Sledgehammer

[chris4001asat]

I'm just a straight bass>cord>amp kinda guy. My cover band is talking about covering Sledgehammer. Any idea what effects are used on that? I'm thinking octave pedal and chorus maybe?

 

[Freaky Fender]

it's an octave pedal, but Tony Levin also plays it with a set of sawed off drumsticks taped to his fingers. they're called "Funk Fingers". They are out of production now, but you can get the same effect by making your plucking wrist go limp, and hammering the string down near the last fret with you r callus.

 

[chris4001asat]

Cool. Thanks for the reply. That's what I thought.

 

[maxvalentino]

Actually...I am not too sure if an octaver is present on "Sledgehammer"...and certainly Funk Fingers are not.
Tony actually plays ( or I should say played) that line with a pick on a fretless Music Man Sabre (w/graphite neck).
Live he has used this bass..or a fretless MM StingRay.
Pick, fretless, and judicious finger vibrato may be a more accurate call than a pedal....
...at least that works for me when I play that tune.

Max

 

[chris4001asat]

I listened to it on the way to work this morning. Definitely a fretless, no funk fingers. I think there is an octave thing happening though.

 

[2pods]

Stingray and an Akai Deep Impact pedal works for me

 

[Eric Moesle]

I used to play that tune in a cover band a few years ago, and sounded great with a fretted bass using an octave pedal, played with fingers or a pick.

Though, to be "proper", Tony Levin used his fretless Sabre and a pick with an octaver on the original recording AND live shows.

 

[ga_edwards]

There's a preset on my GT6B called sledgehammer, I'll have a butchers when I get home and try an post up what fx it contains.