Don't know if this has been posted here before, but I just stumbled upon it and thought I'd share. Very sloppy, but vicious as hell. I love it!
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
HELTER SKELTER Isolated bass
- Thread starter Kink Rimson
- Start date
Rickett Customs
Commercial User
Wow. I don't think I'll ever be as hard on myself about my playing or tone the same way again. That sounds absolutely awful, but it works.
edmidlifecrisis
Registered mediocre bass player
Horrible timing/accuracy. Plays like a guitarist alright. No real soul or smoothness. Rough transitions. Half a beat behind or ahead of the song. Lennon was no bassist. Awesome tone, though, and good for a song meant for nothing but to beat the hard-rock-ness of the Who.
Well, John's sloppy bass playing adds urgency and unstability to the song, which I absolutely love.
It's interesting, so much of the tone is colored by the players attack (whether with pick or fingers it slapping).
I am no Beatles historian, but it would be a fair assumption that John is playing Paul's rig. The tone he gets is nothing like Paul's (obviously) b/c he is playing so hard, almost w/disregard to what the bass would sound like in Paul's hands. He may be no bassist, but IMO, he is showing his skills as a songwriter. He obviously knew what the song needed.
I am no Beatles historian, but it would be a fair assumption that John is playing Paul's rig. The tone he gets is nothing like Paul's (obviously) b/c he is playing so hard, almost w/disregard to what the bass would sound like in Paul's hands. He may be no bassist, but IMO, he is showing his skills as a songwriter. He obviously knew what the song needed.
- Jun 25, 2007
- 4,531
- 135
- 63
- Disclosures
- Artist:TC Electronic RH450 bass system (original test-pilot)
Stick_Player
Inactive
- Nov 13, 2009
- 4,149
- 937
- Disclosures
- Endorser: Plants vs. Zombies Pea Shooters
Woah!
That should dispel any misguided assertion that Lennon was playing George's Jazz bass.
Sure seems like he's brutalizing his Fender VI (as mentioned above).
Maybe Yoko cut this track.
I think (read somewhere) that during this session Lennon was running about the studio with an ashtray tied to his head
All stated is speculation, as I was NOT present during any Beatles' recording session.
That should dispel any misguided assertion that Lennon was playing George's Jazz bass.
Sure seems like he's brutalizing his Fender VI (as mentioned above).
Maybe Yoko cut this track.
I think (read somewhere) that during this session Lennon was running about the studio with an ashtray tied to his head
All stated is speculation, as I was NOT present during any Beatles' recording session.
Ah I see that now about the Fender VI. But still I think he was approaching the bass part as to how it would service the song as a whole.
I think, as a piece of music history, this is very cool and interesting!
BTW, most bass tracks, when isolated, sound pretty un-inspiring.
No one ever complained about the bass on HELTER SKELTER until this.
I think it is cooL!
BTW, most bass tracks, when isolated, sound pretty un-inspiring.
No one ever complained about the bass on HELTER SKELTER until this.
I think it is cooL!
