Teddy Pendergrass bassist

[polsab78]

I've been listening to a lot of Teddy Pendergrass recently and I really like the sound of the bass on his hits such as "Close The Door", "Love TKO", "Come Go With Me", etc. To my ears it sounds like a vintage Stingray but I'm not so sure. I did a little digging and found out the bass player is a guy named Jimmie Williams. Is anybody familiar with his setup?

 

[Sorefinger]

Jimmy Williams played a P with flats IIRC.

There was a story on the Philly sound bassists in Bass Player some years ago, I´ll check the info when I get home.

 

[Sorefinger]

Just checked BP - yep, pre-CBS Precision with flatwounds.

 

[JimmieWilliams]

Hi,
I this is Jimmie Williams Teddy's recording bassist, you asked,

"I've been listening to a lot of Teddy Pendergrass recently and I really like the sound of the bass on his hits such as "Close The Door", "Love TKO", "Come Go With Me", etc. To my ears it sounds like a vintage Stingray but I'm not so sure. I did a little digging and found out the bass player is a guy named Jimmie Williams. Is anybody familiar with his setup?"

I used a pre-precision Fender Bass with flat wound strings, the amp that I used was a ampeg B-15 on those songs recorded out of Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia, PA

 

[SoCal1]

Hi,
I this is Jimmie Williams Teddy's recording bassist, you asked,

"I've been listening to a lot of Teddy Pendergrass recently and I really like the sound of the bass on his hits such as "Close The Door", "Love TKO", "Come Go With Me", etc. To my ears it sounds like a vintage Stingray but I'm not so sure. I did a little digging and found out the bass player is a guy named Jimmie Williams. Is anybody familiar with his setup?"

I used a pre-precision Fender Bass with flat wound strings, the amp that I used was a ampeg B-15 on those songs recorded out of Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia, PA

Hey Jimmy...Liked your work on the Jamerson memorial CD. I also would assume that Ronnie Baker did some of the Bluenotes recordings. I know my friend Bobby Eli (MFSB) performed with Teddy back in the early days.

 

[tal213]

wow!! Jimmie Williams and Michael Henderson on TB in one day

 

[theevilplankton]

Amazing! I'm always jamming with Teddy's Philly albums - some of the finest Soul music IMHO.

I too always wondered about the bass work - which for me is a massive part of it - so understated, just so right.

I don't visit TB as often as I should - and the day I do, Jimmy Williams posts - one quick search later shows that he is a part of so many of the records I love.

 

[Muziekschuur]

I'm humbled...

 

[Stillbillnc]

Hi,
I this is Jimmie Williams Teddy's recording bassist, you asked,

"I've been listening to a lot of Teddy Pendergrass recently and I really like the sound of the bass on his hits such as "Close The Door", "Love TKO", "Come Go With Me", etc. To my ears it sounds like a vintage Stingray but I'm not so sure. I did a little digging and found out the bass player is a guy named Jimmie Williams. Is anybody familiar with his setup?"

I used a pre-precision Fender Bass with flat wound strings, the amp that I used was a ampeg B-15 on those songs recorded out of Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia, PA

Hi Mr. Williams
Do you know or did you know a philly bass player named Norman Smith?

 

[Mark Corradetti]

Hey Jimmy...Liked your work on the Jamerson memorial CD. I also would assume that Ronnie Baker did some of the Bluenotes recordings. I know my friend Bobby Eli (MFSB) performed with Teddy back in the early days.

You're the baddest !

 

[10cc]

We have a new "OldSchool" station in town. It is the first time in about 20 years that I've listened to the radio again. Anyhow the station is pretty good. The first song I heard was Love TKO. What a great number.

When I got home I dug it up on the web and played it while cooking dinner. In case anybody still wonders, yes Teddy still does something to the ladies

 

[Joebone]

Hi Mr. Williams
Do you know or did you know a philly bass player named Norman Smith?

Just found this thread.

Norman was the bassist in Ted's band from when he first went solo in '77, through Ted's horrible auto accident in 1982. Norman was a slap/pop wizard, using a J with rounds during most of the time we played together. Here's a good example of his playing - Lake Tahoe, February, 1979 - on a '73 P, maple neck with rounds:



Norman had a bad auto accident - I wanna say in the late '80's, and has now passed away - perhaps 7-8 years ago. RIP.