Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Chuck Rainey (tone!)
- Thread starter Snerek
- Start date
Ken Smith basses help. They have a natural " R&B" sound to them. Of course, its all in his hands.
Rickett Customs
Commercial User
40 years of playing.
It's in his hands.
Proof positive, Chuck has used dozens of different basses/rigs/etc... over the years and his sound is still pretty consistent.
His classic work was done on a Fender P-bass.
A discussion/argument I always get into with younger, gear-obsessed players...back in my day, guys could use 'logs' & still make it happen.
More so than hands...it's in his heart, mind & soul.
Yeah, Chuck has played all sorts over the years.
Smith, Fender, Spector, Warwick, Warrior...always sounds great, though I'd most like to hear him with the Spector and not so much the P bass!
Smith, Fender, Spector, Warwick, Warrior...always sounds great, though I'd most like to hear him with the Spector and not so much the P bass!
JAUQO III-X
Inactive
Hey, some of us like a little growl and cut and not so much fart. Different vinegar strokes for different folks.
Dont fret CHris, I'm an old fart and would still prefer to hear Chuck on a trebly clanky Jazz... but I like that 70's sound rounds/maple boards with fret noisie...
The Steely Dan song Gaucho, imho, is indicative of Chuck's phat fingered groove, easy, subtle, with just the right amount of ghost notes, etc. In fact, the anal retentive Dan boys must have asked Chuck to clean it up some I''d reckon.
But I can see how he'd gravitate toward Ken Smith basses. They have that signature phat R&B sound, imho.
The Steely Dan song Gaucho, imho, is indicative of Chuck's phat fingered groove, easy, subtle, with just the right amount of ghost notes, etc. In fact, the anal retentive Dan boys must have asked Chuck to clean it up some I''d reckon.
But I can see how he'd gravitate toward Ken Smith basses. They have that signature phat R&B sound, imho.
Chuck's tone on "Peg" is incredible, really woody and organic sounding, and not coloured at all.
Not to mention some oustanding playing too.
Not to mention some oustanding playing too.
Mine isn't (a '64 now outfitted with a Norstrand pickup).
I can see people's point about 'farty' bass tones with someone like Jack Bruce (Gibson bass w/ 2 pickups) & maybe even Jaco (Fender Jazz).
Rainey, Jamerson, Rocco, & the others known for playing early P-basses? I don't hear it.
The song "Gaucho" is played by Walter Becker.
And maybe it's me (& it usually is)-
I'm not sure Rainey gravitated towards Smith basses...the cynic in me thinks he was given one.
Jim, NO WAY. THats not Becker. is it? Holy smokes. With those slides an all. No way, didnt think Becker got that feel at all, unless he learned the song from Chuck. ,
Really, I;m stunned. I;m grabbing my old vinyl " Gaucho" copy right now and checking the liner notes...
HUH, there it is in black and white. I'm stunned. I gotta give Walter props. See I can tell its him on the Everythign Must Go disc, that sounds like Becker to me, pretty "clean", and not a ton of feel.
Wow. Learn something new everyday, and theres my first today. THNX Jim. and Sorry Walt.
Really, I;m stunned. I;m grabbing my old vinyl " Gaucho" copy right now and checking the liner notes...
HUH, there it is in black and white. I'm stunned. I gotta give Walter props. See I can tell its him on the Everythign Must Go disc, that sounds like Becker to me, pretty "clean", and not a ton of feel.
Wow. Learn something new everyday, and theres my first today. THNX Jim. and Sorry Walt.
+1. Nothing against Spectors (I'm a huge Doug Wimbish fan) its just I prefer that old school tone of the Aretha/Steely Dan era. The recordings I've heard of him on a Spector just didn't sound that great.
