Bobby Dyson's Bass

[Riggs H]

Hello, I'm new here, and don't know much about bass guitars so I wanted to ask y'all about this and see if y'all could help me. I have a Glarry P Bass and a Glarry Jazz bass that I play on my songs.

I've been trying to figure this out for a long while. There is this certain electric bass guitar sound that I REALLY like, but I'm trying to figure out what kind of bass will make this sound. I heard it in Dolly Parton's album Coat of many colors: Dolly Parton's "Coat of Many Colors" - Trip Gunn
It's this really thumpy sound, it sounds like a neck pickup, and I suspect it's muted, but it is still a different sound than any muted bass I've played. I found a link on wikipedia that had the album's bass player's name. Bobby Dyson. I put that name in, and this video came up: Bobby Dyson's bass is different than any bass I've seen, (of course, I've only seen Jazz and P basses) Can you tell what kind of bass He's playing, what kind of pickups is on it, if it's the same bass as in dolly parton's album, what gauge strings would he be using, and how to achive a simalar sound? Thanks alot!

 

[murmur70]

It certainly looks like a Fender 50s single coil precision bass. I am guessing flats and mutes.

 

[2saddleslab]

Looks to be a mid 50's contoured P bass [54-57] w/ post 57 P bass bridge & pickup covers. Might even be a Jazz bass pickup cover.

If original the pickup would be a standard single coil. Not sure if a mute was used under the bridge cover.

 

[Riggs H]

Thanks for responding! I just found this about Him: He played a flatwound strung early Jazz bass with a thumbpick, and sometimes his fingers.

 

[Riggs H]

Does anyone know what flatwounds would be best for getting that sound/tone?

 

[murmur70]

The bass in the video is not a jazz. I have never seen a jazz bass with a telecaster headstock.

 

[Riggs H]

The bass in the video is not a jazz. I have never seen a jazz bass with a telecaster headstock.

I'm thinking that mabey the bass in the video is not the same as the one played in the coat of many colors song.

 

[murmur70]

Certainly could be. I did not listen to the song.

I'm thinking that mabey the bass in the video is not the same as the one played in the coat of many colors song.

 

[Hammett]

Hello. Bobby Dyson was my uncle and I have fond memories of him. I took a picture from a November 1976 Country Music Magazine that might mention the bass you are asking about. I know he played it a lot during sessions. Had a low serial number which no one could find when he passed.