Basses of Mark King

[bass12]

I love Level 42. I have never been a fan of Mark King's sound though. Then again, I am not sure if a big fat Marcus Miller type of slap sound would sound good with his busy lines and their dense/busy mixes.

I always found his sound verging on the “too thin” but the light gauge strings do allow him to play “his” way (lots of string bending, hammer-on slaps and some strumming). The only times I heard him live he was playing Status T-basses and it sounded as if his strings were a bit heavier than usual. Didn’t sound too thin at all (much better to my ears than his King basses, which seemed a bit thin in the mids) and he could still do his thing.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I always found his sound verging on the “too thin” but the light gauge strings do allow him to play “his” way (lots of string bending, hammer-on slaps and some strumming). The only times I heard him live he was playing Status T-basses and it sounded as if his strings were a bit heavier than usual. Didn’t sound too thin at all (much better to my ears than his King basses, which seemed a bit thin in the mids) and he could still do his thing.

Of that lineup of basses, I like the first Status the best. I remember seeing that one in ads at the time and it's a good looking bass (both in headed and headless models).

 

[Swamp_Ronin]

He played a Stingray on the Forever Now album, which was released on an obscure label and most people haven’t heard. I recommend it - the Ray sounds exquisite with him playing it; very much a fit for the style.

Also there is some excellent songwriting on the record. Not every song, but many are cool, easy funky tunes in the vein of 70s Steely Dan. It’s one of my favorite Level 42 albums.

Holy crap. Thanks for sharing this.

 

[I´mTheUrbanSpaceman]

Nice video! Early Lvl 42 with Gould bros are absolutely t*ts!

 

[Altitude]

Holy crap. Thanks for sharing this.

For sure. If you listen, check out the tune “Billy’s Gone” for some great Stingray tone. And “Sunbed Song” is really slick. “All Over You” is a burner.

 

[bass12]

Holy crap. Thanks for sharing this.

There are two versions of the album with very different track listings: the original release on RCA and the later release on Resurgence (which contains the track listing that Mark King wanted). I much prefer the Resurgence version (although there are a couple of nice tracks that appear only on the RCA release.

 

[Swamp_Ronin]

There are two versions of the album with very different track listings: the original release on RCA and the later release on Resurgence (which contains the track listing that Mark King wanted). I much prefer the Resurgence version (although there are a couple of nice tracks that appear only on the RCA release.

Ok I'll try to dig up the resurgence!

 

[Swamp_Ronin]

For sure. If you listen, check out the tune “Billy’s Gone” for some great Stingray tone. And “Sunbed Song” is really slick. “All Over You” is a burner.

I'm didn't think I was much of a Mark King fan, but this one is changing me. I LOVE that 90's piccolo snare. I'm a big fan of that 90's London funk/jazz stuff (Jamiroquai, incognito) and this has that vibe.

 

[Altitude]

There are two versions of the album with very different track listings: the original release on RCA and the later release on Resurgence (which contains the track listing that Mark King wanted). I much prefer the Resurgence version (although there are a couple of nice tracks that appear only on the RCA release.

I prefer the Resurgence version too. I don’t think it’s out there on streaming. I do have the CD and would be happy to post MP3s.

The version of Billy’s Gone on that one is an entirely different recording. The bass is mixed slightly less up front but the playing is better.

 

[bassclef112]

Sweet Bass!

Thanks! I bought this without ever seeing or feeling one in person. I might have gone another way if I did. It is heavy and unless you play like him, it was problematic until I finally got a strap setup that worked. Along with the 32" scale it relocates the neck vs Fender muscle memory so it takes a bit of focus. Still, the Signature electronics are pretty wonderful.
(The clinch to order was the free upgrade to side LED's that month- had to do it!). Now the Omega cut and slimmer body is the standard.

 

[Thunderthumbs73]

Never have a seen a video where I wanted all of the basses featured so badly and for so many decades. And yet in 30+ years of playing I had only one chance to put my hands on anything related to Mark King- I saw a used Mark King Signature Alembic 5-string in Cocobolo more than 10 years ago. Used it was around $6,000 even back then, and given how heavy the bass was, it had neck dive, which was really sad. Well, I didn't have the money, and to come up with it... the used Alembic might as well have been $20,000. It seems all of those basses are unobtainium for us folks who live in America and just can't spend $4K, $5K and up on a bass.

Well, maybe someday, I'll win the lottery.

I like so many different bass players. I have a top 5, and a top 10 like we all do. Mark King is always at the top of the list, and it's never a question. Great video, and extra kudos for showing the Mark King Signature Fender Jazz Bass. Fender basses of any kind don't come much rarer than that.

 

[SeaDunk]

Here he is just jamming out on his Alembic. Sounds incredible.

 

[SeaDunk]

I think his King Bass MK II sounds wicked in this Live version of The Pursuit of Accidents (Looks a right workout too!)