · #19 01-13-2011, 08:03 AM

Big fan of Mel and Grand Funk here. I have never seen the band play live, but back in the early-mid seventies a band I was in got huge positive audience response from the GF songs we played. Great memories for me. Younger cats I play with nowadays diss GF music and won't play it. Very sad because I know folks any age would still dig it today.

Tim Skaggs · #20 01-13-2011, 08:26 PM

I think Mel is one of those unsung bassists who really influenced how bass was mixed in recordings for a few years. He's a great player, and I've often pointed to his bass lines as examples for students I've advised. It's certainly easy to hear his bass lines on any song of the first five or six GFR albums...