Blown away by the bass tone

[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!

'Oh, I left one on my initial list. Jack Bruce on the Why Don't You, the West, Bruce ,and Lange LP., specifically, the title cut Why Don't You, The Doctor, and Shake My thing. This is Jack at his Rocking best.

 

[TheSeagoats]

The band Birthday Massacre has a fantastic bass tone on their album Pins and Needles. Skip to around :35 to hear it pretty clearly here I would love to know how to get this tone on my gear at home.

 

[nixdad]

SOOOO many great posts here!

The bass tone on "Magic" by The Cars comes to mind. I believe this was done on a Synclavier and not actually on bass, but I still remember being blown away the first time I heard it and it fit the song perfectly. I played a Steinberger when this tune came out and was able to fairly reproduce the tone heard on the recording.
45 seconds in...

 

[Shrubber]

Without doubt, Ladi Geisler on Bert Kaempfert's A Swingin' Safari album from 1962... granted, he was playing over a double bass, but still...... my very formative years (I was 8 at the time).....

 

[TheSeagoats]

Dan has a fantastic tone, have you heard him in The Falcon?

 

[Maynjo]

Dan has a fantastic tone, have you heard him in The Falcon?

No I hadn't. Thanks for this, never even heard of The Falcon.

 

[Altitude]

Kai Eckhardt's P-bass tone on the Garaj Mahal album "Woot." Interesting because he doesn't use P-basses to record much.

 

[Altitude]

Mark King's Stingray tone on the "Forever Now" record. The only time he's ever used a Stingray. It suits his playing, he should have used it more in my opinion.

 

[Ryno1330]

I've seen the band Live a few times in person and am always blown away by Patrick Dahlheimer's playing and tone. Him and Chad Gracey lay down a really nice but also layered groove for the other guys in the band to work with.

Agree. He's so good and anchors that band.

 

[MustangWally]

Some great tone examples here! For me these days pretty much anything by Joe Dart with Vulfpeck, also the killer tone on Herbie Hancock's Chameleon (which I think was actually a synth).

 

[SLIV]

I doubt many people know The Wedding Present here but it's this bass sound that I often chase. Maybe not even unusual but it's "the sound" to me.

Nice bass, drums, and vocal section starting at 1:20

 

[Altitude]

Kai Eckhardt again, this time on a bass solo song called "Babaluwaiye" from an 80s Vital Information album.

It's some kind of dual humbucker fancy bass, who knows what - and the tone probably would not work as well if the bass weren't soloed like it is. But damn does it sound good.

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[rohi]

Tom Fowler on Roxy and Elsewhere. Probably my top favorite P tone of all time.

 

[tzohn]

 

[chaosMK]

A band from PHX called Chief Beef. It was a Fender bass (for get if P or J) played with a pick, SVT-II, fridge. Nice wall of sound and the perfect bit of overdrive on top.

 

[David McIntire]

I've seen the band Live a few times in person and am always blown away by Patrick Dahlheimer's playing and tone. Him and Chad Gracey lay down a really nice but also layered groove for the other guys in the band to work with.

Great call!! I remember first hearin this tune back when, and I still want this tone. Wow!

 

[lucas303]

Kai Eckhardt's P-bass tone on the Garaj Mahal album "Woot." Interesting because he doesn't use P-basses to record much.

Kai Eckhardt again, this time on a bass solo song called "Babaluwaiye" from an 80s Vital Information album.

It's some kind of dual humbucker fancy bass, who knows what - and the tone probably would not work as well if the bass weren't soloed like it is. But damn does it sound good.

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It seems like Kai doesn't get enough love on TB.

 

[327]

Great call!! I remember first hearin this tune back when, and I still want this tone. Wow!

I also really love his tone on a few songs on Throwing Copper. Mainly the songs "Iris" and "TBD". TBD made me want to learn to play the bass when I heard it.

 

[bucephylus]

Tom Fowler on Roxy and Elsewhere. Probably my top favorite P tone of all time.

FWIW, I attended a Mothers' concert in Waterbury CT that same spring; and TF was playing an Alembic. First I had ever seen / heard.

Oh, and BTW, it sounded fantastic.

 

[David McIntire]

I also really love his tone on a few songs on Throwing Copper. Mainly the songs "Iris" and "TBD". TBD made me want to learn to play the bass when I heard it.

Yessir! I love that band. I used to perform a lot of their music. Throwing Copper is an excellent release. Tho I am not sure TBD Or Ir8s was on my list. I'm gonna listen now, cuz I do like that band a lot.

On the release of Lakhini's, I heard it before Secret Samadhi was released officially, Bass Player Magazin had a feature article and rig rundown of Patrick's tone. Trace Elliot at that time. And he said the tone on Lakini's Juice was NOT what he intended. He was upset that the tone on the song didn't quite reach what he wanted. I don't know what he was talking about. Ha! I love it. And had forgotten. Thank you. Now I'm gonna listen to Iris.