Adam Yauch was great!

[Mrmatt1972]

The Beastie Boys were faaaaaar better than they get credit for and Adam was a bass monster. So many stylistic and sonic variations inside every single album! I have Check Your Head on tonight. My daughter (16) pops her head in and says "Is that the Beastie Boys?" Like she can't believe her old man is still a little cool.

Anyway, discuss...

When I was young I never had any curiosity about his gear or technique. Someone here must know.

 

[Fingerbottom]

If I remember correctly, on the inside cover for Check Your Head, there's a photo of the Beasties in their studio. Adam's bass is visible. Can't recall what model it was, but there's a large Peavey stack behind him. I'm sure you can find the image online.

I was a big fan of his bass playing early in my bass playing life. To be honest, I'm surprised your 16yo daughter knows who they are. They're kind of like the Stones of my generation. Makes me feel not so old!

 

[Fingerbottom]

I believe he played upright bass, too!

 

[Plake]

 

[songwriter21]

Quite the trippy groove...I dig it!

 

[petrus61]

I know he primarily favored a 70’s Jazz Bass. He’s one of my musical heroes for sure.

 

[Warpeg]

My band used to cover Sabotage. Even though I could get pretty close to his tone, I still can't nail his technique for it.

 

[Brio]

I started playing bass about 5 years ago so there was all kinds of music I listened to as a kid/teen that I had to go back and listen to with fresh "bass player" ears. Beasties were certainly near the top of that list.

Gratitude is another fun one to play.

 

[Alonso Quijano]

 

[Jack Butler]

Good stuff!

 

[DirtDog]

I’m a fan. Really started digging them as musicians - esp MCA - when I heard In Sound from Way Out! That was the soundtrack in my office circa 1997.

 

[jmela]

If I remember correctly, on the inside cover for Check Your Head, there's a photo of the Beasties in their studio. Adam's bass is visible. Can't recall what model it was, but there's a large Peavey stack behind him. I'm sure you can find the image online.

Spector NS-2 with the paint blasted off of it and some skate stickers.

 

[Kriegs]

When I was young I never had any curiosity about his gear or technique. Someone here must know.

Invalid Link Removed

Great site to look up musicians' set ups =)

 

[Alfonso Alba]

Old thread, I know, but Yauch is one of my bass idols (and music idols, in general). The other one is Colin Greenwood. Both are all about the groove and the little details that make a bassline interesting without overdoing it. I'm really enjoying playing Beastie Boys instrumentals like Sabrosa, Suco de Tangerina, Futterman's Rule, etc., and they're perfect for my level (pretty much still a beginner).

I strongly recommend the Beastie Boys Book for any fan. It gives you quite a great insight on Yauch's fearless artistic process and how a band should ideally be (in my opinion): a bunch of friends having fun making music with no compromise.