Entwistle and Tommy

[grrg63]

Can you borrow a friend's pbass? Ive seen pictures & film of J.E. using a jb & a Longhorn, but they were from about 65-66. Dont sweat it, no one's gonna care anyway.

 

[Mike19]

And you need to crank it to. For authenticity.

I lost 50% of the hearing in my right ear at a Who's concert in early 1970 when I managed to get a space standing right up next to the stage (my elbows were leaning on the stage).

Sorry, I don't rememeber what bass John was playing.

Don't forget the hair!

 

[IronLung1986]

You're wrong. The 4005 was used on "The Seeker" and on some promovideos. He also had a lightshow model which he used in the seventies on some lip-sync stuff.

YOU'RE RIGHT. i know it's the internet and everything but you coulda said it a little nicer.

 

[lowend1]

entwistle was always hopping mad about that, too. he wanted his live sound on the recordings and the producer overruled him.

but as i'm discovering now that a lot of old solo bass recordings are now available, even when it sounds clean in a mix there's often some distortion going on. jamerson's motown tracks are a perfect example. i wouldn't be surprised at all that entwistle's recorded tones on those albums were quite dirty.

As I recall, when he did some remastering / re-recording for the Quadrophenia movie (the one with Sting as the Bellboy), Entwistle found original tapes with "bass horribly distorted - do not use" noted on the track sheet. The new mixes reflected his displeasure. If you've never heard the soundtrack for the movie, get it.

 

[fourfinger]

My college is putting on Tommy next month and the band will actually be on stage. We are going to be dressed like The Who and the directors told us to be "period correct" with our instruments, playing, and clothing.

I'm sure nobody will notice, but I'd like to be period correct with the instrument I play too (I can't do it with my amp since I use a class D amp haha). I was thinking of using either my Danelectro Longhorn or a Fender Jazz. Which one would be more common to find around Mr. Entwistle's neck during this time period?

IMO, the Jazz would be the better of those two to use. This show sounds like a BLAST!! Have fun!

 

[Meddle]

Lower the action until its clank heaven, then boost the treble a lot. Maybe bi-amp?

 

[thudstaff23]

This is your chance, and excuse to order up a custom Hiwatt!! ; ) Good luck with the show - it sounds fun.

 

[SP_EB4L]

Put your hand on The Who - Live At The Isle of Wight DVD and you'll get answer to all your interogation about his live performances, they play almost extensively Tommy on that show.

 

[Mike19]

If you really want to nail it, wear a skeleton costume.

 

[Kink Rimson]

Will you be emulating The Tommy album, or The Who's live interpretation of it? Two wildly different things!

I would use a P bass if at all possible. The live sound has already been discussed here at length, but the studio sound is very mannered and clean for the most part, with far less emphasis on overdriven amps, so that would be far easier to achieve. Just a classic warm P bass.

 

[PhR]

i wouldn't be surprised at all that entwistle's recorded tones on those albums were quite dirty.

Cleaner anyway than his livesound at the time:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRAvZHjH3tw

 

[PhR]

YOU'RE RIGHT. i know it's the internet and everything but you coulda said it a little nicer.

Sorry, didn't mean to be mean.

 

[OPBASSMAN1994]

take your pick...

Wow, that's a lot of basses.....I feel the strangest combination of admiration, jealousy, and a bit of G.A.S. for those Rics....

 

[GM60466]

P bass and skeleton suit and Hiwatt 1000+

 

[Jon Moody]

I can't do it with my amp since I use a class D amp haha

Give the stage techs some pictures of the old backline, and have them create a faux wall of sound for you and the guitarists to keep the amps behind (considering that if the sound guy wants any sort of control, he's going to run you guys direct). If the director wants you as period correct as possible, he'll approve.