• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Mel Schacher: Grand Funk Railroad

#2
The Grand Funk song book was part of the setlist for a lot of early bands I played in. I seem to remember that producer Terry Knight had something to do with Mel's distorted tone.
 
#4
There is quite of bit of info if you start digging into 'West' amplifiers, Grand Funk and even searching Mel Schacher ... they used tubes that weren't nescessarily designed for those West amplifiers, and while it created the sought after distortion, it also tended to blow more than a few tubes along the way .. rumor has it they had a tech with nomex gloves on right behind the stack whose job the whole show was to replace the tubes in Mel's amp as he blew them (sounds good anyhow ;)) ... if I get time I will try and find the articles, they are somewhere in my files ...
 
  • Like
Reactions: hrodbert696 and OldDog52
#5
tjh said:
There is quite of bit of info if you start digging into 'West' amplifiers, Grand Funk and even searching Mel Schacher ... they used tubes that weren't nescessarily designed for those West amplifiers, and while it created the sought after distortion, it also tended to blow more than a few tubes along the way .. rumor has it they had a tech with nomex gloves on right behind the stack whose job the whole show was to replace the tubes in Mel's amp as he blew them (sounds good anyhow ;)) ... if I get time I will try and find the articles, they are somewhere in my files ...
Click to expand...

I choose to believe this story because it's cool!
 
  • Like
Reactions: hrodbert696
#6
Alkali Ike said:
This here be one of the performances that made me want to learn bass. It's practically a lead role for the bass.

Click to expand...


Great tune, we started playing it a couple of months ago and it goes over well. We've even had people try to dance to it, which surprised me. And yeah, it's got a great way of bouncing the lead back and forth between bass and guitar.
 
#7
Alkali Ike said:
This here be one of the performances that made me want to learn bass. It's practically a lead role for the bass.
Click to expand...

The entire Closer To Home album is a textbook of how to propel a rock band with inventive, compelling, kinetic basslines. Big fat throbbing grooves that always seem to take the least obvious but most engaging way of supporting the guitar riffs. That album was a huge influence on my very nascent bass playing, and to this day I rank it as one of my all time favorites.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JimK
#13
Uh, Mr. Simpson, sir? Can you please change the radio station?
But this is Grand Funk Railroad.
You guys back there know Grand Funk, right? Nobody knows the band Grand Funk?
The wild, shirtless lyrics of Mark Farner? The bong-rattling bass of Mel Schacher? The competent drum work of Don Brewer?
Oh, man! For more information on Grand Funk consult your school library.
When I listen to a really good song I start nodding my head, like I'm saying "Yes!" to every beat.
"Yes! Yes! Yes! This rocks!" And then sometimes I switch it up, like- "No! No! No! Don't stop a-rockin'!"
Dad, please. You're embarrassing us.
No, I'm not.
I'm teaching you about rock music.
Now, Grand Funk Railroad paved the way for Jefferson Airplane which cleared the way for Jefferson Starship.
The stage was now set for The Alan Parsons Project which I believe was some sort of hovercraft.
-The Simpsons 3F21
 
  • Like
Reactions: D.M.N., bassbully, hrodbert696 and 1 other person
#16
Yes Mel is still killer to this day when I was younger my aunties used to play 8 tracks of GFR and to that's what made me a fan to this day! they also got me into alice cooper when the killers album came out Dennis Dunaway is another bassist who needs credit haven't seen GFR live but I have seen Alice and he still kicks ass to this day at his age
 
  • Like
Reactions: JimK
#17
FJBass82 said:
Mel's a very under rated bass player, for sure. Never seem to see any articles about him in the bass magazines. I'm still trying to figure out all of his little fills and nuances in "We're An American Band."
Click to expand...

Merely repeating what I've read online but Mel has a rep for not being very, ahhh, personable. Maybe he just doesn't do interviews. Well he doesn't need to because his playing tells me what I need to know. But still it would be cool to hear some stories directly from him.
 
#18
Alkali Ike said:
Merely repeating what I've read online but Mel has a rep for not being very, ahhh, personable. Maybe he just doesn't do interviews. Well he doesn't need to because his playing tells me what I need to know. But still it would be cool to hear some stories directly from him.
Click to expand...
maybe he feels he doesn't need to be personable because he is a great player, but also a grumpy old man
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back