What distortion was Plonk (RIP) plonking?

Mike19 · #1 03-27-2010, 02:16 PM

I just now happened to play the Rod Stewart album Every Picture Tells A Story
Attachment 161807

on which bass duites where shared by Ronnie Wood (yes, the Stones' guitar player) and also by Plonk (Ronnie Lane of Faces and Small Faces).

Lane uses a really wild bass distortion effect on the track I Know I'm Loosing You.

Does anyone know what pedal that was? Note that this is back in 1971.

Step · #2 03-27-2010, 02:35 PM

I'm intrigued, any clips?

Mike19 · #3 03-27-2010, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Step

I'm intrigued, any clips?

For some unknown reason I can't upload the track from my PC to this post. The file may be too large.

Step · #4 03-27-2010, 03:16 PM

maybe put it up on soundclick, putfile, rapidshare? even youtube might do in a pinch

if the file is too large in size you might be able to 'downgrade' it to a lower bitrate and thus a smaller size with some mp3-conversion tool

however I don't think that will be necessary if you put it in one of the sharing-places mentioned above

Step · #5 03-27-2010, 03:37 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhMo4Lp6psw

this is what you are talking about?
I'm actually not sure that is a fuzz, I think that is just an overdrive tube amp with a nice fat Precision bass hooked up to it (or the other way around

)

bongomania · #6 03-27-2010, 11:26 PM

Agreed, although the drive is so strong, and the compression so heavy, that I'd bet the amp was being shoved to its absolute limit; i.e. not like a grindy SVT, but like a 20 W amp with gain and volume dimed.

lbwdog · #7 03-27-2010, 11:43 PM

Also sounds to me like it wasn't close miced, but from a distance for room ambiance.

That batch of fellas including Ron Wood with Jeff Beck and Faces seemed to like that overdriven bass sound.

JimmyM · #8 03-28-2010, 01:41 AM

back then, all those guys in the faces were into ampeg amps. ron wood often used a v4 into two 412's, so it wouldn't surprise me if it was a cranked v4 or v4b, or even a vt-22 guitar combo.

PauBass · #9 03-28-2010, 02:01 AM

Sounds to me like RATM's Tim Commerford bass sound in some songs!
...Sorry, I brought him up again, my mistake.

JimmyM · #10 03-28-2010, 02:54 AM

interesting...here's a clip of the faces playing it live, and ronnie lane's got a zematis bass into what looks to be a b-15 of some sort...can't quite tell which one...maybe a b-15s?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4PXM...eature=related

SeaK · #11 03-28-2010, 03:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

back then, all those guys in the faces were into ampeg amps. ron wood often used a v4 into two 412's, so it wouldn't surprise me if it was a cranked v4 or v4b, or even a vt-22 guitar combo.

Funny, I had no idea of the Faces connection with Ampeg but I was just about to say that I was able to dial pretty much 1:1 tone like that with my old Ampeg V-4 from 70s when I still had it into my Ampeg 8x10.

The Lurker · #12 03-28-2010, 04:25 PM

I don't think it was a Fender.... I don't recall seeing Plonk with one, and it sounds more like a Gibson-style bass to me.

lunarpollen · #13 03-28-2010, 04:33 PM

I think a similar sound is possible with the VT Bass pedal

JimmyM · #14 03-28-2010, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Lurker

I don't think it was a Fender.... I don't recall seeing Plonk with one, and it sounds more like a Gibson-style bass to me.

the zematis bass he was playing in that clip was definitely more gibson-oriented than fender.

PauBass · #15 03-29-2010, 02:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lunarpollen

I think a similar sound is possible with the VT Bass pedal

What settings do you use on the VT Bass to get a similar tone, please?

JimmyM · #16 03-29-2010, 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PauBass

What settings do you use on the VT Bass to get a similar tone, please?

try mid and character at noon, lows at 12:30, treble off, and drive at around 12:00.

lunarpollen · #17 03-29-2010, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PauBass

What settings do you use on the VT Bass to get a similar tone, please?

I'll see if I can try when I get home, although it's difficult with my computer being in my bedroom downstairs and the music stuff being at the opposite end of the house upstairs. I really need to get a netbook!