i'm not that much of a fleetwood mac fan but i watched the classic album series "making of fleetwood mac's rumors" last nite. i just love those dvds where they show the making of famous records. anyways, i gotta say mcvie gets such a HUGE FAT sound! was he playing an alembic? was it a wal? he doesn't seem flashy at all but is just totally adding what is needed for the song, using some cool riffs, and again, just amazing tone. anyone know what his signal chain was?
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john mcvie, fleetwood mac
- Thread starter these_go211
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McVie is a great, overlooked player. He gets a fat sound regardless of what he plays.
Around the time of Rumours, he was playing a fretless Alembic with an aluminium board.
Around the time of Rumours, he was playing a fretless Alembic with an aluminium board.
I am a huge McVie fan. If you listen to their albums, the rhythm section lays down a very clean and minimalistic groove that gives the singers and soloists a lot of room to do their thing. This dynamic was a key contributor to their impressive number of hit songs.
John is proof that less can be more and bass doesn't need to stand out above the mix to be outstanding.
John is proof that less can be more and bass doesn't need to stand out above the mix to be outstanding.
Big fan...big fan...
IMO, John McVie is the quintessential "minimalist". There are few bassists who can play more slick, smooth, subtle lines than he. If you listen closely, he adds a lot of interesting, subltle fills, changing dynamics, slides, and yet maintains the groove as if that's the only thing propelling the song forward. Too many bassists play "what's necessary for the song" and don't actually "drive the song" the way he can and does. And he does it without changing the essence of the song, but rather propels it forward.
IMO, John McVie is the quintessential "minimalist". There are few bassists who can play more slick, smooth, subtle lines than he. If you listen closely, he adds a lot of interesting, subltle fills, changing dynamics, slides, and yet maintains the groove as if that's the only thing propelling the song forward. Too many bassists play "what's necessary for the song" and don't actually "drive the song" the way he can and does. And he does it without changing the essence of the song, but rather propels it forward.
Very underated bassist.
Soild, Fat tone, plays the song.
I was into John when I first started playing.
"I love the tone on that thunder song, yum."
that's the song 'dreams.' yea, the definition of fat tone is that song. yum is the right word to use. i want to take a bite out of that tone!
that's the song 'dreams.' yea, the definition of fat tone is that song. yum is the right word to use. i want to take a bite out of that tone!
Rhiannon... Dreams...You make loving fun...the bass solo on The Chain 
John McVie is an incredibly tight bassist. One of my favs
John McVie is an incredibly tight bassist. One of my favs
Plus, he and Fleetwood were one of the best rhthym sections in the late 60s British blues scene. Check out their version of "Black Magic Woman" (the original recording of that song), Green Manalishi, Oh Well. He also played on the famous Bluesbreakers album with John Mayall and Clapton. There's a lot more to him than FM soft rock.
Also, in conclusion...
Tusk!
Also, in conclusion...
Tusk!
One of rocks great rhythm sections IMHO. Being a old guy, I followed their career for a long time. Their old manager even tried to put a bogus Fleetwood Mac on tour without Mick or John, so I was very stoked when they finally hit in the mid 70's. John is a very humble guy too, I've met him a bunch and opened a show he did with John Mayall.....treated me great!
i do a couple of fleetwood mac songs with a group i work with often, and i really like those subtle bassline, they are quite special, and the key to them is the dynamic, and a sense of forward motion when needed.
great pocket player
Dave
great pocket player
Dave
Rhiannon.....that bassline is just classic. It got stuck in my head back in the 70's when I was a kid and it still has got me now! Great, grooving line. That's my fave Fleetwood Mac song.
As soon as I saw this thread...that is the song that went through my mind immediately.
As soon as I saw this thread...that is the song that went through my mind immediately.
Yeah, right, who needs all those stupid "GIGANTIC HITS" that Stevie Nicks and Christine sang?
John McVie, Mick Fleetwood. One of the all time best rock rhythm sections ever. McVie's lines flowed so nicely and always added to the songs. They were rock solid together.
jerry said:
+1
McVie was with Mayall when we opened for them in Detroit in 1983 (I think). McVie and Mick Taylor took the time to find us in our dressing room after our sound check, complimented the hell out of us, and hung out for a while. That's about the only time I remember the main act being that friendly.
Doc
kherber said:
It was probably the same tour Doc, out here it was '82. Yeah, Mick Taylor was great too, treated us like they knew us. They where having a great time on that tour, I think it was fun and low pressure compared to touring with Fleetwood Mac at their peak.
