Roger Waters tone

walknbluez · #1 10-19-2007, 05:49 PM

How would you describe Roger Waters' tone in "Another Brick in the Wall"? warm? tight?

p.s. not sure if this is in the right category or not, if not let me know and I'll move it.

John Wentzien · #2 10-19-2007, 06:02 PM

Drop-D, Fender-P, with flat-wound rotosounds.

walknbluez · #3 10-19-2007, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Wentzien

Drop-D, Fender-P, with flat-wound rotosounds.

Does he play mainly a fender P with flat wound?

I have a fender Jazz but I really like that tone.

John Wentzien · #4 10-19-2007, 06:17 PM

Thats about the only thing I have seen him with.

John Wentzien · #5 10-19-2007, 06:21 PM

http://www.rickresource.com/rrp/rwaters.html
Just found this...Haven't seen him with a RIC before..

deathbyhappy · #6 10-19-2007, 06:36 PM

haha i love the look on this one!

I'm positive he only used a all black fender P bass for most of Brick in the wall stuff.

pbass2 · #7 10-19-2007, 06:45 PM

Put some flats on your jazz, grab a heavy pick and you will be very happy

It's an equally cool punchy sound as a p set up like that, just different.

Audiophage · #8 10-19-2007, 07:31 PM

Haha, did you actually imply that you would like to know his setup or something?

He had a very round and focused tone in that era. Not really thinking of anything to compare it to outside of bass instrument sounds, but it's a very "meat and potatoes" kind of tone, at least imo.

walknbluez · #9 10-20-2007, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Audiophage

Haha, did you actually imply that you would like to know his setup or something?

He had a very round and focused tone in that era. Not really thinking of anything to compare it to outside of bass instrument sounds, but it's a very "meat and potatoes" kind of tone, at least imo.

Well, knowing his actual setup would be nice....not that I would be able to emulate it or anything. But really I just wanted to know the term for that type of tone...i.e. tight, punchy etc.

arnold layne. · #10 10-20-2007, 07:37 AM

Yeah, he used a Fender P on The Wall album. The pictures you see of him with the Ric are from the late 60s and early 70s. From then on, he used Fender P's.

DEVILMAN · #11 10-20-2007, 10:19 AM

...and a very good tube amp doesn't hurt...

~S~

PS: IIRC, he was still using his Hi-Watt during the Wall

walknbluez · #12 10-20-2007, 12:21 PM

Well perhaps a Fender P is in order as an addition to my Jazz!

So punchy would be the definitive word to describe that tone?

JimmyM · #13 10-20-2007, 05:27 PM

Did he use the Ric on "One of These Days"? Because it sounds like roundwounds to me, and it's one of the only tracks I ever heard from Floyd that sounds like rounds.

stuonbass · #14 10-20-2007, 05:45 PM

Fretless on "Hey you". In my classic rock band I play "Another Brick in the Wall" and "Run Like Hell", drop D on Jazz Bass with round wounds. It sounds fine. I play "Young Lust" on a P Bass with round wounds. The tone is very close. I will have to experiment with flats on those. The guy in Pink Floyd (after R Waters) played Jazz Basses, so I feel I am still true to a live Floyd sound.
As for an inexpensive P Bass, check out the Squier 70's Modified. They are decent and affordable.

walknbluez · #15 10-20-2007, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stuonbass

Fretless on "Hey you". In my classic rock band I play "Another Brick in the Wall" and "Run Like Hell", drop D on Jazz Bass with round wounds. It sounds fine. I play "Young Lust" on a P Bass with round wounds. The tone is very close. I will have to experiment with flats on those. The guy in Pink Floyd (after R Waters) played Jazz Basses, so I feel I am still true to a live Floyd sound.
As for an inexpensive P Bass, check out the Squier 70's Modified. They are decent and affordable.

Hey Stu, what other things do you do to dial in that tone?

JimmyM · #16 10-20-2007, 06:05 PM

There really isn't a whole lot to Roger Waters' tone. Maybe a little compression and a little reverb occasionally.

walknbluez · #17 10-20-2007, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

There really isn't a whole lot to Roger Waters' tone. Maybe a little compression and a little reverb occasionally.

How would you describe that tone? Tight? warm?

Is there a pedal specifically for compression?

JimmyM · #18 10-20-2007, 07:20 PM

I don't know what I'd say to describe it, but it sounds to me like he just plugs in his bass into whatever DI's laying around and goes with it. I have heard him use effects, but the basic tone of most of his stuff sounds very simple to duplicate. And yeah, you can buy compressor pedals, but cheap ones won't do it. I'm sure he uses really expensive tube compressors in the studio. Cheap ones will compress, but they add a lot of noise.

bassist15 · #19 10-20-2007, 10:20 PM

[quote=stuonbass;4815208]Fretless on "Hey you". QUOTE]

Not to take away from the thread but Im pretty sure that Gilmour played the fretless bass on Hey You. Roger Waters is a favorite of mine. Awesome P-bass work on Live at Pompeii

DEVILMAN · #20 10-20-2007, 10:41 PM

[quote=bassist15;4815872]

Quote:

Originally Posted by stuonbass

Fretless on "Hey you". QUOTE]

Not to take away from the thread but Im pretty sure that Gilmour played the fretless bass on Hey You. Roger Waters is a favorite of mine. Awesome P-bass work on Live at Pompeii

You are very correct about Mr. Waters..."have a cigar"...

~S~