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Greg Lake's bass sound

E L Powell
Can't figure what bass he was playing during '86 USA tour
Really bothering me! It isn't the WAL above because this has block inlays
Anybody know?

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I think it is another Spector based on body shape?
And I can almost make out the logo

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Definitely looks like another Spector Ns2
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He did play an Ns2 in the 80s.
Yes, that was the salmon colored one on the previous post which is from an earlier time based on GL’s weight which I believe is from his GL solo 1st album days ‘81 ‘82

This looks similar but I haven’t seen a good picture of GL actually with it where the headstock is clearly visible. This is during EL Powell tour and GL is heavier in the face. ‘86
 
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Yes, that was the salmon colored one on the previous post which is from an earlier time based on GL’s weight which I believe is from his GL solo 1st album days ‘81 ‘82

This looks similar but I haven’t seen a good picture of GL actually with it where the headstock is clearly visible. This is during EL Powell tour and GL is heavier in the face. ‘86
He didn’t play bass at all on the first solo album tour. Not sure about the tour for the second album. Maybe from his brief turn in Asia?
 
He didn’t play bass at all on the first solo album tour. Not sure about the tour for the second album. Maybe from his brief turn in Asia?
Look at pics I posted a few posts ago

Going more by his weight especially in his face to determine when. Definitely not ELP and not Asia. Was there a tour for Maneuvers?

Plus there’s a mystery 5 string pictured which appears to be around ELP Blackmoon time

And the black moon promo vid has some white maple neck jazz type bass with 4 black knobs with white stripe mark
 
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Look at pics I posted a few posts ago

Going more by his weight especially in his face to determine when. Definitely not ELP and not Asia. Was there a tour for Maneuvers?

Plus there’s a mystery 5 string pictured which appears to be around ELP Blackmoon time

And the black moon promo vid has some white maple neck jazz type bass with 4 black knobs with white stripe mark
I don’t think there was a Maneuvers tour.
 
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GL was a big fan of the Gibson J-200 Acoustic Guitar.
So, it is no wonder that here is a picture of him playing an Epiphone El Capitan which pretty much has the body of the Gibson J-200 guitar and a bass neck. Looks like the picture was taken in a cabin while on holiday somewhere?
Never heard him play one, but it prompted me to go out and buy one! :-)

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Got a question regarding his 8-string bass sound: How did he get that jangly sound? I read a few of the beginning posts it seems that sound isn't popular but it's what I grew up knowing what an 8-string sound was. I know the jangle sound is primarily present on the Works version "Fanfare" and the In Concert/Works Live versions of "Tiger in a Spotlight" and "The Enemy God..."

Going on youtube, the 8-string demos either sound like a sock full of quarters to the side of the head, or just like an octave pedal (on the fingerstyle demo I saw). Is it just as simple as someone saying it was new strings every single concert? I know he was a pick player so that attributes to the sound as well. The Alembics didn't have "special electronics" that helped in that sound, did they?
 
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Well, Alembics Series basses are absolutely known for their clarity and high frequency response. They can also be run in stereo, meaning each pickup runs to a different preamp or amp and can be EQ’d separately On top of that, though, double or multi-course basses (8, 10, 12 strings, etc.) will sound quite different depending upon whether they are set up so that the octave string is closest to the top (first one hit with a pick downstroke) or the bottom.