Steve Fossen's Tone

[pbass2]

I saw Heart just after the Wilson sisters broke up with the Fisher brothers, and Steve changed basses after almost every song, and I don't think he did more than two songs with any bass. Honestly, I thought it was distracting. Levels and tones were uneven for the first few seconds after every change, and some didn't sound so hot.

My experience was the exact opposite--I saw Heart way back when (must have been mid-late 70's) and to this day I remember it was one of the best live bass sounds I'd ever heard at a big arena concert. Maybe 'cause I was sitting dead center, straight back near the board--who knows. I went to pretty much every big rock show that came through our area, and his sound really made an impression(and I wasn't even a big fan of the band yet). I just remember it being so clear and defined. If memory serves he played a P with a pick the whole time, and I recall it having that flatwound thunk.

 

[Mikhail1]

I saw them right at the end of the Dog and Butterfly tour and you could tell they were coming apart. Roger Fisher stayed at one end of the stage and never ventured near Nancy or Ann. This is right before the famous smashing his guitar and storming off stage incident. Anger must make good art because the band was as tight as a wound rubber band. And Steve must have figured out what JimmyM complained about as he played a white Fender Jazz the entire show. Very biting solid state sound, definitely round wound strings and locked in with Michael Derosier. I was a huge fan of the early band, not so of the later 80's pop lineup. And I still think Howard Leese was the driving force behind most of their music! A super talented individual if there ever was one!

 

[JimmyM]

I saw them right at the end of the Dog and Butterfly tour and you could tell they were coming apart. Roger Fisher stayed at one end of the stage and never ventured near Nancy or Ann. This is right before the famous smashing his guitar and storming off stage incident. Anger must make good art because the band was as tight as a wound rubber band. And Steve must have figured out what JimmyM complained about as he played a white Fender Jazz the entire show. Very biting solid state sound, definitely round wound strings and locked in with Michael Derosier. I was a huge fan of the early band, not so of the later 80's pop lineup. And I still think Howard Leese was the driving force behind most of their music! A super talented individual if there ever was one!

Sounds like you saw them before I did, since Roger was already gone at the show I saw. This was when they were supporting "Bebe LeStrange." which came after "Dog And Butterfly." Steve and Michael's last tour, too.

 

[pbass2]

he played a white Fender Jazz the entire show. Very biting solid state sound, definitely round wound strings and locked in with Michael Derosier.

Hmmm...maybe it WAS a Jazz when I saw them now that you mention it.....(it WAS the late 70's after all, memory is hazy...)
In any event, the sound was so good, I can't forget it. The only other live "arena rock" bass sound that ever jumped out at me like that was Dave Hope in Kansas.

 

[Mikhail1]

Dave Hope! The monster man with the monster tone! Another totally awesome live sound.

 

[IMMusicRulz]

Steve Fossen also used a Kramer Ferrington Bass Guitar during his tenure in Alias, which also included Roger Fisher and Michael Derosier.

I actually love their song More Than Words Can Say. I wrote to Steve Fossen and Howard Leese once but they never wrote back.

I also wrote to Roger Fisher and he is one of the best musicians to communicate with. He responded to my email

 

[Lindoom]

yeah I have have e mailed Roger a few times as well, he wrote me back right away with answers to all my questions. cool guy, great guitarist, unique style of playing. Steve's bass lines on some of the early stuff also has a hint of chorus effect on them I think producing an unique sound. listen to them with headphones you'll hear it.

 

[Gemini99]

Steve Fossen also used a Kramer Ferrington Bass Guitar during his tenure in Alias, which also included Roger Fisher and Michael Derosier.

I actually love their song More Than Words Can Say. I wrote to Steve Fossen and Howard Leese once but they never wrote back.

I also wrote to Roger Fisher and he is one of the best musicians to communicate with. He responded to my email

I know this is miles after the last post in this thread, but I’ve been looking everywhere trying to find the basses Steve played and this is one of the few places with some semblance of info. That said, you look very close (at 0:14-15) of the video for “All I Wanna Do is Make Love to You” you will see a fretless 5-string bass but it flashes so damn fast it’s next to impossible to tell what it is. And it was Mark Andes anyway. Just my meager and worthless 2 cents.