I use a 62RI P-bass strung with Labella Flatwounds and a RC Bass booster and MXR87 compressor into a SS Ampeg combo. I really love Phil Lesh tone on those mid 70's Grateful Dead studio and live recordings. I know his rig changed often and that he plays with a pick but what would I need to do to get a half decent Lesh tone with my rig noted above? Thank you!
For the early stuff keep what you have, roll off the tone and practice. He has a very unique pick technique. I think being very stoned contributed to that. Totally loose but right in their pocket. If you mean the Touch of Grey era: Get round wounds and roll off the tone, cut the mids and get a reverb.
Approaching Phil's technique and "quirky" sense of phrasing is the biggest thing in trying to cop his style. In all honesty, I'd assume that a precision bass with dull roundwounds, or better yet flatwounds, played with a heavy gauged pick should get you close enough.
Phil gets a unique sound- it's bright but not bright at the same time. He said in an interview that he "EQ's the hell out of it." I did see a tribute band recently who's bassist got a good, if not identical sound- he used some hollowbody or semi-hollowbody with F holes- played with a pick.
I have a german made Warwick Star bass II (335 style) strung with flats, using a pick and soloing the front PU it gets a pretty good approximation of that early 70's Lesh tone
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