Roger Newell

BarStarzBass · #1 06-03-2010, 08:30 PM

Hi there. Does anyone know what guitar(s), amp(s) and effect(s) Roger Newell used to get his awesome tones on the Rick Wakeman albums? I mean, whether you love or hate 70's prog-rock, you gotta admit his tone on songs like Guinevere and Merlin are superb.

I've searchd TB and elsewhere and I'll Ive found is:

- he is (or was) bass editor at the uK Guitarist mag
- at one point he played an outrageously excessive WAL three-necked bass

I watched the Journey to the Center of the Earth DVD, which was recorded in 75 just after King Arthur - from the few quick glimpses he seemed to be playing (with a pick) a modded P-bass - it had a couple extra knobs or swithches and MAYBE a Jazz-style bridge pickup, but hard to tell cuz he had the bridge and p/u covers on it. The amp didn't look familiar at all - seemed to have 6 bright white lights or VU meters on it.

Any clues appreciated.

R Baer · #2 06-03-2010, 10:12 PM

No idea on the gear, but I sure would like to find "Criminal Record" on CD someday. My album is long past the point of being playable.

BarStarzBass · #3 06-04-2010, 12:32 AM

I hear ya man! All vinyls are now "archived" for special occasions. Six wives, Arthur and Journey were "replaced" (in so far as digital can replace analog) by CDs. I recorded No Earthly Connection, White Rock and 1984 to MP3's. But sadly I never owned Criminal Record!

As for the Tone - Im Definitely thinking picked P-bass - on the bridge side for the heavy Merlin tone, on the neck side for the more melodic Guinevere - through some boosted-mid tube amp. I can get somewhere in the neighborhood that way on my P thru a Walkabout. Might try adding a touch of Brassmaster on the Merlin.

Ezbass · #4 06-04-2010, 03:06 AM

I think he had a Griffin custom multi neck affair at one point with Wakeman. He writes for Guitarist here in the UK you might be able to ask him directly through them http://www.musicradar.com/guitarist/

BarStarzBass · #5 06-04-2010, 08:30 AM

Hi, Ezbass. The triple-necker was a WAL. You can see it at:

http://www.trevorandthea.eclipse.co.uk/specs3.html

It must have weighed a TON! Also, I believe you couldn't play it without sporting a satin cape and bell-bottoms. While that decade produced some amazing music, in many ways I don't miss the 70's AT ALL.

And thanks for the link - I'll give that a whirl!

R Baer · #6 06-05-2010, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarStarzBass

...But sadly I never owned Criminal Record!...

IMO, Criminal Record was some of his best stuff. If your a fan, you owe it to yourself to find a copy of this somewhere! It's a real shame that not everything made it to CD. Same with Jon Anderson's "3 Ships". It's always been my favorite Christmas album of all time, but sadly, never put to CD.

The Mock Turtle Regulator · #7 06-05-2010, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarStarzBass

he seemed to be playing (with a pick) a modded P-bass - it had a couple extra knobs or swithches and MAYBE a Jazz-style bridge pickup, but hard to tell cuz he had the bridge and p/u covers on it.

there were a few pics of this bass in Bassist magazine when he reviewed new fender precision variants with bridge pickups-
his was black, rosewood-board, with a J pickup added very close to the bridge (closer than on a Jazz special)

BarStarzBass · #8 06-05-2010, 10:42 PM

Mock Turtle - that sounds like the same one - the brief glimpse I got of the J p/u on the DVD, it was just peeking out from the bridge cover - practically next to the bridge. You'd think the string vibration would be so little there that it wouldn't pick up much - but maybe that was all he needed just to sharpen the P tone a little.

And Baer yes you've reminded me I really should try and find Criminal Record.

BarStarzBass · #9 06-06-2010, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R Baer

. . . Same with Jon Anderson's "3 Ships". It's always been my favorite Christmas album of all time, but sadly, never put to CD.

Baer, this is your lucky day! Check out:

http://www.jonanderson3ships.com/

Prog-on!

Ezbass · #10 06-06-2010, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarStarzBass

Hi, Ezbass. The triple-necker was a WAL. You can see it at:

Doh! Where did I get the Griffin idea from? Middle aged dementia methinks, why am I on this website, who am I?

R Baer · #11 06-06-2010, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarStarzBass

Baer, this is your lucky day! Check out:

http://www.jonanderson3ships.com/

Prog-on!

Dude, you rock! Ordered and on the way!

This is such a great album. Jon doing a bunch of obscure Christmas music. That's it, I'm telling Santa you were extra good this year!