Mr. Patitucci's electric tone

Hizzoner · #1 10-23-2008, 07:11 PM

Does anyone know the gear that John Patitucci used on this "Electric Bass v.1" instructional DVD/book/cd set? You know the one with Weckl and great facial expressions from Mr.P

..not the 6 string yamaha..the 4 string...

Looked from the video like a Sadowsky Jazz 4 string(active?)...I think he used D' addario prisms, but not sure?

Was he using Aguilar amps then? Not sure they even existed at that time...

I really admire the tone(I understand others may feel different) in that DVD and understand tone is in the fingers...but his sound was growly, warm, punchy, etc...real cool stuff...I really like his elektric band tone too...esp on "Behind The Mask"

Thanks
Mark

metalstorm · #2 10-23-2008, 09:21 PM

He used a Ken Smith bass in the video.

Baryonyx · #3 10-24-2008, 04:39 AM

Yeah. He did have a Sadowsky jazz in that video, and the prisms ring a bell! Although on the first Elektric band album he's listed as using a Fender jazz bass on some of the tracks, though I sometimes wonder if he used the Sadowsky.

Never been much a fan of his electric tone (or his upright tone!), though it improved a lot imo when he started using Yamaha TRB's.

KJung · #4 10-24-2008, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris2112

Yeah. He did have a Sadowsky jazz in that video, and the prisms ring a bell! Although on the first Elektric band album he's listed as using a Fender jazz bass on some of the tracks, though I sometimes wonder if he used the Sadowsky.

Never been much a fan of his electric tone (or his upright tone!), though it improved a lot imo when he started using Yamaha TRB's.

I actually loved the warm, fat punch on the 6 string smith he used, especially in all that upper register playing he does. The Yamaha tone sounds hollow, scooped, and thin, and the C string sounds really bad to me. I guess we all hear things differently. I thought his tone took a huge step backwards with the Yamaha bass, and especially when he started using the Aguilar amps. I assume he went to the DB750 to try to fatten up the Yamaha sound, but it just seemed to dull the tone a bit. IMO of course.

Of course, the notes are so good, who cares!

vision · #5 10-24-2008, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

I thought his tone took a huge step backwards with the Yamaha bass

+1...I love JP's old tone on that Ken Smith six.

odin70 · #6 10-24-2008, 07:19 AM

I also prefered the tone he had with the Ken Smith bass. Much warmer than the Yamaha. Yamaha also sucks when it comes to customer service imo. But i guess they treat Patitucci fairly good

kazamamaster · #7 10-24-2008, 09:25 AM

I love both tones immensely, but I've got to say for some reason I like the Yamaha a bit more. I guess it depends on the song.

John's tone on the song "Ezinda" (Elektric Band, Eye of the Beholder) is so dark and warm. It just kind of works for that song.

However, the song "Spaceships" (Patitucci, Sketchbook) just sings with that Yamaha goodness. It sounds so musical. The solo on that song needed a Yamaha lol.

I like both but like the Yammie a little more..

Baryonyx · #8 10-24-2008, 09:30 AM

I love the sound of Ken Smith basses in anyone's hands but John's. Especially on the first Elektric band album, it has no punch or bite whatsoever! At the same time, I have heard people get some amazing tones from them.

VroomVroom · #9 10-24-2008, 09:41 AM

In general, I've always liked his electric playing, but I greatly prefer him on the upright. His solo/upper register stuff on electric always sounds great, but I've never reconciled how he swings hard on upright but doesn't groove much (again, JMO) on electric. Anyway...

His electric tone, to my ears, has its base (bass?) in the fact that his right hand hovers much closer to the neck than the bridge.

behindthenotes · #10 10-24-2008, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VroomVroom

In general, I've always liked his electric playing, but I greatly prefer him on the upright. His solo/upper register stuff on electric always sounds great, but I've never reconciled how he swings hard on upright but doesn't groove much (again, JMO) on electric. Anyway...

His electric tone, to my ears, has its base (bass?) in the fact that his right hand hovers much closer to the neck than the bridge.

You might be interested in this feature with him that has him on both electric and acoustic bass. It goes for about 1hr with live performances

http://www.behindthenotes.com/index....enu-id-17.html

There's a free preview to check out to help you decide if you would like to watch the full feature

VroomVroom · #11 10-24-2008, 10:02 AM

I just watched the preview, and it was awesome! Easy reminder of what a gentleman and a true scholar of music he is - great stuff. (Kinda' helps make my point from above, though...again, just my opinion.

) The first time I saw him was with the Elektric band - I was at the University of Arizona at the time. Not only did I get to attend a clinic with Chick Corea, I also got to spend 15 minutes talking to John P. directly after their gig that night. The fact that he went out of his way to devote time to my questions and to offer me advice still touches me, more than 20 years (ack!) later.

Baryonyx · #12 10-24-2008, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VroomVroom

His electric tone, to my ears, has its base (bass?) in the fact that his right hand hovers much closer to the neck than the bridge.

Yeah, thats probably what causes the massive problem for me and my tastes!

SLaPiNFuNK · #13 10-28-2008, 10:24 AM

He is what got me into a Ken Smith. Loved his sound.

SteveC · #14 10-28-2008, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by odin70

I also prefered the tone he had with the Ken Smith bass. Much warmer than the Yamaha. Yamaha also sucks when it comes to customer service imo. But i guess they treat Patitucci fairly good

Hmm. I lost a bridge saddle screw for my out of production BB605 bass. I called Yamaha, had a CS rep email me a pdf of the parts sheet for my bass. I found the part I needed, gave the CS person the part number,my CC number and received the part a few days later. I thought their CS was pretty good.

bassnutj · #15 11-02-2008, 05:23 PM

I think his Yamaha has gotten alot better sounding over the years. The first release with it, "Sketchbook", sounds good in some places, but less good in others.
I think if you listen to tracks like "Misterioso" and "Lei" , later day tracks, it'll be easier to appreciate.
On the other hand, sometimes that Smith sounded really good, but on some tracks, not so much.
IMO.
Personally, I'm thinking of designing my own 6 with alot of ideas I've accumulated.

Bijoux · #16 01-20-2009, 10:34 PM

I like his Smith sound. the Yamaha TRB-6P can sound a little nasal and trebly at times.
I like the TRB6JP. It's my main axe right now, but I also got about a year ago the TRB6JP2 and I have a real hard time getting a goo sound out of it. In fact I don't like the sound John himself gets out of it. The mid range on that bass is super muddy and lacks definition. And forget about the onboard preamp, it just makes things worst. BTW, I do agree Yamaha's customer service does suck.
I sure can't figure out the sound of his new bass. I don't get it. I don't know what he is hearing....

p-rok · #17 01-20-2009, 10:40 PM

Yep, the sadowsky jazz on that vid is a good sounding bass. I love the smith as well. Still love him on the yamaha, but I think the smith growling it's butt off was where it was at.

conebeckham · #18 12-09-2011, 03:56 PM

Old thread, I know....but does anyone know what bass he was playing at that Live at Elario gig, the first "Elektric Band" gig? Did he have the Ken Smith then?

KJung · #19 12-10-2011, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by conebeckham

Old thread, I know....but does anyone know what bass he was playing at that Live at Elario gig, the first "Elektric Band" gig? Did he have the Ken Smith then?

Fun recording. There is another one with Vinnie on drums from that early era of the electric band... can't remember the name of that one.

I'm 99% sure that was the Smith. I remember him talking about it in an interview. He was learning those tunes after recently moving to a 6 string bass if I remember correctly. He said it was quite a challenge!