Upright or Electric?

[Bassmann135]

I just listened to the Lionel Hampton version of Giant Steps by John Coltrane off the album The Best of Lionel Hampton and I couldn't tell if the bassist Tom Warrington was playing on electric or upright. It sounds very electric, but it could just be a very well miked upright. Anybody know?

[Gornick]

If it was a well miked DB, you would know that it was a DB.


A quick google of the bassist in question reveals he is a double bassist, so I am guessing that it wasn't a slab. More than likely it was a DI of a pickup off a DB, a popular recording technique from the 70's that gave a very electricy sound to DBs. But the tell tale sign will be the little technique and stylistic things that makes a DB distinct from a slab no matter the sound, so check that again and listen real close!

[Chris Symer]

Not familiar with the recording in question, but Tom does play both porkchop and dog house. Knows his way around both pretty darn well too.................

[Eric Hochberg]

I think it may be an EUB of some kind, or the signal taken off a PU on a DB, very hard to tell, at least with the earbuds I'm using. If it is a DB, I'm not hearing any mic.