Trying to find that Jack Cassady sound

skydog · #1 08-27-2009, 06:12 PM

I just bought the remastered Jefferson Airplane live CD "Thirty
Seconds Over Winterland." I bought this album new in '73,
and wore it out by '75. I forgot how good this album is, and
how well Jorma and Jack play together. His bass sound is
absolutly fierce. I thought about new pups for my Thunderbird,
and rebuilding my old Sunn Model T. I'm trying to develop that
(for lack of better word) Cassady "Bounce" Any advise??

MLysh · #2 08-28-2009, 07:28 AM

At that time, if I'm not mistaken, Jack was using the Alembic made specifically for him. It was probably strung with Pyramid gold flats. I'm sure the edge in his sound was still being supplied by his Versatone amp. However, his bounce, as you describe it, is all in his hands.

Ric5 · #3 08-28-2009, 07:35 AM

overdrive and distortion

ghiadub · #4 08-28-2009, 07:45 AM

I have gotten close with a hollowbody bass, flats, and a darkstar pickup. Just a bit of gain on a tube amp

JTE · #5 08-28-2009, 08:53 AM

Yep, "30 Seconds Over Winterland" is the Alembic, #1. The album (well, the vinyl version I bought way back when it came out) had several shots of him with that bass both on stage and back-stage. But his sound isn't dramatically different over the years, a testimony to the "sound is in your hands". Actually, I think the sound is in his head and he just keeps working on refining that sound and how that sound is recorded.

But, the key elements are going to include some real tube overdrive and careful control of the mids. Light and flexible flats will help too.

John

jerry · #6 08-28-2009, 04:29 PM

Jack always had that small Versitone in his rigs too.

Fred Hammon · #7 08-31-2009, 04:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MLysh

At that time, if I'm not mistaken, Jack was using the Alembic made specifically for him.
However, his bounce, as you describe it, is all in his hands.

Quite right.
Strings might have been Framus flats, however.
I don't think they're made anymore but I have it on good authority that Jack still has a stash of them.

Rich Guastella · #8 08-31-2009, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred Hammon

Quite right.
Strings might have been Framus flats, however.
I don't think they're made anymore but I have it on good authority that Jack still has a stash of them.

Just saw him Sat night in Ft lAuderdale!!!!....him and Jorma still kick some serious butt on stage!!!