Michael Rhodes with Robben Ford

[foal30]

Rhodes was using Ashdown CTM valve amps with Joe B.

I'll have a listen to the Robben Ford video tonight, thanks for sharing.

 

[REV]

Very tasty. This is a great example of how a P bass fits so well in certain situations.

 

[lowfreqgeek]

On about my 5th listen through, I noticed a Radial HDI lit up on top of that Fender Rumble behind Mike, in front of the Ashdown ABM rig that's shut off. Don't know if that means anything, but the HDI has some coloration and a compressor built in. There's no other obvious bass amp within view, and there are no in-ears, so they're getting bass in the room. No mic on the Rumble.

My closest approximation is a P w/old rounds into a Union Tube and Transistor LAB (LA-style optical compressor) set to grab pretty hard, into an Xotic BB Pre for drive, into an MXR preamp with the lows and upper mids boosted (EQ is post comp/drive). The tone knob on the bass is mostly full up. Anything less is too dark. Not that it matters, but my DI is a Manley Tube DI, which has it's own sweetness.

After that, it's all about the touch and how hard I hit the comp and drive. There's a lot of interaction between the two, so getting those dialed is key. The LAB is good, but the release can be slow. I can get *really* close to the right textures with very careful attention to where/how I play the strings; it's surprisingly dependent on touch with the smash and drive.

Yes, I'm obsessing, but I picked up some useful things sonically and musically. It's been a while since I've played along with something just for the fun of it, or chased a certain sound (approximation). I've been at this for 35 years and there's always something new to learn!

 

[Jeff Scott]

 

[Paul New]

During the period when he was so active in Nashville studios, and on practically everything, he was mainly playing a Jazz.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Fender bass