John Taylor gear...

[godblender]

JT used an Aria SB600 (a set neck version on the SB700, which is the passive version of the SB1000!!) on the first DD record. I think he switched to SB1000's exclusively in late '81 or early '82 during the recording of the Rio album, and used them until after the Seven And The Ragged tour of '84. As mentioned the Kubicki's were brought in around '85 for the Power Station stuff, but he also used them with Duran through about '89. Oh, and he was definitely using Peavey amplification during the 80's.

Nowadays it's all Peavey basses all the time...blah. Even the re-issue SB's that Aria released a while back don't come all that close to matching the mojo of the original series...although the SB-JT model designed especially for him looks rad.

 

[mikeswals]

If you go see John Taylors' photo album of DD early days from the late 70's, he was playing the Aria SB's from the very beginning. He was also playing Peavey amps in those old pictures too.

I remember an interview he said the Ric was merely a stage bass for the 'Planet' video. Just as I saw another live (lip sync) 80's TV performance and he mimed with a block neck Jazz Bass...probably a rental as well.

 

[raul]

yep, tons of Aria basses...i don't recall the Peavey amps though...it's been a while since i read some of those old interviews with him talking gear talk...

in the studio...do you think he played both a mix of amp and DI to record...or maybe just DI? and it sounds like a healthy dose of compression...yes?

 

[ShoeManiac]

There's more info on John Taylor Invalid Link Removed. It's a transcription of an article that Bass Player magazine did with him, complete with gear info. They get into his current and past instruments, but with regards to his amp the article only mentions his current rig.

 

[mistahlee]

I saw them last night in Clearwater, Florida. John Taylor's instrument appeared to be an Aria. His amp I could not identify but there were two 8 x 10 cabinets up there. Good grief the band was loud. Simon LeBon's voice - flawless, btw.

 

[bdeaux]

My band is on tour w Duran currently, so I get to hear / watch JT bass it up every night. The dude is sounding great, laying it down with some real groove. I hear its not cool to dig on Peavey, but his rig and basses sound great. Touch of the masters hand y'all.

 

[T. Alan Smith]

When I saw them a few years back, he played his Peavey Cirrus most of the night and had a pair of Peavey 8x10''s behind him. ...and he rocked the house.

 

[T. Alan Smith]

My band is on tour w Duran currently, so I get to hear / watch JT bass it up every night. The dude is sounding great, laying it down with some real groove. I hear its not cool to dig on Peavey, but his rig and basses sound great. Touch of the masters hand y'all.

Good to know. ...with all the ProToolin' happening anymore.

 

[winterburn69]

Is anyone a 100% on what he amps he used in the '80s? I know he uses Peavey now. I watched a few videos on YouTube and all I saw were some tall cabinets with no name on them.

 

[Danhorse]

Just going to resurrect this thread and ask about the effects he used live in on the Arena tour, there are fat and interesting things going on with his sound there - anyone know what he used?

 

[Chrisk-K]

It's a long time ago, from memory, so dont shoot me If I'm wrong, on the first album he played a ric on planet earth,

The red Ric was only for the video. That's what JT said.

 

[hentor]

Is anyone a 100% on what he amps he used in the '80s? I know he uses Peavey now. I watched a few videos on YouTube and all I saw were some tall cabinets with no name on them.

Just finished his autobiography and read the Bass Guitar interview. Peavey amps all the way since 1980s...

Currently using Peavey Basses live, but still goes back to the Arias and Music Man for recordings...

 

[TRichardsbass]

I seem to remember in a conversation I had with him about 1990 that just about the first three or four albums were recorded with the SB-600, because it gave the sound but was passive. He used the SB-1000 live starting I think around '81.

The rest of you have the instruments and timelines spot on.

 

[Danhorse]

I seem to remember in a conversation I had with him about 1990 that just about the first three or four albums were recorded with the SB-600, because it gave the sound but was passive. He used the SB-1000 live starting I think around '81.

The rest of you have the instruments and timelines spot on.

Thanks for that info. Interesting... I have the SB600 and SB1000, they are leagues apart in quality, I am surprised my SB600 even comes from the Matsumoku plant, very inferior in woods, fit, finish and tone.

Much cheaper than the SB1000 so I guess he bought the 600 as he was short on cash earlier on.

would love to know his strings choice back then, the more I listen the more I think flatwounds. Could well be wrong!

 

[cnltb]

Doesn't JT also have a couple Seibasses?
Well ok...he didn't in the 80's

 

[TRichardsbass]

My 1981 set neck 600 was as good as the 1000 so I dont know what issue you have. Same body only different neck.

