Will Lee's Tone

Scarrsese · #1 01-20-2009, 07:12 PM

Hi everyone!

I couldnt find anything on talkbass's site about Will Lee's tone.
I have been listening extensivley to other players bass tones for years. Like Phil Lesh's obiese pick tone, Jaco, Vic, Jeff Berlin, Fat Mike from NOFX, just to name a few contrasting tones.

But every time I hear Will Lee's bass tone I'm totally blown away. Not saying its better or anything. Just curious to know if anyone knows of someway to get that Will Lee sound? Thanks!

MikeBass · #2 01-20-2009, 07:51 PM

Jazz bass.
Sadowsky.

In all seriousness, I have an old Hartke poster and the EQ on the amp is a frown- opposite from what most do, the "classic" smilie face. And it's a SERIOUS mid bump.
If I can, I'll find a pic of the poster, I'll post it up. Or I'll just snap one of the poster if it will come out.

I don't know if it helps, but I know Will pushes the mids more than pretty much every cat I've seen, and it always sounds freakin' awesome.

He has pretty much on of my all time fav sounds.
I love his tone.

jerry · #3 01-20-2009, 10:14 PM

One of my all-time favorites too! His 70's tone was mostly P-bass. When I would see him around NY, he played a P into a B-15 a lot, later I saw him with a Acoustic 360. I was just listen to the Brecker Brothers 'Back To Back' album the other day and marveling in his playing on the song 'Wasting Time With You', the way he builds that bassline slowly until the 16th notes at the end is just so perfect.

20db pad · #4 01-20-2009, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeBass

In all seriousness, I have an old Hartke poster and the EQ on the amp is a frown- opposite from what most do, the "classic" smilie face. And it's a SERIOUS mid bump.

Here's a bad pic from the old Hartke catalog showing the mid hump. I think it's a live shot from one of the Bass Day events that Will did.

Will has scary high action on some of his basses, and I've seen some of his that don't. Seems as though he likes high action on a Jazz -style bass. He's also a very clean and articulate player, and he has also perfected the left-hand muting that he sometimes uses to project a big and punchy sound.

JimK · #5 01-21-2009, 04:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerry

One of my all-time favorites too! His 70's tone was mostly P-bass.

Thanks, Jerry...'cause I would say it's not the Sadwosky, it's not the electronics, it's not the PUPs, etc...it's the player.
Same goes for Rainey. I played a '64 P-bass back in the '70s & they were the ones I tried my best to cop & to sound like.

Sidenote on Lee's tone. In just about every magazine article/interview, Lee mentions how terrible his tone was with that Frankenstein'd P-bass (had about 7 pickups). Lee mentions how it was he that was slated for Billy Cobham's Spectrum album...only to hear Cobham say "...your sound isn't happening so we're using Lee Sklar".

JimK · #6 01-21-2009, 04:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 20db pad

Will has scary high action on some of his basses, and I've seen some of his that don't. Seems as though he likes high action on a Jazz -style bass.

Roger Sadowsky had an article in a past issue of Bass Player...Lee's action, according to Sadowsky, is "Medium-high".
Actual measurements were mentioned in the article.

Rano Bass · #7 01-21-2009, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeBass

Jazz bass.
Sadowsky.

I don't know if it helps, but I know Will pushes the mids more than pretty much every cat I've seen, and it always sounds freakin' awesome.

He has pretty much on of my all time fav sounds.
I love his tone.

I think that's why his Sadowsky Signature bass has a preamp with a midrange control.

Great sound!

MikeBass · #8 01-21-2009, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 20db pad

Here's a bad pic from the old Hartke catalog showing the mid hump. I think it's a live shot from one of the Bass Day events that Will did.

Will has scary high action on some of his basses, and I've seen some of his that don't. Seems as though he likes high action on a Jazz -style bass. He's also a very clean and articulate player, and he has also perfected the left-hand muting that he sometimes uses to project a big and punchy sound.

That's the pic I was talking about!
Check out that EQ curve!

**john turner** · #9 01-21-2009, 07:55 AM

i'd just like to chime in here and say that will lee is a monster.

that is all.

.

MikeBass · #10 01-21-2009, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john turner

i'd just like to chime in here and say that will lee is a monster.

that is all.

.

What exactly is your point??? What are you try to say John????

**john turner** · #11 01-21-2009, 08:04 AM

rawr...scary good bass player....rawr...

Alan Vorse · #12 01-21-2009, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john turner

rawr...scary good bass player....rawr...

This is actually from Will's one-man off-broadway show, "Outa-Sight! The Story of Isaac from 'The Love Boat'".

excane · #13 01-21-2009, 11:06 AM

Great bass player.....his on-stage antics (especially with the Fab Faux) and wardrobe are a totally different story....

Scarrsese · #14 01-21-2009, 02:13 PM

hey thanks alot everybody , I'm going to try some high action and mid tweekins. I'll let you know what I find out!

PhatBasstard · #15 01-21-2009, 02:23 PM

I always thought he sounded like he's using a fair amount of compression also (especially on Letterman).

For some great Will Lee find a CD from about 15 years ago called BFD. It's Will in a band setting (not a hired gun session) as a co-writer and he also sings about half the tunes. It's a great pop album.