Morphine Bassist

Bjazzman · #1 11-16-2006, 08:46 PM

I love this guy's sound. Does anyone know what bass and gear he uses? I saw he only uses 2 strings on his bass. It sounds huge

69segundos · #2 11-16-2006, 08:51 PM

I have not a clue; in fact, I never met anyone else who was into them. Great band.

Matt Till · #3 11-16-2006, 09:14 PM

Then you've never met me... which is true.

Morphine is amazing.

Mark Sandman is the bassist. I heard he just got really cheap pawn shop basses... some no name stuff, not sure of his rig.

Yes, 2 string bass... he plays with a slide most of the time.

RIP Mark Sandman. Brilliant poet/musician.

arbitrary · #4 11-16-2006, 09:28 PM

...so damned amazing.

Bjazzman · #5 11-16-2006, 09:34 PM

im thinking about doing a morphine tribute band. I play bass and bari sax so it would be hard choosing which guy to be. My friend might do the bari sax stuff on his sousaphone though. I read somewhere that he has actually a guitar and modded the nut for like either baritone guitar strings or actual bass strings. sounds like a fun project

**Adam Barkley** · #6 11-16-2006, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bjazzman

im thinking about doing a morphine tribute band. I play bass and bari sax so it would be hard choosing which guy to be. My friend might do the bari sax stuff on his sousaphone though. I read somewhere that he has actually a guitar and modded the nut for like either baritone guitar strings or actual bass strings. sounds like a fun project

I believe that is what he dubbed the "tritar." A three string amalgamation of a guitar and bass.

He inspired POTUSA to use two string instruments. Him, Billy Gould, and Micheal Henderson are my main influences. I don't sound like him, but I always simplify more technical parts because of him.

Enden · #7 11-16-2006, 10:06 PM

In the thread "recommend good bass albums" or something of that, I reccommended Yes by Morphine.

I love them. Mark Sandman was so great. Love his style.

brian v2.0 · #8 11-17-2006, 12:27 AM

moprhine is awesome. i really dig his lyrical style. highlights for me are "sharks" and "kerouac"

b.

Matt Till · #9 11-17-2006, 02:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bjazzman

im thinking about doing a morphine tribute band. I play bass and bari sax so it would be hard choosing which guy to be. My friend might do the bari sax stuff on his sousaphone though. I read somewhere that he has actually a guitar and modded the nut for like either baritone guitar strings or actual bass strings. sounds like a fun project

I was thinking of starting a morphine tribute band too... problem is, I don't have a low sexy man singing voice.

I'm free now to direct a movie
Sing a song or write a book about yours truly
How I'm so interesting I'm so great I'm really just a ****-up
And It's such a waste to burn down these wall around me
Flexing like a heartbeat we don't like to speak
Don't talk to me for about a week I'm sorry it just hurts to explain
There's something going on that makes my guts ache
I got guilt I got fear I got regret
I'm just a panic stricken waste I'm such a jerk
I was honest I swear the last thing I want to do
Honest I swear the last thing I want to do
Is ever cause you pain
Oh
I'm free now
Free to look out the window
Free to live my story
Free to sing along
Oh (x4)
I'm free now to direct a movie
Sing a song or write a book about yours truly
How I'm so interesting I'm so great but I'm really just a ****-up
It's such a waste to burn down these wall around me
Flexing like a heartbeat we don't like to speak
Don't talk to me for about a week I'm sorry it just hurts to explain
There's something going on that makes my guts ache inside
I got guilt I got fear I got regret
I'm just a panic stricken waste I'm such a jerk
I was honest I swear the last thing I want to do
Honest I swear the last thing I want to do
Is ever cause you pain
Oh (x2)

brianrost · #10 11-17-2006, 07:50 AM

Mark's main bass was a Premier that he had modified quite a bit. His favorite amp was an SVT.

The tritar was developed with Chris Ballew of POTUSA. He and Mark had a band called Supergroup that used to play every Tuesday in a local club. Chris once told me the reason for 3 strings was to force your playing to be more deliberate. He and Mark felt that with more strings you opened yourself up to wankery.

bino · #11 11-17-2006, 08:52 AM

he also used a guitar slide quite a bit. The one concert I saw he had a bass which was reminiscent of a Carl Thompson... all curvy and crazy looking.

Great live band. That sax player was cool and I got a kick when he would play 2 at once.

brianrost · #12 11-17-2006, 12:33 PM

The Premier is probably the bass you saw, it does have exaggerated horns like a Thompson.

TheButler · #13 11-17-2006, 01:13 PM

i must also add i love morphine, some great bass on there !

bassmutant · #14 11-17-2006, 01:16 PM

Another vote for Morphine, I've got an old issue of bassic's with pretty good interview with mark sandman, sounded like a pretty easy going dude.

eldoctorbass · #15 11-17-2006, 10:31 PM

I love how Mark always introduced the band as from Boston. Hometown pride, ya know? I only saw them once in an airplane hanger but it was amazing. When Cure For Pain came out it threw me for a loop. I listened to it more than most records in my collection. I highly recommend Twinemen, though they aren't as bass-centric.

When I was in high school I used to hear Treat Her Right on the radio.

If there happens to be a bari sax player reading this in Western Mass, drop me a line and we could do a tribute.