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Pete Overend Watts...Amps used?

fourstringfrank

fourstringfrank

Nov 9, 2009
38
0
#1
Hi..anyone here on the forum that knows wish amps Overend Watts Bassplayer in Mott The Hoople/Mott etc...plugged his Gibson Thunderbird II into?
My guess is later on when they got a bit bigger he mainly used 70´s Ampeg SVT´s whit 8*10" cabs.
Love his sound..and the playing is both super solid and melodic at the same time.
A Genius bass man Lord Watts IMO.
Cheers Frank.
 
#4
Good playing no doubt but what you're hearing likely has nothing to do with the rig, likely plugged into the board and even if it's a live recorded gig, there's so much other stuff in the signal chain, the final amp rig likely doesn't have nearly as much to do with it as you think it does. Even so, if you want to cop that sound live, an SVT rig ain't a bad place to start although the bass and playing style likely has more to do with it than the rig does.
 
#5
will, overend was and still is a cab mic guy. it's pretty apparent from watching those vids that his tone ended at his amps. he wasn't one for pure clean sound. remember now, this is the early 70's trashy rock and roll before it got all disinfected with nice gear ;)

but i thought he always did svt's from the vids i saw of him in the 70's. not so. some of the earlier vids have him playing an orange rig, and some have him playing a couple acoustic 360/301's. and the latest vids i saw from their reunion tour have him playing ashdown.
 
#6
Thanks for the answers...SVT later and Acoustic 360s earlier...O.K.
If you´re listening to the LIVE Mott album...it´s a wonderful rock bass sound on that album...slightley overdriven...SVTs...whit T-Bird II bass...rocks indeed.
One key regarding his equipment is the fact that he used the single pick up model of the T-Bird...I know Arthur "Killer" Kane R.I.P (The New York Dolls) also used a Thunderbird II...these basses IMO sounds a bit rawer and more woody than the regular two pick up model.
 
#7
I just noticed this thread. I'm not sure what he used back inthe day. But I can find out. There is a great mag called Two Miles from Heaven that, in one issue, lists all the gear of all of the players.
For the reuinion gigs he definately used Ashdowns, a pink thunderbird and a couple of other basses. They brought out his famous Swallow bass every night, but he didn't play it. I was fortunate to meet and hang out with him every night after the shows and he told me that that bass is pretty much unplayable now. But it still looks cool :)
I have some great pictures from the shows. I can't seem to post them here, but if you pm me, I'll send you some.
Pete is a real nice guy that was totally surprised by the interest in the reunion gigs. He couldn't believe they sold out five nights. He couldn't believe anyone even remembered him. But he got a huge cheer everynight during Hymn For The Dudes when his name is mentioned. Search out the live cd of the first night's reunion. He plays incredibly well considering he hadn't been on stage in almost 30 years.
 

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