Oberheim OB-8 for Bass

[Pietsch]

Back in the 1980s, keyboard bass was widely used on songs played on Casey Kasem's American Top 40.

I owned an Oberheim OB-8 synth that was my go-to bass for most of the 1980s.

What experience do you all have playing keyboard bass?

 

[Bob_Ross]

I played a Moog Source in one techno-pop band back in the 80s, until I finally admitted that my keyboard chops sucked.

 

[ctmullins]

I currently play keyboard bass when appropriate in my cover band. I use a small Bluetooth keyboard through a few different soft synths (Korg and/or Moog) on my iPad.

 

[erratick]

I play a moog LIttle Phatty with a band sometimes. It's got similar range to a bass (until you hit octave function), 37 keys/3 octaves is a similar to some basses. Little Phatty is monophonic, and while a bass can play chords or double stops, it's mostly monophonic as well.

Lines definitely transfer fine.

But I've also got a few other synths, minitaur and pk-5a pedals for pretend Rush and Genesis.

Also like the keystep 37, with the pk pedals and jx-08 or jv-1010 for fun sounds, chords, pads, etc.

Originally I was just after some of the Rush-isms in covers, but I also saw Metric on the Fomentera tour and then Cornelius' Dream in Dream tour with Yumiko Ohno on Bass/Moog.

And that opened my mind to more playing synth and or bass.

 

[J Wilson]

I played piano for years before transitioning to bass guitar.

I'd tell you . . .

First, keyboard synth bass patches/ tones are often far bigger and thicker than bass guitar, so you often have to be careful they're not TOO big and overwhelm things, and . . .

Second, if you are playing bass guitar lines, play them authentically as a bass guitar would. If you are covering a tune that originally (and obviously) a key bass line, play that authentically.

Often, in a world of drum boxes, synths, and samplers, listen carefully to recordings and you notice the drummer had three legs and four arms, string parts that would require 12 Maestro Perlmanns to play, or horn and/or string parts way out of their normal ranges. Don't be that guy, unless these are original parts doing that sort of thing as effect or a centerpiece of the tune.

Depending on the stage load out, you can run this through your bass amp if need be, but generally they're better FRFR or run through the IEMs. Any of the QSC-style of powered monitors would shine at this.

As far as the actual playing, you'll simply have to practice if not a fluent keyboard player, in which case remember to never use your thumb on the black keys!

 

[jerry]

Early 80's

 

[Michedelic]

Back in the 1980s, keyboard bass was widely used on songs played on Casey Kasem's American Top 40.

I owned an Oberheim OB-8 synth that was my go-to bass for most of the 1980s.

What experience do you all have playing keyboard bass?

I used a mono Sequential Circuits Pro-One, their answer to the Minimoog. No childhood piano lesson trauma, I first picked up on a Vox Continental organ which could be had cheap in the early 80’s in order to figure stuff out. Inspired primarily by the synth bass on Parliament’s “Flashlight”, Kraftwerk, and the band Ultravox, I figured enough out to give it a go. My ability is on the level of most people who can play “cowboy chords” on guitar.

 

[KJMO]

I play in an 80’s cover band and have been through tons of gear just because it’s fun. I’ve used software, but it just isn’t reliable enough for me. I had one gig where an add came up in windows (actually in the OS!) and screwed the pooch, and that was the end. The Mac was better, but still…. I need one DX source for songs like Danger Zone and one analogue sound type for Whitney or even Depeche Mode, which isn’t DX. 37 keys is perfect, and I’ll never waste time on mini keys again because it’s harder to hit one key on stage when they are teeny. I’ve not found a single full-size 37 key synth that will make all the sounds I need, so currently its a Reface DX and Moog Subsequent 25 unless I don’t need the DX (I often don’t, which surprises me). The OB-X is the only synth in Arturia that would make every sound I need, so I think that would be a great one (I think it’s similar to the OB8). Although I think it may have had some VS mixed into it, so that might have helped with the DX sounds. Actually Arturia Pigments could definitely make any sound you would ever need, but a person would have to bring a laptop. The Akai MPC keys 37 was actually pretty awesome but there was no way to set up a song list, which was tragic.

 

[dalahorse]

In the 80s, I only played piano and drums. But I currently play a bunch of 80s music on a Roland Juno-106 (c. 1984 poly) and a Moog Sub-37 (modern mono). I love the Juno chorus!

 

[RobertAuCoin]

Recently, I've been thinking about using a MODX M6 for synth bass.

 

[logdrum]

I am friends with a couple members of art-punk band Indoor Life ( long gone ) and they had an Oberheim OB-8 and that was massive when they were doing sound checks at an outdoor venue. Something about Analog synths of that era and something about the OB sound compared to others that were not shabby either.


