MEW

TheDialog · #1 06-12-2009, 10:43 PM

Does anybody know what Mew uses effects wise?

I see that there is a combination of Precisions and Rickenbackers through SVT Classic and a 4x10, but can't find anything on the pedals.

Help please

Valerus · #2 06-12-2009, 11:22 PM

This?

icarussmicarus · #3 06-12-2009, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valerus

This?

I miss being 10 sometimes.

jufros · #4 06-12-2009, 11:25 PM

Mew is one of my favorite bands. If you're talking about "And the Glass Handed Kites", Johan doesn't really use that many effects. He definitely has a few different overdrives though. I can cop the super grinding but really clear sound ("Apocalypso," "Snow Brigade," etc) with my double P bass, Electronix Gemini Drive, and Sansamp RBI. The Gemini clean boost/blend is a huge part of that.

As cheesy and fan-boy as it sounds, part of my reasoning behind buying and keeping the Gemini was that it reminded me so much of Johan's heavy overdrive sounds on "And the Glass Handed Kites." Running some kind of tubescreamer clone into a Sansamp or VT should get you in the ballpark. He also plays both pick and finger-style to get different colors out of the Ampeg.

He uses a fuzz in the latter half of "An Envoy to the Open Fields" but I've never heard a fuzz tone that really sounds like it so I couldn't help you much much there. The fuzz in "Snow Brigade" sounds like some kind of muff variant.

There's reverb on the bass in some sections, but it really doesn't sound like pedal reverb to me. It sounds like a VST.

Most of the time, he plays "clean" though. That's just what a legit Ampeg with a pick can sound like if you push the tubes.

Also, Mew uses a lot of baritone guitar.

If you TBers haven't checked this band out, you definitely should. They're kind of the Radiohead of Denmark. Very interesting chord changes, rich textures, time signature and rhythmic experimentation, floaty vocals, etc. Their music is pretty different from anything I've heard before though.

TheDialog · #5 06-12-2009, 11:57 PM

jufros - I need to do more experimenting tomorrow I guess. I have been a fan for awhile, but tend to fall in and out of phases with listening to certain bands as most people do. i have recently been listening to a lot of Mew, Arctic Monkeys, Phoenix (bands of that nature) and have been messing around with different tones for writing purposes.

I play in an indie/rock band (more on the pop side) and stay away "fx" and go for more variations of channels (maxon overdrive, russian big muff, sans amp bddi, pitchblack is my current board). On the record I used an aguilar agro pre amp that I bought and fell in love with, but the pedals do more justice.

Everyone always talks about the VT and I have yet to try one. Maybe that will be the next addition to my pedal board. I want to try this Gemini Drive as well. I'll let you know what I think of it!

I want to try a 4x10 now pretty bad and see how the air moves and sound bumps without it being 8 speakers. I have 3 810's and no 410 haha. I guess I have some shopping around to do

jufros · #6 06-13-2009, 01:28 AM

4x10 vs 8x10 won't make that huge of a difference.

Your rig sounds like it can do Ampeg emulation pretty well. Play around with the Maxon and BBDI and go easy on the BBDI presence. I've personally strayed from fully embracing that path, but if that's what you're going for, the VT seems to be the reigning champion around here. You'll probably be able to get good results depending on how you stack the Maxon and BBDI gain/drive. Pick + P-Bass + Tubescreamer (Maxon) + Sansamp should give you something close.

TheDialog · #7 06-13-2009, 01:49 AM

I'm with you, unless he's running the HLF with tweeters to get some great high-end...

It's funny, everyone loves to talk up that VT versus getting the real thing...or using it with the real thing. I have an SVT-4, a black SVT Classic and a SVT AV Classic, but still want to try the VT with the rig.

Sir Edward V · #8 06-13-2009, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icarussmicarus

I miss being 10 sometimes.

I miss being 10 all the time.

