Getting That Mel Schacher Tone....J-Bass

[theevilplankton]

I've been recently introduced to some prime-era Grand Funk Railroad.

That bass tone has floored me...Wowsers, what a rumble!

I'm aware that MS had his Jazz modded with a mudbucker.....Is that what gives him that sound? I've owned the odd jazz bass, but they've never sounded like that!

Man, that would sound great in my trio. Any shortcuts to that sound? I'm guessing a 60s Jazz (Fender Classic 60s?) might be a start?

Love some ideas on this.

 

[lostreality]

He intentionally used the wrong tubes in his amp, and they would burn out while he was playing

 

[MEKer]

HUGE GFR fan here. Saw them live in L.A. (summer 1972/Freddie King opened for them) and also what was really impressive me was their sheer endurance. Love their music -gawd! Talk about raw, powerful in-your-face.
And Schacher powerfully driving, Don is just dripping sweat more than any drummer I've seen and Farner had the Forum's crowd in the palm of his hand!

 

[rekesbass]

Mel is the guy who inspired me to play bass. The tone on "Live Album" is what did it for me...to achieve that tone I've heard that he used West Amplifiers cranked and roadies sat behind the amps with oven mits on and changed tubes when they died(I know this is not a practical solution)of course it wouldn't hurt to have a humbucker equipped bass and a tube amp pushed into breakup..however, I think one can achieve his tone with a bit of o.d. and a good bump of the low mids..

 

[73jbass]

Fender with flats, and a good overdrive.

 

[andruca]

Hope this helps...

 

[theevilplankton]

Cool stuff.

I know he had that Jazz bass - was he favouring one of pups, or both on full?