The cure bass sound.

[derrick007]

I got a Boss bass overdrive pedal, and am disapointed with it. I was looking for more of the sound of the bass on The Cures Killing an Arab, or Fascination Street, the cool kind of subtle distortion. Any ideas.

 

[TaySte_2000]

I always felt flanger was more of the Cure tone than any drive pedals

 

[rappa29]

I always felt flanger was more of the Cure tone than any drive pedals

Yep and\or a Chorus. Don't forget the pick for Fascination St!

 

[grygrx]

Got to be careful with the Cure, Smith played a fender bass VI, so the bass isn't always the bass.

 

[alfredpunkjazz]

I'm also trying to get a sound close to the cure... It is hard with a stingray, I want more of a "hollow" sound, to say it somehow...

 

[jaseOZ]

hey yeah I've been trying for a few years and have gotten very close using the same pedals as simon

I'm using a BF-2 Flanger, CE-5 Chorus Ensemble and a DD-3 Delay. It is a very Cure sound, especially from the Head On The Door era.
He uses the Boss MT-2 for distortion (Screw?).
He also uses Rotosound strings..if that matters.

 

[jugoziithouu]

There are MANY The Cure sounds

In Fascination Street simon used roberts fender bass vi...

In killing an arab im pretty sure you dont need a distortion pedal at all

Maybe if ur covering something from the album Pornography...

Here's his board

BF-2 Flanger, CE-5 Chorus Ensemble, Boss GEB-7, MT-2 Distortion, DD-3 Digital Delay and NS-2 Noise Suppressor.

I read in an interview that he scooped the mids with his GEB-7 so that might help

 

[joeydavidson]

I would be looking at an SVT and chorus pedal for his main overall sound.

 

[vegas532]

I actually nailed the Fascination Street tone with a CE-5 and an MXR M80 of all things. Strangely, said feat was completely unplanned.

 

[Vic Winters]

Am I missing something because I don't see a GEB-7 anywhere.

 

[vegas532]

Am I missing something because I don't see a GEB-7 anywhere.

I was going to say the same thing, actually.

 

[genderblind]

I'm also trying to get a sound close to the cure... It is hard with a stingray, I want more of a "hollow" sound, to say it somehow...

Simon played a Stingray on many Cure songs...

 

[genderblind]

In Fascination Street simon used roberts fender bass vi...

Simon plays a Stingray on "Fascination Street".

 

[derrick007]

In Fascination Street simon used roberts fender bass vi...

Simon plays a Stingray on "Fascination Street".

go to google and search fascination street. look at the first youtube video that pops up. he's got the bass VI. looks like a really big jaguar.

I'll probably just get the mt2 and bf2, im not looking for exact, just kind of close. I'm not in a cure cover band or anything, i just want to play there songs and have it sound right.

 

[The Mock Turtle Regulator]

go to google and search fascination street. look at the first youtube video that pops up. he's got the bass VI. looks like a really big jaguar..

in the video he used a bass VI, but I'm pretty sure it was a stingray on the recording.

he does tend to goof around in videos- he's playing fingerstyle in the videos for Just like heaven, Friday I'm in love and there's a bit where he's playing a double bass in Never enough!

 

[fireincairo]

There are MANY The Cure sounds

In Fascination Street simon used roberts fender bass vi...

In killing an arab im pretty sure you dont need a distortion pedal at all

Maybe if ur covering something from the album Pornography...

Here's his board

BF-2 Flanger, CE-5 Chorus Ensemble, Boss GEB-7, MT-2 Distortion, DD-3 Digital Delay and NS-2 Noise Suppressor.

I read in an interview that he scooped the mids with his GEB-7 so that might help

I tend to agree, they've had a number of bassists over the years. All of them unique and talented. I'm gonna say you need a flanger, though, and set it to a slow roll. I was just messing around this morning and came across some very Curesque tones with a slow flange setting.

 

[genderblind]

I they've had a number of bassists over the years. All of them unique and talented.

I am curious to know who you think played bass on Cure records besides Simon and very occaisionally Robert and the upright on "Love Cats". Where is this info coming from?

"Fascination Street" was a Stingray, probably the black one Simon has had for years. Stingrays are capable of a wide range of tones if a player is up to the challenge of exploration.

 

[vegas532]

I am curious to know who you think played bass on Cure records besides Simon and very occaisionally Robert and the upright on "Love Cats".

Let's not forget Michael Dempsey.

 

[derrick007]

Do you guys think that a boss LMB3 limiter/enhancer, and a boss ODB3 bass overdrive would be a fair trade for boss MT2 and boss BF2 or BF3? both pedals are in brand new condition, perfect working order, with the LMB3 at about 5 hours of use, and the ODB3 at about 20 hours, both with their boxes and manuals, and the GC receipt to prove how recently they were purchased. I would be going through a small, honest local music shop, not guitar center who would def rip me off. a trade such as this would be ideal.

 

[bongomania]

Even a small local "honest" shop has to turn a profit, or they will go out of business. Therefore you can't get "new value" trading in used goods, no matter how lightly used. You're better off selling the pedals to a private party (TB classifieds, Ebay, Craigslist) and using the money to buy the pedals you want.

On the subject of the basses shown in the videos, it has always been very common for video producers to have the band "play" cool-looking instruments for the video shoot, completely regardless of what instrument was played when the track was actually recorded.