 

[Danhorse]

My 1981 set neck 600 was as good as the 1000 so I dont know what issue you have. Same body only different neck.

As you would expect from a Matsumoku, for it to be as good in most ways - but mine, dead spots all over the neck -the black finish bleeds into the natural wood parts. The feel of the neck - very different to the 1000.

The tone - most importantly - is gutless and hollow compared to the 1000. Now, its supposed to have laminated maple for the body wings as described on the Matsumoku archive site, and others have said their SB600s are heavy. This one is light as a feather, no way is that maple wings. Which doesn't help the lightweight gutless tone.

I serviced the wiring, cleaned all the hardware, worked on the board to allow lower action and better feel, but it still sounds awful. The D string is dead sounding along nearly half its length.

I do wonder if mine is a fake... it really is a dog.

 

[TRichardsbass]

As you would expect from a Matsumoku, for it to be as good in most ways - but mine, dead spots all over the neck -the black finish bleeds into the natural wood parts. The feel of the neck - very different to the 1000.

The tone - most importantly - is gutless and hollow compared to the 1000. Now, its supposed to have laminated maple for the body wings as described on the Matsumoku archive site, and others have said their SB600s are heavy. This one is light as a feather, no way is that maple wings. Which doesn't help the lightweight gutless tone.

I serviced the wiring, cleaned all the hardware, worked on the board to allow lower action and better feel, but it still sounds awful. The D string is dead sounding along nearly half its length.

I do wonder if mine is a fake... it really is a dog.

RogerBMiller here on TB is the resident expert and historian. I can tell you that my bass, as in most of the SB-600 and were probably made from neck thru's that had a neck issue. They essentially cut the neck off and either bolted or as in '81 glued the neck in. The body woods on my former were exactly like many SB-1000 I have played. It was not a light bass for sure. Like most basses, it did have a random deader spot around the 6th fret on the G string, but it wasn't much.

Mine had nearly flawless finish. That to me says what you have is not an earlier SB-600 and could be a copy. I have yet to encounter any late '70s or early to mid-80s Aria with any finish flaws. Zip. Nada. Also, the neck had nearly the same shape and feel as the neck thru's, so I'm not sure what you have. Can you post pics? Key is the Headstock and nut, body, jack and neck where it meets the body. From there we can tell you if yours looks legit.

As for action, you have to remember that in the olden days guys weren't playing that way. a good .020" relief and what many today would consider medium/high action were the norm. So even on these great Aria basses trying to dial in really low action could cause some problems. My Alembic is an amazingly well built bass, but when I get around .010 of neck relief she doesn't sing and kinda buzzes.

 

[Danhorse]

RogerBMiller here on TB is the resident expert and historian. I can tell you that my bass, as in most of the SB-600 and were probably made from neck thru's that had a neck issue. They essentially cut the neck off and either bolted or as in '81 glued the neck in. The body woods on my former were exactly like many SB-1000 I have played. It was not a light bass for sure. Like most basses, it did have a random deader spot around the 6th fret on the G string, but it wasn't much.

Mine had nearly flawless finish. That to me says what you have is not an earlier SB-600 and could be a copy. I have yet to encounter any late '70s or early to mid-80s Aria with any finish flaws. Zip. Nada. Also, the neck had nearly the same shape and feel as the neck thru's, so I'm not sure what you have. Can you post pics? Key is the Headstock and nut, body, jack and neck where it meets the body. From there we can tell you if yours looks legit.

As for action, you have to remember that in the olden days guys weren't playing that way. a good .020" relief and what many today would consider medium/high action were the norm. So even on these great Aria basses trying to dial in really low action could cause some problems. My Alembic is an amazingly well built bass, but when I get around .010 of neck relief she doesn't sing and kinda buzzes.

Thanks for the info mate, sure doesnt sound like my SB600 fits the description, photos below, sorry they are not great from my phone cam. let me know if you need more.

 

[TRichardsbass]

Here is my problem(s):

Set or fixed necks were only made in 1 year 1981. The "book" headstock was that year, not the "horned book" yours has. So there is an issue there.

The finish on the headstock is crap. Not even close.

The pickup cavity is rough and hacked up but still has finish on it. That just can't happen.

The knobs are wrong.

There is a circular finish crack around the G string tuner. Tells me the tuners may not be original.

It has many signs of authenticity. That makes me scratch my head.

Best I can say is that someone may have taken two broken basses and made one.