Jaco's Continuum

[lovethegrowl]

What effect is it that Jaco used in his original recording of Continuum? Can it be easily (inexpensively) duplicated live?

I also have a live & studio recording of Jaco performing it with John McLaughlin in the "Trio of Doom" album. He doesn't use the effect in either of those.

 

[willbassyeah]

I know he used chorus, not sure on the exact pedal, he also used a bit of fuzz which is actually his acoustic 360 with the gain up

 

[voodoobassist]

It's entirely possible that he double tracked his line. He was known for doing that, giving a "chorus" type effect to his lines. Pretty amazing when ya think about it,..or try to do it yourself!

 

[REV]

My understanding is that he recorded it twice to thicken the sound.

 

[lovethegrowl]

I actually borrowed a Yamaha fretless from my luthier that had nearly the same effect throughout the entire bass. He described it as "fluting', although he stipulated that the phenomenon usually occurs around the 12th fret, usually when the instrument needs setting up.

 

[Swift713]

Try a short doubling delay, with a little finger vibrato on a fretless it makes a nice chorus effect.

 

[MIMike]

Jaco used delay. I believe he had two rack units that he used with his Acoustic amps.

 

[M Sterling]

My understanding is that he recorded it twice to thicken the sound.

This is exactly correct. Rumor has it that it only took two takes, also! That is one seriously awesome solo to nail on a fretless two times in a row.

 

[lovethegrowl]

So in effect the improvised jazzy solo wasn't improvised? Or at least not the second time?

 

[REV]

By the time he recorded it, he had been playing it for years.

 

[beggar98]

So in effect the improvised jazzy solo wasn't improvised? Or at least not the second time?

Stories are that Jaco rarely improvised his solos in the studio. Most things were at least pretty well mapped out, if not written.

I hadn't heard that he double-tracked Continuum, or anything else. My understanding was that he used a couple rack mounted digital delays (MXR, I believe) and with a short delay time and some healthy vibrato he could get a chorus-type effect.

 

[dkelley]

yea double tracked is news to me also and I've studied his records and playing for decades. Could be true, just surprising to me is all. I've copped the tone for live performances of continuum several times just with a delay though, although a subtle slow rate chorus into a delay is even prettier.

The only way I've heard a bass do that by itself (with reference to the yamaha comment someone posted earlier) is when the strings were twisted when being installed - which is a pretty amateur mistake. If the store guy couldn't identify the problem as twisted strings then he shows his lack of knowledge right there.... although I have to admit to having done it a couple of times myself in recent years when rushing to change strings.

 

[M Sterling]

Interesting. If you check out "A Portrait of Jaco: The Solos Collection" it describes how he recorded "Continuum" and it definitely states that it is a pre-meditated solo recorded twice and overdubbed. It is well known that Jaco wrote most of his recorded solos and did this "doubling" trick a few times.

yea double tracked is news to me also and I've studied his records and playing for decades. Could be true, just surprising to me is all. I've copped the tone for live performances of continuum several times just with a delay though, although a subtle slow rate chorus into a delay is even prettier.

The only way I've heard a bass do that by itself (with reference to the yamaha comment someone posted earlier) is when the strings were twisted when being installed - which is a pretty amateur mistake. If the store guy couldn't identify the problem as twisted strings then he shows his lack of knowledge right there.... although I have to admit to having done it a couple of times myself in recent years when rushing to change strings.

 

[Jaco Taco]

That sound of Jaco's was not from a chorus unit but from a delay unit. Just a short, doubling-type of delay gets the effect perfectly.

 

[halfjackson]

Interesting. If you check out "A Portrait of Jaco: The Solos Collection" it describes how he recorded "Continuum" and it definitely states that it is a pre-meditated solo recorded twice and overdubbed. It is well known that Jaco wrote most of his recorded solos and did this "doubling" trick a few times.

Wow, I didn't know that, but I believe it. Pretty cool.

 

[Lownote38]

I know he used chorus, not sure on the exact pedal, he also used a bit of fuzz which is actually his acoustic 360 with the gain up

It wasn't exactly chorus. It was an artificial doubler (ADT) which is a little different from chorus. The Beatles used it on their vocals a lot. Jaco used that on Continuum as well.

 

[dkelley]

Interesting. If you check out "A Portrait of Jaco: The Solos Collection" it describes how he recorded "Continuum" and it definitely states that it is a pre-meditated solo recorded twice and overdubbed. It is well known that Jaco wrote most of his recorded solos and did this "doubling" trick a few times.

cool info, I missed that one. annoying! LoL

I'm always learning exciting new things - the great thing about being a musician! doesn't matter how long you do it, there is ALWAYS more to learn (as long as you keep an open mind).

 

[bassbones2]

overdub….true….but live…..MXR pitch transposer

JB

 

[JazznFunk]

I have been able to get close to the sound using a Boss DD-7 delay with a short delay time, and even adding a very slight amount of chorus from a Boss CEB-3 chorus pedal. Doesn't take much of either. Make it natural.

 

[SLaPiNFuNK]

Chorus and a short delay... If this delay was on a snare it would be called a "Slapback" delay. However, the delay is low in the mix, you hear it more when harder attack is played...

Much of the sound comes from Jaco's fingers on the fretless...

Old video of me playing Continuum on my Fender Jaco Relic -

No effects on either, bass direct into computer... Use audio drop the tracks into some software and play with effects