Help - Purchasing "Phil Lesh" style bass?

[edwinhurwitz]

phil also play a epiphone jack cassadfy once in a while..

I have a modified Guild Starfire (with Alembic Series pickups, electronics and hardware), a Modulus Q6 and have had a Gibson EB3 with Darkstars, so I've had a bunch of experience getting the Phil sound and I think to come in under budget, this is by far the best option. These are great basses that can capture a lot of the right tone. Add a set of Pyramid Gold flatwound strings, a Telefunken 1.6mm big triangular pick and he'd be set for a while.

 

[MLysh]

+1 on the Casady Epi with either Pyramid flats or TI jazz flats. Definately will bring you in under the 800 dollar mark...and it will sound great.

 

[tleebassist11]

I had an opportunity to play phil lesh's modulus tbx 6 at Christmas jam. The thing felt great and sounded so full. He said the secret mojo of that bass was the handmade pickups he got from a guy in switzerland.....

 

[Slackerprince]

I agree. An Epiphone Jack Cassady would make any Deadhead proud.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass/epiphone-jack-casady-signature-bass-guitar

The remaining $100 can go toward a hardshell case.
Nice gift.

S

 

[edwinhurwitz]

I had an opportunity to play phil lesh's modulus tbx 6 at Christmas jam. The thing felt great and sounded so full. He said the secret mojo of that bass was the handmade pickups he got from a guy in switzerland.....

Interesting. The TBXs I've seen of his had EMGs and recently Villex pickups. Any idea of who made them?

 

[hennessybass]

I would say with your budget, get him the Epiphone Jack Cassady.

 

[brbadg]

Before you give him the bass, first give him a gift wrapped box with nothing in it. When he asks what gives, tell him it contains "the sound of thick air" one of Phil's more inspired quotes. Or fill the box with water and tell him it's a box of rain, (a grateful dead song Phil wrote)

Ok. This was a quote made by Bob Weir, not Phil.

 

[edwinhurwitz]

Ok. This was a quote made by Bob Weir, not Phil.

And the request for thick air is what broke Dave Hassinger's brain during the Anthem of the Sun sessions, leading to it being self-produced and self-engineered.

 

[SturmUndDrang]

I think I found someone achieving the sound of thick air.
See 3:05 of the video below.