Mel Schacher's Bong rattling bass

[mark roberts]

I am still trying to come close to Mel's distorted tone. Also, Felix Papalardi's. More recently, Alan Woody's. Common theme...that big Gibson humbucker.

Also, I have a memory of seeing a snapshot of Mel playing a Jazz retrofitted with two big Gibson humbuckers.

 

[JimK]

Not available

The 1st video in the OP above...works for me (oh, I get what you're saying).
Apparently, this video is popular among those "Reaction" things on youtube.

 

[JimK]

Back in the day...couldn't get enough of this one-


My 1st GFR album was Mark, Don, & Mel, a 2-LP compilation set. Reading those liners, though...the Rock critics were not too nice with these guys.

 

[Relsom]

What the hell does "Bong Rattling" mean?

Ha! I just caught that. I initially misread it as "bone". Works both ways though.

 

[CallMeAl]

This cat built his own bong-rattling tribute bass:
NBD, new favorite sound

 

[dan1952]

Mudbuckers rule! Jack, Felix, Mel...the bands I played with in high school had one bass rig in common - Gibson bass (EB-0 or EB-2) through Kustom 200 with 2x15 cabs.

 

[Playbyear]

What the hell does "Bong Rattling" mean?

I'm assuming the OP used to partake in the green and his bong rattled when listing to the Funk.

Ha! I just caught that. I initially misread it as "bone". Works both ways though.

That's what they called it!

Search youtube for "bong rattling bass" and up pops GFR videos.

Put your bong in front of your speakers, crank-up "Some Kind Of Wonderful" and see if the bong rattles.

 

[lbbc]

I've said repeatedly that Mel, along with Dennis Dunaway, were the reason I decided to play bass. The lines, the energy and the sound grabbed me and while all my friends were starting on guitar (in 1973-74)...I went for the bass and still play some of those times today!

 

[Playbyear]

 

[mikeluch]

 

[Krizz]

What the hell does "Bong Rattling" mean?

Simpsons reference

Around the 30 second mark

 

[GLEN18INCHSPICA]

What the hell does "Bong Rattling" mean?

It's a quote from Homer Simpson from a Simpsons episode.

 

[Ric5]

I am still trying to come close to Mel's distorted tone. Also, Felix Papalardi's. More recently, Alan Woody's. Common theme...that big Gibson humbucker.

Also, I have a memory of seeing a snapshot of Mel playing a Jazz retrofitted with two big Gibson humbuckers.

use the Wilkenson MM pickups and turn up the mids and had a distortion pedal … you will get the Jack Bruse / Mel Scacher low mid bass tone ... but when you roll back the volume you can also get a nice cleaner tone as well

 

[Kmonk]

It's a quote from Homer Simpson from a Simpsons episode.

That explains it. I've never watched the Simpsons.

 

[BassFishingInAmerica]

Fossil 103 radio.
"The competent drum work of Don Brewer!"

 

[BogeyBass]

Id say Grand Funk Railroad and Mountain
had regular play in my teen years.

I had a battery powered tape player with a built in speaker.
I tied it to my Bicycle and remember pedaling as fast as i could , blasting Grand Funk Railroad
and my 3 friends that rode with me all became fans after our bike rides

 

[onamission]

These guys really introduced me to a gritty heavier Rock N Roll back in the day. Caught in the Act is one of my favorite live albums especially the vinyl version that has the backstage banter before going on. I like their version of Gimme Shelter better that the Stones version.

 

[Wisebass]

hi Bob

He played a late 60's Jazz with an EB-0 pickup in the mid position and the bridge pickup disconnected through West 200 watt tube amps, earthquake city!

When I remember right I told you that old joke already:

The world famous Mel Schacher mod:

1) Get a perfectly fine sounding Jazz Bass (and take some acid)

2) Try every available pup with it until the bass looks like a swiss cheese (and take some acid)

3) Solo the front pup (take some acid ) and disconnect all the others (take some acid)

4) Don' t remember which pup is connected (acid! )

5) Buy a P Bass




greetings


Wise(b)ass

 

[Tim Skaggs]

One of my favorite band of all time.

My cousin who was about 15 months older than me, spent three years in Japan in the late 60's because his dad, my uncle, was stationed there in the US Air Force.

He had access to the base exchange stores, and when they got back to where I live in '71, he had a load of albums by all the most popular bands of the time, Santana, Cream, Hendrix, Sly & Family Stone, 3 Dog Night, Stones, Creedence, Led Zepplin.

....and the first three Albums by a band called Grand Funk Railroad. Since my cousin had played bass in a band in Japan, he gravitated toward bass-centric bands, of which Grand Funk was one of the most bass-centric bands of the era.

I didn't start playing bass until several years later, but I find that the tone I try to achieve and a lot of the licks I mix in are pretty much all Mel Schacher influenced.

Here's one of my favorites;

 

[deckstirparnell]

West Laboratories in Lansing, Mi.used to be a big thing around home in the day. GFR used West Filmores and stacks of cabs. I used to have a West Grande. Good amp if you like that gritty sound. They're rare as hens teeth nowadays. Even in Lansing.