Tiran Porter/ Takin' it to the streets - what Bass?

[LP75]

Many bassists are familiar with Tiran Porter's unmistakable bass lines from the Doobie Brothers song "Takin' it to the Streets". The studio track from the album of the same name has a sound that I really dig. I love the crisp pick attack and clean tone that almost makes the strings seem visible.

Does anyone know what kind of bass guitar he used to make the studio recording? He was known to use mainly Gibson basses in the '70s, as well as some use of Fenders. From the sound of that recording, I am leaning towards beleiving it may be more likely a Fender than a Gibson.
Do any of you know for sure?

[therex]

maybe a gibson grabber or wathever is called
it has a maple body and maple neck and that should be a very clear sounding bass if woods affect tone

[svtb15]

he is interviewed on bassplayer.tv i think he said he used a P bass with flats

[JimK]

Originally Posted by svtb15

he is interviewed on bassplayer.tv i think he said he used a P bass with flats

IIRC, it was a black P-bass.
I do recall seeing a Gibson EB-something bass on the old In Concert show that featured The Doobies...this was in support of the What Were Once Vices... album.
Taking It To The Streets sounds like it was back to the P-bass.

...and eventually he used an Alembic, right?

[LP75]

Originally Posted by JimK

IIRC, it was a black P-bass.
I do recall seeing a Gibson EB-something bass on the old In Concert show that featured The Doobies...this was in support of the What Were Once Vices... album.
Taking It To The Streets sounds like it was back to the P-bass.

...and eventually he used an Alembic, right?

Yes he did eventually use Alembic from the info I have seen.

I suspected the track in question was a P-bass with a pick. It's an example of how dynamic the so-called "one trick pony" P-bass can be in the hands of people who know how to really work it.

[emblymouse]

I would agree, that is textbook P w/ flats. Lots of guys use all kinds of stuff live, but when no one's looking they pull out the ol' P bass for recording.

Try to imagine that song without the bass track. I'm betting he was in on the writing process with Mr. McDonald.

[P_bass]

Yes he also played an Alembic, I saw this recently.

http://www.gbase.com/Stores/Gear/Gea...x?Item=1801628

[LowBSix]

P Bass on the track...

He is not playing an Alembic with The Doobies now; that is gentelman by the name of Skylark playing with them today...

[JimK]

True...I would say P bass & I are talking about Porter playing an Alembic with the Doobs back in the late '70s.

[mrufino1]

I have heard the multitracks to long train runnin, and it is that same bass tone. It is unbelievably good. When I got my P/J bass recently, the strings on it were really really used rounds that were getting that sound when using a pick. I always liked his bass tone.

[JimK]

Me, too...I would say, however, I preferred something like "Another Park, Another Sunday" over something with a blatantly picked tone like "For Someone Special".

"Rio" & "Wheels Of Fortune" were others; great playing...I wasn't entirely sold on the tone.

[Caca de Kick]

Tiran is defintely one of my favorites.

He's owned an army of different basses during the 70's: Gibson T bird, Grabber, Fender P's both in single coil and split coil, Jazz basses, Alembic, Ric 4001, and the 78/79 videos on youtube show him playing a BC Rich Eagle with Mr Macdonald.

I keep wanting to say the Taking it to the Streets and Long Train both sure seem like single coil P's to me. But none-the-less it's definitely a P bass.

It's an example of how dynamic the so-called "one trick pony" P-bass can be in the hands of people who know how to really work it.

My feelings exactly!!

[phat5]

Aside from his beloved P bass, he also favored an early 70's (IIRC) Jazz that was restored at the Guitar Works in Santa Cruz. Stock Jazz p/ups with an EBO pup at the neck...Monster sounding bass!

[Honk'n_down-low]

Saw them in Concert at the Boston Garden - he was playing a Fender - don't remember if it was a Jazz or a P-Bass - I had floor seat about 15 rows back.

[P_bass]

Originally Posted by JimK

True...I would say P bass & I are talking about Porter playing an Alembic with the Doobs back in the late '70s.

This is correct, I just ran across that picture and wanted to share it since it was his in the 70's.

[JimmyM]

Tira Porter said in a BP interview that he used different basses live as a way of dating pictures that he sees. But the majority of his songs were cut on a Fender, and from the sound of things, most of it was a P with flats.

[8guy]

You know, I recall seeing them on a mid 70's called " Whats Hapening". it was about some guys in High school.
Anyway on that show they did "Taking it to the streets" which Im sure was Lipsynced. But I remember that he was "Playing" a B.C. Rich, A very highly polished one that was a deep brown wood grain with dual pbass pups.
I Dont think it was the Alembic as I was very much into John Mcvie at the time and new alot about Alembics.

[phat5]

P's w/ flats, SVT's and folded cabs w/ single 15's.

[JimK]

Originally Posted by 8guy

You know, I recall seeing them on a mid 70's called " Whats Hapening". it was about some guys in High school.

I remember that particular show. Bad Re-Run...BAD!
Nice to know illegal copying/bootlegging of music was alive & well back then, too.

[JimK]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Tira Porter said in a BP interview that he used different basses live as a way of dating pictures that he sees.

That's funny...I typically use the difference in body weight method.