Blown away by the bass tone

[lucas303]

 

[Basshappi]

Allen Woody - Govt Mule - One of my favorite bass players. Woody played many different basses (he had a collection to rival anyone's) and played other instruments as well. He seemed to favor Gibsons. He played through Ampeg SVTs.

 

[TheDirtyLowDown]

Christian McBride, in this live recording. I could live inside that tone, it's so big and beautiful. Amazing band, too.
Put on headphones and bliss out for 7 minutes...

 

[soundsupport1]

Guy Pratt's bass tone on 'Learning to Fly', from Pink Floyd's live album, P.U.L.S.E. I think it's a Spector he's using.
Guy Pratt's bass tone on 'One of these Days', from Pink Floyd's live album, Live at Pompeii. A 1974 Rickenbacker.
Mo Foster's bass tone on 'Get it Right Next Time', from Gerry Rafferty's album Night Owl. A Precision bass.
Flea's bass tone on 'She Looks to Me', from the Red Hot Chili Peppers' album Stadium Arcadium.
Anthony Jackson's bass tone on 'For the Love of Money', from the O'Jays' album Ship Ahoy.

Peace,
SoundSupport

 

[McTred]

One of the things that has surprised me the most about music since looking things up online and finding sites like this is the way people want to copy or celebrate a certain tone.

I've spent my whole musical life trying to decide what I want my tone to be. It never occurred to me to try to copy someone else.

To each his own I say.

 

[Tim Skaggs]

Phil Chen, flats

 

[Basshappi]

One of the things that has surprised me the most about music since looking things up online and finding sites like this is the way people want to copy or celebrate a certain tone.

I've spent my whole musical life trying to decide what I want my tone to be. It never occurred to me to try to copy someone else.

To each his own I say.

I don't think that it is about imitation so much as inspiration and appreciation for something done well.

 

[JCW308]

The bass player who is seen frequently playing along with Guthrie Trapp always has killer tone. I think he's endorsed by Ashdown.

Here's just one example. It starts to get really interesting around 2:17....

 

[Bajo Clarkko]

Andy West's tone (an Alembic) on The Dixie Dregs "Dregs Of The Earth" album, as well as his Steinberger tone on the Dregs follow up release, "Industry Standard".

( I will also concur with the aforementioned posts, for Mel Schacher, Mars Cowling, and Foghat's Craig MacGregor on the "Fool For The City" album. )

 

[Basshappi]

Tim Commerford - Audioslave - Another that needs no introduction around here. Tim is a master of different dirt tones and a real taste for how and when to use them.
This track is one of my favorites from him. Unfortunately YouTube video does no justice to the sound and one should listen to the actual recording off the CD to fully appreciate these tones.


I really like they way he uses long notes and legato phasing to let the tone fully develop and set the atmosphere of the song complimenting the vocal performance.

 

[dangevans]

In no order:
1. James Jamerson's Motown tone,
2. Joe Osborn on almost anything he's done,
3. Jack Bruce, especially live Cream stuff. All 3 are a big contrast!

 

[REV]

Since no one has mentioned it yet, I have always admired Phil Lesh's tone. I'm not really a Dead fan per se but I like all the effort Phil has put into achieving his sound.

 

[Rojd]

Abraham Laboriel on Herb Alpert's "Rise"

 

[Basshappi]

Since no one has mentioned it yet, I have always admired Phil Lesh's tone. I'm not really a Dead fan per se but I like all the effort Phil has put into achieving his sound.

Phil Lesh is a masterclass of great bass tone and melodic playing. He, along with Jack Casady, made huge contributions to the development of modern bass guitar and amplification innovations.

 

[lucas303]

Since no one has mentioned it yet, I have always admired Phil Lesh's tone. I'm not really a Dead fan per se but I like all the effort Phil has put into achieving his sound.

His tone has varied throughout his career. My favorite era of his tone is 73-74. If you compare that to his tone in the 90s, for example, it's very different (all good, but I just prefer the 73-74 tone).

 

[MVE]

Stanley Clarke's School Days album.

Marcus Miller, 'cause its the quintessential scooped slapped jazz tone. (...often imitated AND duplicated.)

Chuck Rainey on Peg, and the bass tone on just about every other Steely Dan song.

Anything produced by George Martin. ('nuf said)

Bakithi Kuhmalo - arguably the best fretless tone on the planet. Un-arguably, the best "slapped fretless" tone in the universe.

 

[Basshappi]

Jaco Pastorious - Weather Report - Yes of course Jaco. Players may be divided over his tone but this song has always been my favorite example of his tone and his playing.

 

[Danny O Danny]

For fretted, it's something along the lines of what E'Lon JD gets here with the Jonathan Scales Fourchestra...


For fretless, it's good old Pino back in the day...


For electric upright, it's Rob Wasserman...


For acoustic upright, it's Gary Peacock...

 

[Basshappi]

Larry Graham - Graham Central Station - The Godfather of Funk and as much as I love many other funk greats, Larry's funk bass tone is the one all others are judged by.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

We TB'ers spend a lot of time pursuing that elusive tone quest.

What song tracks have you come across on your travels, either studio recorded or particularly live, where you were blown away by the bass tone?

If you have audio or video clips then please feel free to share and if you know the details of the rig, even better!

I have a couple: Jimmy Lea (Slade Alive), John Entwhistle on Live at Leads, Derrick Holt on Climax Blues Band FM Live, and Ray Schulman from Gentle Giant, none of which create a voice even close to what I could use with the musical projects I'm involved with today. But I like them anyway!