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Iron Maiden's Steve Harris (Merged)
- Thread starter funkysurfer
- Start date
- Feb 17, 2003
- 1,006
- 281
- Disclosures
- ........................................EX-Sadowsky Guitars Builder..........................................................
He uses.............
-Fender P-Basses
~'70 P-Bass (Blue Sparkle)
~'59 P-Bass (Black/White Check)
~'82 P-Bass (Cherrywood Stain)
-Custom built Alectron Pre-amp
-Trace Elliot GP12SMX Pre-amp
-C-Audio 707 Power Amps
-DBX 160 Compressor
-Rotosound Flatwound strings (Signature set)
-Custom built Marshall 4x12 Cabinets W/Eletrovoice EVM 12-L speakers
Plus his 3 finger technique (which is the most helpful in his galloping bass lines)
Hope this is helpful!
-Fender P-Basses
~'70 P-Bass (Blue Sparkle)
~'59 P-Bass (Black/White Check)
~'82 P-Bass (Cherrywood Stain)
-Custom built Alectron Pre-amp
-Trace Elliot GP12SMX Pre-amp
-C-Audio 707 Power Amps
-DBX 160 Compressor
-Rotosound Flatwound strings (Signature set)
-Custom built Marshall 4x12 Cabinets W/Eletrovoice EVM 12-L speakers
Plus his 3 finger technique (which is the most helpful in his galloping bass lines)
Hope this is helpful!
Wonder what he used during the recording of "Number of the Beast" though?
P-Bass straight to the board?
P-Bass straight to the board?
Harris has said on numerous occasions that he only uses two fingers. From what I understand he keeps the actions very low and uses a very light touch.
GS
- Feb 17, 2003
- 1,006
- 281
- Disclosures
- ........................................EX-Sadowsky Guitars Builder..........................................................
If you have ever seen them live you will notice that on 16th note runs he alternates between his index, middle and ring finger.
I have seen them live and I own or have owned a number of their live videos/dvds including "Live After Death" and the newest, "Rock in Rio" and I haven't seen where he ever uses his ring finger. I've also read more than one interview where he claims he only uses two fingers, which only confirms what I've seen.
I think his sound comes mostly from having low action and a strong attack...If you try that, you'll get the strings to slap the fretboard a little. Also, put on some good flats.
I don't know for sure how many fingers he uses, but it could be only two. The other fingers that aren't used move with the hand too and can give the appearance that they're being used. That's what Alex Webster said about people thinking he uses 4 fingers...when he never uses his pinky.
I don't know for sure how many fingers he uses, but it could be only two. The other fingers that aren't used move with the hand too and can give the appearance that they're being used. That's what Alex Webster said about people thinking he uses 4 fingers...when he never uses his pinky.
Bass Guitar Magazine had an interview with Steve Harris a couple of issues ago. He talks about his technique and I don't recall anything about 3 fingers in the article. He does mention the flats as being important and that he plays with a lot of dynamics. He is also in the latest issue of Guitar Worlds Bass Magazine.
Dan
Dan
One thing that has always made me wonder about his sound is that he uses flats, yet he has such a clanky/harsh sound. I'm sure that it's low action and strong attack, but I always thought that the flats were supposed to take away the clank. Other than the Duncan p-ups, does he do anything else with electronics that has an affect on his sound?
As far a his 3 finger technique goes, it's possible that for the most part he's a 2 finger technique guy, but on some parts he adds the third finger to speed up some parts when ascending or descending. I find myself doing that, and it's not something that I really practice or think about, it just happens.
As far a his 3 finger technique goes, it's possible that for the most part he's a 2 finger technique guy, but on some parts he adds the third finger to speed up some parts when ascending or descending. I find myself doing that, and it's not something that I really practice or think about, it just happens.
I used to be a huuuge Steve Harris fan when I was starting out and found several relatively easy ways to get his sound...
You need a P-bass with Duncans and a Badass Bridge. You also need a decent set of flats and low action. Steve plays very close to the bridge and has a very relaxed attack. If you watch his right hand closely, you will see it is always a two-fingered attack with the occasional thumb-strum for chording. A lot of people don't realize is that Steve doesn't really dig in very much at all, it's just that his attack is so light and fingers are so loose, that when you combine it with the low action it gets his trademark sound.
Boosting the mids and treble will help a bit as well.
You need a P-bass with Duncans and a Badass Bridge. You also need a decent set of flats and low action. Steve plays very close to the bridge and has a very relaxed attack. If you watch his right hand closely, you will see it is always a two-fingered attack with the occasional thumb-strum for chording. A lot of people don't realize is that Steve doesn't really dig in very much at all, it's just that his attack is so light and fingers are so loose, that when you combine it with the low action it gets his trademark sound.
Boosting the mids and treble will help a bit as well.
Part of his clank comes from the fact that he actually changes strings after every show, which is counter to what most flat users do.
Clank clank.
Steve Harris is the reason I started playing bass in the first place. Run To The Hills specifically. That song rocks so hard and I never get sick of hearing it. I'm actually going to try some flatwounds on my bass to see how it does with how I play now.
Steve Harris IS THE MAN!
Steve Harris IS THE MAN!
He only uses 2 fingers. Go to www.ironmaiden.com and check the Q&A. He says himself there that he only uses 2.
2 points just for the record also..
(A)He has been known to use LADO basses back in the 80's as well as his P basses.
(B)Alot of the P basses you see him use over the years is the same bass...just refinnished.(He says this on www.ironmaiden.com as well.)
Currently he uses Duncans and Bad-Ass2 Bridge and Marshall Amps, flatwounds...and a heavy 2 finger attack.
And i have seen him more than once live.
2 points just for the record also..
(A)He has been known to use LADO basses back in the 80's as well as his P basses.
(B)Alot of the P basses you see him use over the years is the same bass...just refinnished.(He says this on www.ironmaiden.com as well.)
Currently he uses Duncans and Bad-Ass2 Bridge and Marshall Amps, flatwounds...and a heavy 2 finger attack.
And i have seen him more than once live.
- Feb 17, 2003
- 1,006
- 281
- Disclosures
- ........................................EX-Sadowsky Guitars Builder..........................................................
you do not have to get his sig set, just get RS77jazz flats, heavy gauge. That is what he is using. I tried them for a few months and found that they have a very unique sound to them. They give your hand a heck of a work out at first from the heavy tension. I had to tighten my truss rod almost all the way down to get the relief where it was supposed to be. But you can get extremely low action from them. They have a very bright sound at first but that goes away and they sound like ordinary flats within a few weeks. However I have found that I like Fender 9050 flats overall tone better than the Roto's. You can get a good Maiden sound from your P-bass using 9050 flats. A large factor is the SD/QP pups, they are very aggressive with lots of midrange.
