Beatles Fuzz...Mean Mr Mustard

[soma89]

Hi,
Does anyone know what The Beatles used for their fuzzy bassline on Mean Mr Mustard?

Also, how can I get a tone like that?
(I'm using an old harmony h22 with flats)

 

[sonicvi]

I heard Paul played a Gibson EB-0F on that, an EB-0 with built in Maestro Fuzz Tone.
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[McHaven]

I heard Paul played a Gibson EB-0F on that, an EB-0 with built in Maestro Fuzz Tone.
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I've never heard that in any of the Beatles recording books I've read. If Paul did play bass on that track (by this time, they switched around, especially if there was a piano part), it would be I believe the Hofner. Near the end of the Beatles, he began to use the Hofner again.

 

[grygrx]

Vox Tonebender

 

[groooooove]

ive always wondered this too actually..

i never expected a fuzz pedal from that time period to have any bass-friendly qualities.

 

[JimmyM]

ive always wondered this too actually..

i never expected a fuzz pedal from that time period to have any bass-friendly qualities.

They didn't. When Paul played with a Tonebender, it was more of a second bass part meant to sound more like a guitar part. There's always a clean bass part going on in addition to the fuzz bass tone.

 

[soma89]

I actually came to the conclusion that the bass was played through George's silicon Fuzz Face that he was using at the time. When I plug my bass (with flats) into my Fuzz Face I get VERY close to that sound. It's a great bass fuzz tone.

The Vox Tonebender was used on bass in the earlier days when they recorded "Think For Yourself". I doubt they used it on this track because Mean Mr Mustards fuzz bass sounds wayy different than the bass fuzz on Think For Yourself.

 

[InspectorEddie]

I'm using the Sabine FuzzStortion pedal and I've very close to the sound of Mean Mr. Mustard.

This is was song that got me saying "I need a fuzz pedal!"

 

[bigblondeafro87]

haha wow I always thought that part was a tuba. I'm listening to it now and its definitely NOT a tuba

 

[lunarpollen]

I've heard a similar bass fuzz tone on some early Bee Gees tunes. For "Mean Mr. Mustard" it sounds like the treble is turned up on whatever is causing the sawtooth wave when compared to the very similar sound of the Bee Gees "Every Second, Every Minute" for example. There's also a similar sound in the short blues shuffle part toward the end of the Bee Gee's "Somebody Stop the Music." It almost sounds like some kind of natural amplifier overdrive combined with the unique sound of a Rickenbacker with flats.