Rutger Gunnarson

[JoeBassGuy17]

Does anyone know much about the underrated Abba bassist Rutger Gunnarson, like the gear he used or his development of bass lines, any information would be great

[Bass Invader]

Rutger Gunnarsson! Love his work! My favourite would have to be "If It Wasn't For The Nights" from Voulez-Vous. He has such a light, articulate touch.

In all the photos I've seen of him he's playing a white jazz with a tort guard and rosewood board.. and yet many of his bass lines on record don't sound to me like a jazz bass. Perhaps he recorded on the front pickup? Not sure... I'm hoping some others here might be able to provide more accurate info on this great underrated bassist.

[JoeBassGuy17]

So much for getting more replies

[Bass Invader]

Looks like you and I are the only people on the board who like him JoeBass..! I guess we can elevate his status to 'super underrated'!

[Delberthot]

Its okay, I like him also!

I do a few abba tunes with my wedding band and i love the bass lines I play. They tend to be different to the other bland pish I sometimes have to play.

I'm a big fan of octaves a la Bernard Edwards and a lot of RGs stuff is similar

[Suckbird]

I like him more than wooten, way more.

[Jules Forcella]

and he played over MusicMan/Ernie Ball Amps and Cabs

LOVE HIM !!!!!

Jules

[Thurisarz]

Of the footage i have seen with him thru the years he as played a natural (ash bodied?) Jazz bass and he holds the neck VERY high, almost so the head on the bass knocks him in his head. Abba was sponsored by swedish guitar and amp company Hagström in the 70's. The guitar players played their amps but i don't know if rutger did that.

IMO Rutger and Bernard Edwards are the one's who show how to play disco bass to the world.

[markorbit]

Not much that I can add really other than my support for this great bassist. Serious groove! I loved the bass style that enveloped the mid to late 70s. Everytime I hear some great bass work from this era I wish I could play as natural as that.

The Abba records were phenonenal across the board. Amazing stuff. Don't think Rutger played on all of them but a sizable percentage.

Everytime I saw him he had a Jazz bass and of course he was a finger player. I really must get a nice Jazz bass...

[Jussi Finland]

Growed up listening all those ABBA records late seventies---- And think that´s the BEST pop music ever(for me). Those songs/basslines are amazing. And how in the hell there´s no THE ABBA BASSLINE BOOK(or something like that) out there????? Maybe same style of book like Dr.Licks`s Standing In The Shadows Of Motown "The Life And Music Of Legendary Bassist James Jamerson". Hey! Rutger Gunnarsson played on recordings that´s been sold over 300 millions copies!!!!!!!
So Hal Leonard and other major music book companies HELLO!! or Rutger if you are reading this, maybe some Swedish music book company would do that book(and you check those trancriptions ) for all OF US Bass Players. And was very nice to hear that ABBA movie soundtrack!!!

[bassteban]

Hmmm...