Stephen Stills: Bassist!?!

[G-Dog]

I was not aware of this. But it does seem to make perfect sense. Here's the secrets to his bass tone and technique:

“I’d cover the strings in cheeseburger grease, barbecue sauce – even blood”: Stephen Stills on his unlikely bass tone journey

Nicknamed Captain Manyhands, Stephen Stills ranks among pop music’s finest unsung bass talents

www.yahoo.com

 

[Killing Floor]

Nasty.

 

[75Ric]

He's a phenomenal musician. I'm pretty sure he played everything except drums on the first CSN album. Plus a great singer and songwriter. Some pretty big talent back in the day.

 

[ThudThudThud]

He's a phenomenal musician. I'm pretty sure he played everything except drums on the first CSN album. Plus a great singer and songwriter. Some pretty big talent back in the day.

I heard once a quote that I'll paraphrase (as I can't remember verbatim):"Stephen could write, play all instruments, sing, engineer, produce, and publish a song, and still would complain about not having enough share of the input into it."

 

[75Ric]

I heard once a quote that I'll paraphrase (as I can't remember verbatim):"Stephen could write, play all instruments, sing, engineer, produce, and publish a song, and still would complain about not having enough share of the input into it."

I think I've heard that or something similar, too. At least it sounds familiar. Before David Crosby died last year(?), he, Stills and Graham Nash did an interview for 60 Minutes or something. I think there's a video of it - I'll see if I can find it later and post here if I do. I thought it was a pretty good interview

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

I respect Steven Stills' talent, but I have never liked the tones he uses on lead guitar.

 

[mikeoso]

Listen to Suite: Judy Blue eyes to hear him workng out on bass. He evn plays an acoustic bass guitar...note the Earthwood racked behind him in this pic

 

[mikeoso]

 

[75Ric]

Here's the video I spoke about above. It's pretty good. Its an interview with Dan Rather and they get into some good questions and discussions. Rather was trying to get a coherent story and did so, but also managed to capture some of their unique character, as well as a feel for the times. At least, I think think he did. Enjoy!

 

[Lance Bunyon]

Stills is a monster player, saw him twice in the same week. Incredible body of work-Buffalo Springfield, CSN/Y, Manassas...and really great solo albums. Sad how Crosby deconstructed in his last decade, he also was one of my musical heroes.

 

[J Wilson]

Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young were a potent combination, but over time I just tuned them out as I thought the endless arguing and back-biting were simply unbecoming to a few who had been given so much. They would have needed the Grand Canyon to bury the hatchet, except they'd have endlessly argued about the depth, who dug it, and on and on and on. Stills was and is an exceptionally talented player, but I actually think all four were held back by the monster that was created around them.

 

[sylvanbass]

Oldest bass I have ever laid my hands on was a 1959 Precision that belonged to Stephen. A band I was in decades ago had the same booking agency as him for his solo stuff. Went in to pick something up at their office one day and saw this cherry precision in its wide open case just laying there on the coffee table like it was some sort of funeral visitation. Apparently he dropped it off just a couple of hours earlier for John Cowan to pick up who had bought it from him. Got to play it a little bit unplugged sitting on the couch and man it felt good. Now I wonder if had anything to do with his extra seasoning lol.

 

[pineweasel]

Lots of pictures of him playing a lefty Precision. Does anyone know the reason he did that?

 

[Geogio]

I was not aware of this. But it does seem to make perfect sense. Here's the secrets to his bass tone and technique:

“I’d cover the strings in cheeseburger grease, barbecue sauce – even blood”: Stephen Stills on his unlikely bass tone journey

Nicknamed Captain Manyhands, Stephen Stills ranks among pop music’s finest unsung bass talents

www.yahoo.com

I remember back in the seventies I think it was the lead guitarist had a magazine with that same quote in it or literally the same but I think he just restricted it to BBQ sauce.. anyway we thought it was a joke, had a laugh... but maybe it wasn't.

 

[Geepers]

Interesting comments Stills makes about Carol Kaye. As good as he is he still puts her way ahead (in the company of Jamerson and Macartney no less). CK is very much the forgotten bassist when talk turns to GOAT’s. She’s earned a place at that table.

 

[MotorCityMinion]

I respect Steven Stills' talent, but I have never liked the tones he uses on lead guitar.

Relative to the tones of the other guy, he's awesome.

 

[Lance Bunyon]

Relative to the tones of the other guy, he's awesome.

Neil Young is, however, a very gifted acoustic guitarist.
Joni Mitchell said "Neil never rocked or rolled one day of his life"

 

[Bassdirty]

From the article:

“I wanted it to sound like an upright – without much sustain. So I'd cover the strings in cheeseburger grease, barbecue sauce – even blood – so they'd get nice and dead. I don't want the bass to sound like a friggin' guitar!”


Isnt this why they used the Foam under the strings "back in the day"?
I feel like the foam would work alot better than.. cheeseburger grease/BBQ sauce etc.

T$

 

[jimmydean]

I got to jam with him when I was 19 and I asked him who played on those records , loved the tone of the bass and he told me it was him and what he did to the strings . I always thought he was kidding in spite of my friend/his friend saying it was true . Read a interview in Bass Player years ago and he said the same thing about greasing down the strings..........Wow !

 

[Geogio]

Lots of pictures of him playing a lefty Precision. Does anyone know the reason he did that?

I wonder if it was strung lefty as well? The weird thing is that lefty instruments back then was a special order and it usually cost a little bit more than a right hander, everything was wired differently for lefties potentiometers worked left-handed ear tuners were left-handed hence the increased cost. Could have been a pawn shop deal or something but.... it's surprising the question didn't get asked during the interview.