Alice in Chains - Would bass tone

[bstringkyle]

This song is Awesome, My favorite Alice In Chains song! It is just so cool. I really like bass tone.

 

[Darkstrike]

I wonder would it be possible to get this tone with another all maple bass, with reverse P/J EMG's, and an active preamp......

 

[dnarocks]

It happens a lot on overproduced albums, one clean full track, then a seperate track with effects, usually gives really good results. The engineer may make you play the same thing twice for a realistic double track!! our guitarist had to do the same solo perfectly twice. sounded good though. Vocals do this loads aswell plus multi effects.

 

[fenderhutz]

You are forgetting one thing. Yes he is using an Ampeg for his live stage tone but if you look up some interviews he is also using a SansAmp Bass DI for the live sound you are hearing mixed with the mic'd cab.

I would suspect that is where you are getting that "grit" from live.

This is live anyway. Good luck trying to perfectly reproduce the studio tone.

 

[wolfkeller]

well, after speaking with Evan of bass northwest in Seattle, who was there for the recording, here is how Would was recorded. 3 tracks of bass. 1) spector ns2 into ampeg svt 2 into 8x10 e. track 2) spector into art nightbass on rickenfaker preset tweaked a bit into board. track 3) Kramer ferrington acoustic bass into board. Mixx the 3, that's the sound.

 

[wolfkeller]

BTW I own the Amp that recorded Dirt, facelift and Sap. Mike Starr's early 90s Ampeg SVT 2 https://www.dropbox.com/s/4mvntsqta0dxf08/IMG_20140111_114000_601.jpg

 

[TUEP]

Wolfkeller that is awesome!! If I am ever in the NW would you let me play Would through it one time? I'll bring the beer. LOL

Also thanks for the description on the track.

 

[wolfkeller]

Dude if your ever in town u can fire it up!

 

[wolfkeller]

Oah on the recording, there is a 4th track which was Spector direct to the board. Mike Starr did play those parts on it as well as the rest of the album.

 

[TUEP]

Oah on the recording, there is a 4th track which was Spector direct to the board. Mike Starr did play those parts on it as well as the rest of the album.

That is awesome to hear. I almost quit playing bass my first few weeks of learning in H.S. The I saw the "Would" video on late one night in the late 90's and that lit a fire under me, and I never looked back. I always hears Mike Starr was actually very, very good on both bass and guitar. That he played what needed to be played for AIC but musically he was very talented. You probably know more about that than I would. Just what I have heard.

Do you know what settings he set his amp and bass? Sorry, to be technical but you got some really good info for us AIC/Mike Starr fans.

 

[wolfkeller]

Look on lefty bassist I have a new thread showing the marks for his amp settings

 

[TUEP]

Look on lefty bassist I have a new thread showing the marks for his amp settings

Will do...thanks.

 

[Ronnie Nine]

Sorry for bumping this.

IS this that specific "Spector sound?"

 

[jd56hawk]

Incredible as it's a different bass player and a different bass!
That's Mr Starr's replacement Mike Inez playing a Warwick Streamer. I think it's mostly the PJ pickup sound, drop tuning played with a pick, and a pushed amp.
It's almost there, the raw tone isn't quite as gritty as the Spector IMHO.

Here it is again, for all those people who simply don't realize how good an acoustic bass can sound.
Not to mention some of the older videos don't work.

Yeah, plugged in, just like you plug in a P bass or a Jazz or a Stingray.

 

[TUEP]

Well seems like this got bumped up the last few months, and now I own the amp so if anyone wants to know the "Facelift" or "Dirt" settings let me know.

 

[pebo]

Well seems like this got bumped up the last few months, and now I own the amp so if anyone wants to know the "Facelift" or "Dirt" settings let me know.

I'd love to see a few photos of the amp if possible? Its great that it is still kicking around. Definitely an awesome peice of history you have there!

 

[TUEP]

I'd love to see a few photos of the amp if possible? Its great that it is still kicking around. Definitely an awesome peice of history you have there!

I will see if I have any pics. If not then I can post the Facelift settings and give you an idea of the Dirt settings.

 

[Sergi]

Yes please! I'd love to know those settings.

 

[Thir13teen]

Not that I have any *proof*, but the rumor mill has always been saying that by the recording of "Dirt" that Mike Starr was almost as smacked-out as Lanye*, and that most if not all of the bass parts were recorded by Cantrell and producer Dave Jerden.

*Starr is supposed to be included in VH1's "Celebrity Rehab 3" if this counts for anything...

Mike Starr recorded all the parts. The only song they had finished was Would? when they approached my friend for help. Then my friend wrote the bass lines for all the rest of the songs then showed Mike how to play them. All that my friend requested in return was to put in the liner notes "Thanks to ***********" - and when the album came out and it didn't mention his name at all - he got super pissed & had a falling out with him.

 

[Relayer71]

disclaimer: I LOVE this song, LOVE Starr and Inez, and I think AIC was the single most original, creative, and musical hard rock band of that entire era!

I think you misspelled Soundgarden

I loved AIC; Dirt is probably my favorite album of that era...closely behind Soundgarden's Superunknown, but as far as being the most creative, I would have to give Soundgarden the edge. Ben Shepard is also a very underrated bassist.