That would explain how he achieved such a warm and mellow tone on Fingerpickin' with Wes. It does sound to me like he might have gotten some advice from his younger brother when first picking up the instrument, they seem to have very similar tones in my opinion.
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Monk Montgomery's Rig
- Thread starter Sterrance
- Start date
That would explain how he achieved such a warm and mellow tone on Fingerpickin' with Wes. It does sound to me like he might have gotten some advice from his younger brother when first picking up the instrument, they seem to have very similar tones in my opinion.
To set the record straight....From "Bass Heroes" a collection if interviews and articles from Guitar player (yes before there was a Bass Player mag). **
Q:What is your Bass Playing technique?
MM:When I began playing the electric bass my approach to the instrument was to play with my thumb because technically I was after the down stroke. I played the electric as if it was an upright, and it came out in the music.
Q:Why the Thumb?
MM: I have never played with the fingers. There is a different effect going down than coming up. The feel is different, attack is better. If you play with your thumb, you can't come up like you can with a pick. The downstroke came to me naturally, and I just would strike the string that way. I had no examples or influences here. I was an innovator on the electric. The stroke is used in guitar but that is a different instrument.
He later used a felt pick because his thumb stopped working, dubbing it the 'Bionic Thumb'.
**http://www.amazon.com/Bass-Heroes-Tom-Mulhern/dp/0879302747
A very interesting book for those seeking the truth about the early days of bassdomness.
Q:What is your Bass Playing technique?
MM:When I began playing the electric bass my approach to the instrument was to play with my thumb because technically I was after the down stroke. I played the electric as if it was an upright, and it came out in the music.
Q:Why the Thumb?
MM: I have never played with the fingers. There is a different effect going down than coming up. The feel is different, attack is better. If you play with your thumb, you can't come up like you can with a pick. The downstroke came to me naturally, and I just would strike the string that way. I had no examples or influences here. I was an innovator on the electric. The stroke is used in guitar but that is a different instrument.
He later used a felt pick because his thumb stopped working, dubbing it the 'Bionic Thumb'.
**http://www.amazon.com/Bass-Heroes-Tom-Mulhern/dp/0879302747
A very interesting book for those seeking the truth about the early days of bassdomness.
As an Amazon Associate, TalkBass may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made via links on this site.
Wow, that's a lot of information! I'm very interested in learning more about this guy. I do play upright currently but am looking to switch more to an electric-based approach, for physical reasons (my body ain't built to be playin' bull fiddle
). So I'm trying to get a good sound for straight ahead jazz. This guy's got the perfect tone.Do you know of any other resources where I could learn more about Monk?
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That book has the only extended interview i have ever seen 4 1/3 pages from Sept. '77.
There are many other worthwhile articles and interviews from 30 bass players.
There are many other worthwhile articles and interviews from 30 bass players.
Before Monk recorded with Hampton live in Europe, september 53, he recorded in the studio July 1953 with the Art Farmer Septet LP issued in 1954. I agree he probably played through the first Fender Bassman, but one of the Art Farmer tracks is called "The Little Bandmaster"...the Fender Bandmaster amp came out in 1953, perhaps a coincidence?
The original Fender Bassman was a 1952, 26 watt, 1 x 15" combo. The original Fender Bandmaster was a 1953, 15 watt, 1x 15" combo (hence "The Little Bandmaster"?). I might have to ask Quincy Jones, who wrote the track, played piano on it with Monk & Art.
The original Fender Bassman was a 1952, 26 watt, 1 x 15" combo. The original Fender Bandmaster was a 1953, 15 watt, 1x 15" combo (hence "The Little Bandmaster"?). I might have to ask Quincy Jones, who wrote the track, played piano on it with Monk & Art.
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Interesting, haven't heard the Art Farmer album. For early Fender bass recordings I've found two September '53 cuts by The Treniers, on "Bug Dance" the player credits are incomplete so the bassist is not credited but on that cut Shifte Henry gets a songwriting credit so maybe it's him on bass?
On the song the bass is very present in the mix, whoever it is playing is digging in hard. What I find strange is so far I've never heard of a Fender bass recording from 1952.. maybe there aren't any.
On the song the bass is very present in the mix, whoever it is playing is digging in hard. What I find strange is so far I've never heard of a Fender bass recording from 1952.. maybe there aren't any.
BobDeRosa
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- May 16, 2012
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On playing with his thumb: "I played the electric as if it was an upright."
Huh!? I've played upright for 25 years and can't imagine how you would ever play it with your thumb, except to strum the last chord of a song, maybe. It's nearly impossible to get a good sound on an upright with your thumb, which is why no one does it. What's he talking about?
Huh!? I've played upright for 25 years and can't imagine how you would ever play it with your thumb, except to strum the last chord of a song, maybe. It's nearly impossible to get a good sound on an upright with your thumb, which is why no one does it. What's he talking about?
I don’t think he means he played upright with his thumb. I don’t read it that way. But he did play all downstrokes with his thumb when he played his P bass. Later he played a J bass with a thick felt pick.
Remember, the first fender basses came with a finger rest below the strings.
The Hampton album is now on youtube.
The Hampton album is now on youtube.
I hope no-one minds me resurrecting this thread, but having found an interview with Monk Montgomery (1976 I think) I thought I'd post his answer to some relevant questions:
Why do you use a pick today?
About seven years ago I was in Los Angeles and playing a "Jazz for Breakfast" gig with my quartet. I had always played with my thumb, but suddenly I went to work this one morning, and I had no control over it; it was like my thumb had turned deaf and dumb to any command from me whatsoever! I went to several doctors, but they could find nothing physically wrong. My thumb had simply called time out. I tried to get its use back by exercises and psyching myself out, but I finally had to just say "piss on my thumb," and get a pick. I must have tried every pick that could be bought, but none of them could give me the down-stroke "finger" sound I wanted, so I experimented with materials on my own and eventually came up with my "bionic thumb." I call it Monk's Pick [not yet available].
What kind of amplifier do you use?
When I get a bass, I stick with it. As long as the bass holds up, I stay and play. The same with amplifiers. I use a Randall amp, but I don't use it for technical reasons; I don't care about the make as long as the sound is there. I am not an electronics specialist. I am a player.
What about your strings?
I have esquire strings on my bass now; they were sent to me, and I have also received strings from Black Diamond.
Why do you use a pick today?
About seven years ago I was in Los Angeles and playing a "Jazz for Breakfast" gig with my quartet. I had always played with my thumb, but suddenly I went to work this one morning, and I had no control over it; it was like my thumb had turned deaf and dumb to any command from me whatsoever! I went to several doctors, but they could find nothing physically wrong. My thumb had simply called time out. I tried to get its use back by exercises and psyching myself out, but I finally had to just say "piss on my thumb," and get a pick. I must have tried every pick that could be bought, but none of them could give me the down-stroke "finger" sound I wanted, so I experimented with materials on my own and eventually came up with my "bionic thumb." I call it Monk's Pick [not yet available].
What kind of amplifier do you use?
When I get a bass, I stick with it. As long as the bass holds up, I stay and play. The same with amplifiers. I use a Randall amp, but I don't use it for technical reasons; I don't care about the make as long as the sound is there. I am not an electronics specialist. I am a player.
What about your strings?
I have esquire strings on my bass now; they were sent to me, and I have also received strings from Black Diamond.
I guess this is a Dan Armstrong amp, but not totally sure. (1971)
Down Beat Ad 1957
Down Beat Ad 1957
