I have been searching, but I can't find what bass gear he uses. I know he used to play a Rickenbacker. I know he has used a Telecaster bass as well. But, I know he prefers a Precision bass from what I have read. I also know he uses various Ampeg amps. I am really wondering what effects pedals he uses? I really like his tone and would love to figure out how he gets it.
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Mike Mills from REM bass gear?
- Thread starter Timpala
- Start date
SirMjac28
Patiently Waiting For The Next British Invasion
I love the group I think it depends on the song? for a song like Man On The Moon I use an acoustic bass for most everything else I just use a P bass with compression I would try to match his live tone as supposed to his studio tone because there are just too many variables to try and duplicate.
deepestend
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- Feb 21, 2003
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I'd love to know too. They are a very produced band, so it is probably tough to chase the studio tone. He does love his P-basses live, though.
Here is a clip from late last year. It was a great show. Ric and Ampeg
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HxWCmVP0xFQ
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HxWCmVP0xFQ
I like the Big Muff. I also use one. I like what seems to be his clean signal. It almost seems like he can get his Precision basses to sound like his Rics. Its a nice punchy tone. I play a p-bass with an Ampeg SVT and an 8x10 or a 2x15 and I am still missing something.
I don't think EMG's have pole pieces from what I have seen. I have looked at several photos of his basses, and have always seen the usual pole pieces. However, I did find this photo and zoomed in to find larger pole pieces. These pickups look like the SD Quarter Pounders http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8286/7666470366_d71c74f71f.jpg
I've always liked Mike's playing and tone with R.E.M.. His groove with Bill Berry and interplay with Peter Buck is highly underrated.
I saw them around '84 or '85 and he was playing a Precision through an SVT.
Next time I run into him I'll ask him. Once I could not remember a song that was on Reckoning. He happily told me the name of the song (white tornado)I'm sure he'd love to talk about his tone.
Mike is my favorite bass player ever. As much as the virtuosos can impress, I prefer guys that I pattern my style after. And pretty much everything i do playing wise is patterned after Mr. Mills.
I saw them at the garden.. everyone was spot on imo... Mills killed it pretty much had the same pbass on the whole time...had a couple of those and a Rick I saw . Played some piano too...(as I watched the mandolin get tuned sit there the whole set until religion....lol)...
deepestend
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I've read that he used the phaser on the quiet chorus after the 'solo' of Imitation of Life, not sure about the delay though.
When I saw R.E.M. in the late '80s, Mike played a Rickenbacker and an Ibanez Roadstar (P-J pickups, rosewood fingerboard) through two Mesa Boogie Bass 400s driving two 2x15 cabinets. I've seen pictures from the early days with the Rick through a Fender Dual Showman too.
Mike is one of my absolute favorite bassist/singer/songwriters ever!
Mike is one of my absolute favorite bassist/singer/songwriters ever!
Last edited:
Thirty-two years ago(!), Rick and Showman...(plus Letterman and hair...)
reviving an old thread here as I just joined an R.E.M. tribute and am getting my gear set up. the pedalboard pic is long gone, anyone remember what was on it?
deepestend
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