Duke21 · #9 11-30-2010, 03:20 AM

I love Mew. Johan's tone and bass lines are really nice. Mew is the reason I bought my Squier CV P-bass. I've a Geddy Jazz, but Johan plays a P-bass. I'm really in a hunt after the distortion pedal that Mew sound. I'm always speculating about his (Johan) tone. On Snow Brigade and Comforting Sounds I'm quite sure he use 2 signals, one clean and one with a fuzz or some overdrive. I think a Tube Screamer into a Sansamp BDDI comes close (from what I tried).
Same goes for Some Times Life Isn't Easy, lots of overdrive!
Johan play with a pick for about 90% of the time.
After Johan left Mew uses Bastian who also use a P-bass and Ampeg SVT. But I've also seen a recent Mew video with Bastian using a Jazz bass!

rratajski · #10 11-30-2010, 04:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valerus

This?

IIRC, Mew comes with:
Psychic and Calm Mind.
Ice Beam and Thunderbolt are good moves to teach Mew. You get STAB w/ Psychic.

dune2k · #11 11-30-2010, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rratajski

IIRC, Mew comes with:
Psychic and Calm Mind.
Ice Beam and Thunderbolt are good moves to teach Mew. You get STAB w/ Psychic.

*giggles*
That picture came to my mind when I read the band's name as well...

brekfustuvluzer · #12 12-01-2010, 07:57 AM

anyone know what he used to get that over the top tone on "Am I Wry?" sounds like an octave and fuzz.

iamdenialNJ · #13 12-01-2010, 08:19 AM

Amazing band. Still waiting for them to come to the US since they came to LA in 2009. Easily, one of my favorite bands. Most of the time he plays clean from what I know (I'm sure I've heard some dirt somewhere but can't isolate a song right now). I've seen their live performances and the dude uses a pbass w/ flats + pick + svt + ampeg 410hlf. Awesome 2009 album too. It's different but in a very very good way.

EDIT. p.s. you all have great taste in music.

P-oddz · #14 12-01-2010, 08:36 AM

Just discovered Mew a couple weeks ago. Visited their back catalog, and was HOOKED. I haven't stopped listening since.

As far as tone - I'm sure he's using a fair-sized setup, but for the majority of tones on Glass Handed Kites - I am able to mimic with just my Highway One Precision, a set of Chrome Flats and the VT pedal with gain cranked.

Jacob J · #15 12-01-2010, 10:59 AM

A big Mew fan here

They´ve been one of my favorite bands for some time now and I´ve always liked Johan´s sound and his playing on "And The Glass Handed Kites" . For me it seems like he used some sort of guitar overdrive pedal. I don´t now if it´s only me but I hear a bit of bass loss or maybe he set treble up... I don´t know. But when I play "Chinaberry Tree" or "An Envoy To The Open Fields" through my crappy notebook speakers I can hear bass very clearly, it really cuts through.

And I agree with jufros. If you guys haven´t checked them yet, I highly recommend. There are other great Danish bands as well. Like Turboweekend, their bass player is a wizard with effects. Also Spleen United, Veto, Dúné. There is a lot of amazing music coming from that country

Gashaponcito · #16 12-01-2010, 06:59 PM

There was about time someone started a good indie thread =P I love Mew the bass of "Introducing Palace Players" its amazing! no effects in there though

FaithNoMan · #17 12-01-2010, 07:20 PM

"And the Glass Handed Kites" has one of the best bass tones I have heard in a long time.

It's very raw and aggressive, yet warm and big too. Sounds like what a bright P bass should sound like.

iamdenialNJ · #18 12-01-2010, 08:25 PM

I started this mew thread about a month ago but I guess I was on the wrong forum.

Frengers unite

ItsMichaelYeah · #19 12-01-2010, 10:28 PM

Reading this made me Put Mew on. I love his bass tone. Not to mention the over all band is just amazing.

OrionManMatt · #20 12-01-2010, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ItsMichaelYeah

Reading this made me Put Mew on. I love his bass tone. Not to mention the over all band is just amazing.

+1!