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Pink Floyd P tone

Garrett151

Garrett151

Mar 23, 2011
318
5
#1
Hey guys and gals!
I'm planning on buying a P bass soon. Yesterday, I listened to Pink Floyd's Pulse live album and fell in love with the bass tone, specifically Another Brick in the Wall. Anybody have any good leads on this tone? I'm relatively new to the P bass world. Would this be regarded as "classic" or "vintage" tone? Any bass suggestions? Thanks!
 
#7
The actual classic Pink Floyd Fender Precision tone (generally Roger Waters playing circa 1973 and before), is really nothing special, IMHO. I've heard lots of P basses sounding much better.

So don't get stressed out about that. It's a low hurdle to jump... :hmm:

MM
 
#8
MysticMichael said:
The actual classic Pink Floyd Fender Precision tone (generally Roger Waters playing circa 1973 and before), is really nothing special, IMHO. I've heard lots of P basses sounding much better.

So don't get stressed out about that. It's a low hurdle to jump... :hmm:

MM
Click to expand...

I agree. That's why I was so floored by the Pulse tone. But that mystery seems to be solved...
 
#10
If you want tohave that real Pink Floyd P Bass sound all you need is a Fender Roger Waters P Bass. String it with Rotosound 77 (flatwound) and play it with the tone fully open... Then obviously you have the amp issue... I use Ashdown (it was Roger's amp choice before switching to Ampeg due mostly to sponsor issues). On my Ashdown Mag 300 I set the EQ on flat and boost the deep and bright bottoms... I am truly satisfied both playing with my band and when plying Pink Floyd tunes.

If you do get the R.W. P Bass don't forget to join our Club!
 
#14
MysticMichael said:
The actual classic Pink Floyd Fender Precision tone (generally Roger Waters playing circa 1973 and before), is really nothing special, IMHO. I've heard lots of P basses sounding much better.
Click to expand...

I think a lot of P bass recordings of the era sound much better. John Wetton, Geezer Butler, the dude out of Budgie all spring to mind here.

Waters was a lazy bassist and in a lot of live recordings seems to be on the brink of playing out of tune. I like that era of Pink Floyd but sometimes his playing is too shocking to warrant repeated listening. He seems to have only used lots of mids as as well. On the concert tapes the organ seems to be kicking out more bass end than the bass, which is left with this punchy and twangy section in the mix.
 
#16
I play bass for a tribute to pink floyd band.
To get Roger Waters tone, just get a USA made Fender Precision with maple neck. put some Rotosound Flat strings, and play with a plectrum... that´s it.
If you want to get Guy Pratt's tone. Spector NS-2, Status Graphite (fretted and fretless), Jazz Bass, Precision RI 57.
 
#17
NickLomango said:
If you want tohave that real Pink Floyd P Bass sound all you need is a Fender Roger Waters P Bass. String it with Rotosound 77 (flatwound) and play it with the tone fully open... Then obviously you have the amp issue... I use Ashdown (it was Roger's amp choice before switching to Ampeg due mostly to sponsor issues). On my Ashdown Mag 300 I set the EQ on flat and boost the deep and bright bottoms... I am truly satisfied both playing with my band and when plying Pink Floyd tunes.

If you do get the R.W. P Bass don't forget to join our Club!
Click to expand...

Ol' Man Waters used mainly Hiwatt and WEM (also a John Paul Jones favorite) in the classic Floyd era. He didn't get to Ashdown until later in his solo career. And I believe the recorded tone was mainly a direct feed.
 
#19
mmbongo said:
He used a fretless Charvel on that track.
Click to expand...

Was it a Charvel? I always heard it was a MusicMan but that is really interesting if it was a Charvel being used. I love the tone on that song and Ayce is correct, David Gilmour played the fretless part which always amazed me.

It seemed like a bunch of the cool bass lines i loved from Pink Floyd were played by Gilmour which really made me wonder why it happened. I was always a fan of the bass line from "Pigs (three different ones)" from Animals and that was Gilmour as well. And yes, that is definitely a Spector Guy Pratt is using in that live video as well.
 

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