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Dave Hope - Kansas

#61
I first saw Kansas perform in The Little Apple (Manhattan, KS in the KSU Student Union) just before their debut album came out. A few of my college buds and I traveled out from KCMO to see the show. A few years later I saw them perform at Memorial Auditorium in KC, KS sandwiched between Head East and Aerosmith. We were on the sixth row and I still can't believe my hearing survived that one!

I'll have to dust off my old wax and give Kansas a spin. It's been too long!
 
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#63
Carry On Wayward Son is my favorite thing to play on bass.....Sometimes I'll play it over and over,complete and in parts, during the course of a day,if I just can't get enough of it...Thanks, Dave.:cool:
 
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#66
Lately I have been teaching my students "The Spider" and "Wayward Son". I just bought the 5 CD Original Album Classics set to work from. I purchased the first Kansas album way back in 1974. I was a bit hesitant to buy it since it was on Don Kirshner's record label and I was amazed at how great they were.
 
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#69
squirefan said:
I have a Kansas box set and on the third to the last page of the book is a pic of Dave, playing a RIC.
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"Paradox" must be one of the tracks he used it for. Definitely sounds like a 4001 with a cap.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXe7KNb7RqY

Dave's Precision sound is great, especially on "Song For America". It's almost as good as Gentle Giant's Ray Shulman's if comparisons between P-bass-wielding pick-using prog-playing bass players are allowed.:)
 
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#70
KeithPas said:
Finally, this guy gets some much deserved recognition!! Dave is one of my favorite players and one of biggest influences as a bassist. His lines in tunes like "Magnum Opus" and "The Spider" are extremely creative, complex and challenging parts. I was amazed to learn that most his recorded parts are played on an old P bass, no mods.
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Hi, Keith. I'm new to this forum, but an old-timer in rock bass. You say it was a Precision with no mods. My ear detects a difference re: Leftoverture, tho. Sounds like a Badass bridge. Compare this tone to his P on Point of Know Return, which isn't as fat. Does anybody know for a fact if Dave ever used a Badass bridge? If I knew his email address, I'd ask the man himself. Problem is, Hope might not recall... I agree, his lines and sound are brilliant. And Kansas opened for Yes a few times? Well, the Brits have good taste. I love "Magnum Opus" and the obvious hit, "Carry on Wayward Son." I can play the latter, but not with a pick. Better post. Take care, Sancho
 
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#71
Sancho Panza said:
Hi, Keith. I'm new to this forum, but an old-timer in rock bass. You say it was a Precision with no mods. My ear detects a difference re: Leftoverture, tho. Sounds like a Badass bridge. Compare this tone to his P on Point of Know Return, which isn't as fat. Does anybody know for a fact if Dave ever used a Badass bridge? If I knew his email address, I'd ask the man himself. Problem is, Hope might not recall... I agree, his lines and sound are brilliant. And Kansas opened for Yes a few times? Well, the Brits have good taste. I love "Magnum Opus" and the obvious hit, "Carry on Wayward Son." I can play the latter, but not with a pick. Better post. Take care, Sancho
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Sancho, I got my info primarily from a couple of interviews with Dave himself and he did not mention if his P bass was modded in any way. I know that Dave used other basses over the years but I believe those first few albums were done with a P bass. if you can find any information that is contrary to that please share it, I would love to know because those first few albums had outstanding bass tone (as well as playing, obviously)
 
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#72
KeithPas said:
Sancho, I got my info primarily from a couple of interviews with Dave himself and he did not mention if his P bass was modded in any way. I know that Dave used other basses over the years but I believe those first few albums were done with a P bass. if you can find any information that is contrary to that please share it, I would love to know because those first few albums had outstanding bass tone (as well as playing, obviously)
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Thanks Keith for the "like" and if I discover anything re: Dave's tone, of course I will share it. BTW, I too am NW (Eugene, OR). Played with Satin Love Orchestra in 1997-98. Very stressful business; not much fun. The only gigs I enjoyed were with a hick rock band called Blueface from Cottage Grove. They took one photo of me onstage with a smile on my face... Sancho is not my real name, but that of Don Quixote's sidekick who tells him that the windmills are NOT giants. I appreciate your comment.
 
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#75
I bought a Fender Precision that supposedly belonged to Dave Hope back in 1977. It was in a small local music store here in Atlanta. I'm never was able to prove it was his but the Fender hard shell case had his name and Kansas on it. The store didn't charge anything extra so I never questioned it. I vaguely knew of Kansas but had never heard of Dave Hope. I kept it for a few years and traded it in on a brand new Precision in 81-82. I wish I had hung on to it but no one knew that older Fenders would actually go up in value. Back then, they only got cheaper. :woot:
 
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#77
leemelone said:
I bought a Fender Precision that supposedly belonged to Dave Hope back in 1977. It was in a small local music store here in Atlanta. I'm never was able to prove it was his but the Fender hard shell case had his name and Kansas on it. The store didn't charge anything extra so I never questioned it. I vaguely knew of Kansas but had never heard of Dave Hope. I kept it for a few years and traded it in on a brand new Precision in 81-82. I wish I had hung on to it but no one knew that older Fenders would actually go up in value. Back then, they only got cheaper. :woot:
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Don't worry, man. I've made bad decisions with gear, too. I wish I still had my first bass, a Ric 4001, b&w. It was $590 from Sam Ash, brand new. Ceramic pups, extremely bright. Sold it after four years for $300 in order to buy a Korean J-Bass. Ric is /not/ an easy-playing bass, but I still miss that thing. I also once owned a Stick, but sold it because no one in my area liked it. My fortunes ran cold, so now I have two Rondo P copies and an Aria SB-404. I don't like this last. It's covered with dust. Other musicians dislike it, too. The Rondos are fun after some mods and flats.
 
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#78
Glad the Dave Hope topic is active again! I listened to Kerry Livgren AD last night for probably the first time since I posted about it in 2011. Good gosh, was that guy good! Very impressed with his playing on that album, as well as on the Kansas albums.

Does anyone know what Dave is up to nowadays? I heard he had moved on from the church in Destin, Florida. We all hope the man is still playing music- he has way too much talent to retire from playing.
 
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#79
GaryLC said:
I was listening to some of my old Kansas records yesterday...."Masque", "Left Overture", "Song For America". Dave Hope is a fantastic bassist, great sound, very articulate in his playing. Does anyone know what he's up to these days?
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One of my favorite plectrum playing bassists
 
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