AWB Average White Band Bass Phaser (?) Sound

[7enderhead]

Hi people,

I'm a huge fan of Average White Band's 'Person to Person' 1976 live album.

Especially striking is the effect on the bass sound on 'Cut the Cake' and 'I'm the One'. Since those tracks are obviously played with a pick, I guess it was Hamish Stuart who played the bass.

I guess the effect used was a phaser, but notwithstanding long lasting and intensive Internet research, the actual brand still eludes me.

Perhaps somebody on the forum could enlighten me?

Thanks for your consideration,

Christian

[bongomania]

If you could post an MP3 or Youtube link, that would help us help you for sure. Are you more interested in the sound, or having the actual model he used? We'd make different recommendations for each.

[toobalicious]

here go the studio version.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOwX-...eature=related

man, i dont hear no phaser..... listen around 2:20 and you can hear the bass clearly (at least as clearly as the crappo sample rate will allow). i would guess a P with flats, but i think that dude actually played some short scale fender--- maybe a musicmaster?

[markjazzbassist]

another AWB fan here mate. i love AWB, they're one of my all time favorite bands and Alan and Hamish are 2 of my largest influences on bass playing as well. i love that person to person live album, i used to have the 2 LP record. some great stuff on there.

from bass player magazine it says Alan uses (currently) an "ancient" MXR phaser (probably phase 90 or 100) and a Boss OC-2 Octaver.

i'd say your best bet is a vintage mxr phase 90 or 100.

hope this helps

[toobalicious]

it is a P on this one....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZzQ3...eature=related

[toobalicious]

and clearly a MM here....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBWQZ...eature=related

[bongomania]

Here's "I'm the One": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ht-XgDAj98

Yeah, I bet a Phase 90.

[toobalicious]

hah, and here is the short-scale. clear shot at 1:49.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GJaI...eature=related

[7enderhead]

Hi people,

Thanks for all your fast responses (I guess my European time zone helps here :-).

Originally Posted by bongomania

If you could post an MP3 or Youtube link, that would help us help you for sure. Are you more interested in the sound, or having the actual model he used? We'd make different recommendations for each.

The model would really help :-)

I've tried to attach the first few seconds of 'I'm the One', where, despite the quota-based bad quality, one can clearly discern the bass's effect sound.

Originally Posted by markjazzbassist

another AWB fan here from bass player magazine it says Alan uses (currently) an "ancient" MXR phaser (probably phase 90 or 100) and a Boss OC-2 Octaver.

i'd say your best bet is a vintage mxr phase 90 or 100.

Agreed, I read that too. But I'm pretty sure it was Hamish who played Bass on the mentioned tracks (because of the pick, I also saw 'Cut the Cake' on YouTube with Hamish on bass).

Originally Posted by toobalicious

here go the studio version.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOwX-...eature=related

man, i dont hear no phaser.....

True, the studio version is unaffected, ehm, uneffected :-)

On the CD's photos, Hamish seems to play a Precision Bass, three-tone sunburst, with maple neck.

Cheers,

Christian

[bongomania]

It almost sounds like he's also using an envelope filter set to a subtle sweep. I wouldn't swear to it, but that's what I think I'm hearing as creating the extra depth and funk. When he lets those higher notes ring out, the phaser has a smooth quality, not a drippy gloopy quality. Of course it could be an envelope phaser- I believe Oberheim (Maestro) and Musitronics made one of those.