Michael Steele (former Bangles bass player)

LCipher · #1 01-06-2010, 07:19 AM

Hey guys/gals - was hoping you might be able to help me out on a bass player question. I'm working with some other folks on website for Michael Steele (former bass player for the Bangles, and a ton of other bands). www.mickisteele.net (click on "Instruments").

There is a section we want to add that discusses instruments - as a guitar player I'm fairly un-knowledgeable on the details of bass guitars. If you would like to help out, I need technical details on especially her 1971 Fender P-Bass, EMG pickups, and BadAss bridges. What advantages does EMG and /or BadAss briges give etc. Are the most commonly used EMG pickups always active?

Also - if you have stories, met, worked with, etc with Michael I'd love hear them and add them to the site.

I've always thought her bass lines were pretty darn good - a lot more than some people expect. If you've ever seen her play the Yardbirds "Im Not Talking" (singing at the same time) you'd know what I mean.

jgroh · #2 01-06-2010, 07:24 AM

Im a web designer and bass player, but I dont know her work outside of some Bangles songs on the radio. If you cant find anyone to help with more specific knowledge involving her, PM me. I can give you gear info.

normalized · #3 01-06-2010, 09:28 AM

Just checked out the web site and the instruments page, wow! I was at that show in San Francisco 2003, the band looked and sounded great. I think Michael left the band shortly afterwards.

Dont' have any bass insight but I thought she was pretty bad assed even with Suzanna and the sisters there.

Also wasn't playing bass yet so can't even remember the bass...

Dr. Cheese · #4 01-06-2010, 09:33 AM

LCipher, that is a very nice website you have designed! EMG pickups are almost always active except for the low budget EMG Select pickups. Badass bridges were designed by Leo Quan, and have been a very common after market modification for Fender basses for the last thirty years. Most use them to increase mass for better sustain, and supposedly better intonation.

LCipher · #5 01-06-2010, 10:14 AM

Thanks! I think she's quite an amazing musician. And Thanks DrCheese for the info.

Anything in particular about a 1970 vintage P-Bass that is special? Or are they (were they) pretty consistent over the years?

(Ok - I admit that was a loaded question. Worms/can definitely apply!)

Hoover · #6 01-06-2010, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LCipher

Anything in particular about a 1970 vintage P-Bass that is special? Or are they (were they) pretty consistent over the years?

NickInMesa · #7 01-06-2010, 01:13 PM

Everybody was digging Susanna Hoffs, but I was really into Micki all along.

Something about bass + girls = gaaaah...!

Even Emma Stone clueless in The Rocker does it for me (and I love red headed women).

LCipher · #8 01-06-2010, 02:24 PM

Can someone identify the EMGs and BadAss bridges? There is supposed to be two with the EMG and BadAsses, and one stock:

http://www.mickisteele.net/images/pbass_1.jpg
http://www.mickisteele.net/images/pbass_2.jpg
http://www.mickisteele.net/images/pbass_3.jpg

http://www.mickisteele.net/images/badass.jpg
http://www.mickisteele.net/images/emgpbass.jpg

My guess is 1 and 2, and 3 is stock. You can definitelysee the polepieces on the #3. The other two have the smooth surface that the EMGs would have. I personally cant tell on the BadAss bridges....

NicJimBass · #9 01-06-2010, 02:32 PM

To my (untrained) eye, #1&2 both have EMG's, while #3 is stock. #1 appears to have a Badass 2 (second generation) bridge, whereas #2 looks like perhaps a Badass 1 (1st gen) bridge. AFAIK, Badass 2's are bigger than 1's, which is why I think pic 2 shows a BA1, but perhaps another aftermarket bridge. Definitely doesn't look stock to me (the tailpiece is too thick).

LCipher · #10 01-06-2010, 02:40 PM

Definitely agree on the EMGs 1 and 2.

And the bridges: I see the same thing: they are different. But I think the #3 is probably the one that is supposedly "stock".

But I thought the BadAss 1 was the more chunkier:
BadAss 1 http://www.leoquan.com/html/bass1details.html
BadAss 2 http://www.leoquan.com/html/bass2details.html

Dr. Cheese · #11 01-06-2010, 03:00 PM

1 is definitely EMGs and a Badass. I think 2 is also. 3 is stock.

Lazylion · #12 01-07-2010, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LCipher

Also - if you have stories, met, worked with, etc with Micheal I'd love hear them and add them to the site.

At the risk of sounding like a nit-picker, my advice on the website is just this: make sure you spell "Michael" correctly every time! Spelling it "-eal" is a very common mistake, but I guarantee Michael will notice.

LCipher · #13 01-07-2010, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lazylion

At the risk of sounding like a nit-picker, my advice on the website is just this: make sure you spell "Michael" correctly every time! Spelling it "-eal" is a very common mistake, but I guarantee Michael will notice.

My HUGE weakness. Spelling..... thanks!

BTW - there is a guestbook up now if anyone wishes to sign. http://www.mickisteele.net/contact.php

plankspanker13 · #14 01-07-2010, 09:44 AM

Don't forget the anecdote about her auto accident pre-Bangles, when her "beloved 1976 StingRay," as she put it, got destroyed. I remember reading about it during the Doll Revolution promo period.

LCipher · #15 01-07-2010, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plankspanker13

Don't forget the anecdote about her auto accident pre-Bangles, when her "beloved 1976 StingRay," as she put it, got destroyed. I remember reading about it during the Doll Revolution promo period.

Do you have more info on this? I *vaguely* remember something about this. And I take it that is a "Music Man" StingRay and not a Corvette?!

Dr. Cheese · #16 01-07-2010, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LCipher

Do you have more info on this? I *vaguely* remember something about this. And I take it that is a "Music Man" StingRay and not a Corvette?!

A 1976 Music Man Stingray would be a very collectible bass, probably worth at least $2,500. They were the first mass produced active basses, and the first basses made by Leo Fender after his non-competition clause with CBS/Fender expired.

LCipher · #17 01-08-2010, 09:43 AM

How does a bass guitar get destroyed in an accident? That must have been one hell of a crash!

JTE · #18 01-08-2010, 11:19 AM

Duh... The bass was in the trunk of her car, and the car got rear ended.

BTW, this thread is useless without pictures.

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/3632/...b704f8cc32.jpg

John

LCipher · #19 01-08-2010, 05:17 PM

Anyone have any info on the bass in this pic? Hagstrom.

And here's a pic - Jackson 5 string.

LCipher · #20 01-28-2010, 07:12 AM

Hey - dont know if you know it but Michael played in a LOT of bands. We now have a lot of cool stories from band members up in the "Stories" page.

http://www.mickisteele.net/stories.html

We've also gotten permission to have mp3 audio clips from a band she played in called "Elton Duck". Check em out:

http://www.mickisteele.net/elton_duck.html