Mike is definitely a different dude, but man, can he play some bass! Not a terrible banjo player, either. I wish I had been at that Fall '99 show where Phil Lesh came out to drop bombs with him!
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Mike Gordon
- Thread starter Mound of Sound
- Start date
I just got home from it.
Raged on Fish's side of the soundboard, met his sister and dad, pages wife and daughter, and had huge dance party with room.
The bombs he dropped were huge. Cannot wait for UIC to arrive. Their new Clair rig for the first time indoors = niceness!
Raged on Fish's side of the soundboard, met his sister and dad, pages wife and daughter, and had huge dance party with room.
The bombs he dropped were huge. Cannot wait for UIC to arrive. Their new Clair rig for the first time indoors = niceness!
There is a better pic discussion over here about the P bass.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/what-year-fender-precision-779130/
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/what-year-fender-precision-779130/
Is it me, or does Mike Gordon sound better than he did even a few years ago. He seems to have more confidence. Perhaps from playing in his own band and playing other instruments? Whatever it is, it's working. IMO, he's gone from a very very good bass player to truly great. Shame he's overlooked outside of the jamband world.
He rocks...he's in the mix. They are ALL playing better. Probably getting better in all facets of playing. I mean...how many shows a year does he play?!
I've never seen Phish live, unfortunately. 
But I had the pleasure of seeing Mike with his band in the spring in Asheville, NC. Best show I've ever seen. I picked up one of his albums there and it's great, but he MUST be seen live to really be appreciated. Just phenomenal.
But I had the pleasure of seeing Mike with his band in the spring in Asheville, NC. Best show I've ever seen. I picked up one of his albums there and it's great, but he MUST be seen live to really be appreciated. Just phenomenal.
I personally think it's his going to a 4x18 setup that has him sounding better. With the venues they play, this has helped him get loud and clear to the very back of the lawn. It's the fruition of the dream of the People For a Louder Mike. Back before the first hiatus, the best shows seemed to be those where Mike was most prominent in the mix. Now he's prominent every single night. Phish is playing very very well right now, most likely due to Trey being sober, and the guys practicing and having a better idea of setlists now than before. When I read that Trey took a long time to write the Hampton '09 setlists, I was very pleased because I thought the sans-setlist era was very hit or miss even in 1997, but got especially hit or miss in 1999-2000. Summer 2003 and after sucked. I'm glad they came roaring back in 2009 and have kept it up. A huge part of that resurgence is Cactus being prominent in the mix, and more assertive. Page has been asserting himself in jams as well, but still needs to do it more often.
Hey all, I know it's not always cool to send "discuss my tone" threads, but this one is specific to Mike, so I thought you might not mind. I've been working to try to emulate Mike's tone, in the absence of course, of things like those Meyers discussed above and would love some feedback on how to get closer.
Here's a link to a recent rehearsal (recorded on a Zoom H4N condenser setting). I'm particularly interested in how to get the highs to sound less rubbery?. A lot of it is probably my technique, but any feedback and thoughts appreciated. And if you want to flame my playing, go right ahead too--I can take it.
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Here's a link to a recent rehearsal (recorded on a Zoom H4N condenser setting). I'm particularly interested in how to get the highs to sound less rubbery?. A lot of it is probably my technique, but any feedback and thoughts appreciated. And if you want to flame my playing, go right ahead too--I can take it.
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I was at those Merriweather shows and was wondering where that bass came from. That's the first time I've seen him use something besides his Modulus or Languedoc. It sounded great, but I still prefer the punch of his Modulus. Here's a link to a great in depth article about the gear they use.
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34" scale Modulus Q5TBX with EMG-40's.
2 Languedoc Basses with custom wound pickups from Mørch guitars of Denmark.
I'd be curious too see if there is anything special or modded on the new Fender bass though!
He uses Ken Smith slick round strings.
If I can find anything else I'll let you know but this is what I've come across after months of research awhile ago when I was building my bass.
