Just how bright were the 80s?

[Jugghaid]

The bass is bright, but it isn't terribly bright. Everything else sure is, though. I guess @ad9000 and @bassfran are onto something about those bright reverbs, synths and guitars. Maybe that's what John was referring to. Although, I have say, I find Marcus Miller's tone to be a bit too bright for my tastes at times.

Also, that's quite a good song. I'd only heard "Hungry like the Wolf" and "Ordinary World," which I never cared for. But now I might have to listen to some more Duran Duran.

Taylor is a fantastic bass player. Well worth checking out.

 

[JIO]

I've always considered pop music of the '80s to be the decade of the bass-player. In many landmark songs - the bass was front and center both rhythmically and tonally. Not in the background. To get out front, it couldn't be a deep, boomy bass. So it was about helping to shape the "modern" rock aspect of that genre's sound/footprint.

A warm sonorous bass tone/presence is cool as well. It just comes down to what type/genre of music you need to contribute/conform to.

 

[richntiff]

So bright I had to wear shades.

Ok, but did you wear them at night?

 

[Chrisk-K]

I never ever thought electric bass tones were brighter in the 80’s. The bright bass tones in the 80’s came from the DX7 (eg, Take on Me, We Built the City).

 

[Carl Hillman]

Just how bright were the 80s?​

In my case, they were Rotosound 66s, on a Stingray, through Hartke speakers, EQed in a "smiley face" bright.

(No wonder I'm going deaf.)

 

[noahw1]

Gail Ann Dorsey mentioned something similar. She says back in the day she would immediately turn up the treble and now she rolls off the tone.
My tonal preferences have definitely grown darker as well from what I was sounding like in the 80s and 90s.

 

[Groove Doctor]

Also, that's quite a good song. I'd only heard "Hungry like the Wolf" and "Ordinary World," which I never cared for. But now I might have to listen to some more Duran Duran.

Add some Wham! to your playlist.




Avoid the cheesy radio hits…. Excellent session players on the deeper cuts of those albums.

 

[bassist4dalord]

A lot of that stuff is tuned in E standard so ... yeah

Would you care to elaborate?

 

[bassdude51]

Sorry I guess I am old - I did not hear anything in the 80's that was really worth listing to. Sorry

EXACTLY!

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Most of what I was listening to in the 80’s was recorded on StingRay, Yamaha BB, Ken Smith and Fender Jazz . Keyboards were also part of the equation.

 

[Todd Hamby]

I was going for bright in the 80s for sure and now I’m the polar opposite.

 

[Patrice B]

We all don’t have to agree on anything, and we all definitely do not necessarily agree on what we consider to be good equipment

I am certainly not saying that we need to agree on what is good music, not at all. I’m simply saying that to shut out decades of music because it wasn’t recorded in the time period that you decree as the only “good” era of music seems, sadly, closed minded.

Lots of great music, and not so great music, from any decade.

Before, when I was young - in the eighties - , I disliked music of the era (more of a brain refusal!). Now, I discover (re-discover) really good music from 1980 to 1990. Taste evolution!

 

[iTzPrime]

New recording techniques, new synths, new amps and a change on where the bass sits in the mix. With the change in synths the last few years and 808 taking the forefront for bass synths, flats again sit nicely in the mix.

To the other discussion that is going on there: Most music of any decade is boring and repetitive - but if you don't find anything that you enjoy out of each decade then you are either boring or not looking at the right places. There is so much great music.

 

[ultra60]

The early 80's was a great time in music. I was listening to everything from Joe Jackson (first 2 records) to Dio. Reflecting on some of the bass tones, they do seem a little bright. My guess is that was done to get the bass more prominent in the mix .

 

[Green Knight]

It’s funny too because the 90s just split it down the middle. Literally!

 

[MrClassicMetal]

The early 80's was a great time in music. I was listening to everything from Joe Jackson (first 2 records) to Dio. Reflecting on some of the bass tones, they do seem a little bright. My guess is that was done to get the bass more prominent in the mix .

The late Jimmy Bain's bass line does sound a bit on the bright side here:

 

[buldog5151bass]

When I was in college in the 80s (playing for fun), I would buy fresh SS strings every month (along with Guitar Player, before Bass Player came out) every month, even when I could barely afford gas and food.

 

[GodPlayedBass]

Would you care to elaborate?

Well, songs don't sound as dark when they are not in drop tuning you know? E standard is just a brighter, less heavy sound.

 

[groovaholic]

I'd only heard "Hungry like the Wolf" and "Ordinary World," which I never cared for. But now I might have to listen to some more Duran Duran.

Start with “Rio” - you might end up as a fan…

 

[jim nolte]

I've always considered pop music of the '80s to be the decade of the bass-player. In many landmark songs - the bass was front and center both rhythmically and tonally. Not in the background. To get out front, it couldn't be a deep, boomy bass. So it was about helping to shape the "modern" rock aspect of that genre's sound/footprint.

A warm sonorous bass tone/presence is cool as well. It just comes down to what type/genre of music you need to contribute/conform to.

Totally agree, I remember the first time I heard ‘ Look Sharp ‘ by Joe Jackson, holy moly I had never heard a bass that forward in a mix before and loved every song on that album, for me the ‘80s brought back a lot of the same creativity that I grew up with in the ‘60 s but wasn’t hearing very much in the ‘70s on the radio until I started to delve into the Jazz / Fusion thing on our local public supported stations.