I also have an older Korg MS-20, a Moog Matriarch , Arturia MiniBrute II . Have a 3-4 Behringer recreations and I know that can spark some debate. Let's just say that Moog and Korg have something that's really hard to recreate. Based on me actually playing these things live with a band or jamming on my own in my music room. A good reverb is all I need with the Korg MS-20 and that puts me in a different place.

All my other digital or hybrid modules are Korg and Modal (from the UK) and a Lyra-8 ( from Russia) that I got for Xmas from myself. The Lyra is so brutal and out there it is just like a hard core ex Spetsnaz that became a hermit and figured out how to talk to whales. It's not exactly a groove machine

 

[pbass2]

Early 80's
View attachment 7411709

I did that too in the 80's with an SH-101. Wish I still had it. Had a Juno 60 as well, both pre-MIDI.

 

[PolkaHero]

I play synth on a few 80s songs in our variety show. I'll set up a split for example on "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" by Whitney Houston, a DX7 synth bass part in the left hand and the DX7 bell parts in the right hand. I use a Yamaha MODX M8 which has a ton of great 80s synth sounds stored inside!

 

[Iristone]

I'd love one, but I'd prefer to control it with a foot pedal so that I can still play an electric bass or some other instruments with my hands.
I used to have a Volca Keys and Volca Sample that I used to program a bit of bass, but ultimately found them a bit thin. Currently I have a Plugiator but seldom play it (Minimoog bass isn't quite for me), and I'm thinking along the line of a TB-303 clone controlled by a Muse Kinetics 12 Step.

 

[Iristone]

and a Lyra-8 ( from Russia) that I got for Xmas from myself. The Lyra is so brutal and out there it is just like a hard core ex Spetsnaz that became a hermit and figured out how to talk to whales. It's not exactly a groove machine

I checked out the SOMA lab, and it seems not unnatural that it came from the same country that invented the Theremin very experimental and interesting indeed, but none of their products I find suitable for a synth bass any more than a Boss OC-2.

 

[logdrum]

I checked out the SOMA lab, and it seems not unnatural that it came from the same country that invented the Theremin very experimental and interesting indeed, but none of their products I find suitable for a synth bass any more than a Boss OC-2.

I digressed for sure. That's why I said it is not for creating grooves or something to that effect. Tuning the dang thing is hard, it is truly analog and it does not even have midi or any form of envelope control or a filter .-- every control affects everything else -- that is why it is called and organismic synthesizer . It is for ambient and microtonal music only. You can use it as an effect pedal as well because the drive and delay engines are really good and they do something totally different. I have never had an instrument like this. Also the touch pads react to humidity - so coins will react differently compared to organic materials. There is nothing quiet like it.

But everything else that I have can be used for synth bass -- I do prefer analog mono synths or 4 -8 voice synths if I am doing other than bass lines

 

[Stylee Mousse]

I use a Moog little phatty, a Juno-60 (with the Kenton midi to dcb box) and a korg MS-2000.

I do bass parts on all of them, usually whichever grabs me first. They all work well, limited only by my mid-level programming skills!

 

[Iristone]

I digressed for sure. That's why I said it is not for creating grooves or something to that effect. Tuning the dang thing is hard, it is truly analog and it does not even have midi or any form of envelope control or a filter .-- every control affects everything else -- that is why it is called and organismic synthesizer . It is for ambient and microtonal music only. You can use it as an effect pedal as well because the drive and delay engines are really good and they do something totally different. I have never had an instrument like this. Also the touch pads react to humidity - so coins will react differently compared to organic materials. There is nothing quiet like it.

But everything else that I have can be used for synth bass -- I do prefer analog mono synths or 4 -8 voice synths if I am doing other than bass lines

No please don't take my words as "you digressed" - I was just commenting on the super experimental nature of the company, and thank you for helping me discover it!

 

[Iristone]

I'm thinking of a Behringer Pro VS Mini, as it can get a digital bass sound and much more. Unfortunately I haven't been able to get an entirely satisfying bass sound from my Arturia Prophet V, so I may need to practise with it a bit more before buying.

 

[KJMO]

I'm thinking of a Behringer Pro VS Mini, as it can get a digital bass sound and much more. Unfortunately I haven't been able to get an entirely satisfying bass sound from my Arturia Prophet V, so I may need to practise with it a bit more before buying.

I like that little synth. I have a Pro 800 and it is built super nicely. Not a “posh” build, but so clean and nicely put together. It sounds fantastic and is so reasonably priced. For these classic designs I think what Behringer is doing is great and it bothers me not one bit. However, when they rip off a product a year after it’s released I would never buy.

That Behringer OB-1 has some great bass sounds, as I think it comes with 100 presets made by Ultimate Patches:

BEHRINGER UB-1 PATCHES | The NEW Synth Presets!

The 100 NEW Behringer UB-1 Synth Presets / Patches / Sounds – Fast & Easy Install Guide Included. HEAR THEM >

www.ultimatepatches.com

And it’s only $69! I’m trying to resist picking one up, but I’m not sure why tbh.