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"The Cure" bass tone

#2
Irmantas said:
Who can tell, how I can get the closest tone to Simon Gallup bass. What EQ setting should be?
Click to expand...
Hi,
Over the years, Simon has used Gibson Thunderbirds, Rickenabcker 4001s custom hollowbodies as well as his new Schecter Signature Bass. He has said in interviews that he uses Ampeg SVT's with the mids scooped out and the lows and highs boosted. He also uses older Boss pedals, chorus, delay etc. He uses Rotosound Swingbass 66's 45-105 and plays usually with a pick. Hope this helps! I love his playing!
Best wishes,
Brent
 
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#3
BrentSimons said:
Hi,
Over the years, Simon has used Gibson Thunderbirds, Rickenabcker 4001s custom hollowbodies as well as his new Schecter Signature Bass. He has said in interviews that he uses Ampeg SVT's with the mids scooped out and the lows and highs boosted. He also uses older Boss pedals, chorus, delay etc. He uses Rotosound Swingbass 66's 45-105 and plays usually with a pick. Hope this helps! I love his playing!
Best wishes,
Brent
Click to expand...

Tease your hair out and play hunched over and you got the total sound.:bassist:
 
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#5
Aside from having spent 50% of my youth listening to the Cure religiously, absorbing every sonic nuance, I read an interview I read with Mr. Gallup a while back. Here are the key takeaways:
  • Smiley Face EQ: Boost your bass and treble; scoop the mids. He's described it as a "V."
  • Boss BF-2: The sound of Goth bass. A lot of things that sound like a chorus are actually a flanger!
  • Pick: All downstrokes if possible.
  • Tone Knob: Dimed! The high end marries perfectly with the modulation effect.
I play a lot of this music and can cop the tone pretty darn well!

Hope that helps!
~NvN
 
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#7
Irmantas, How's your hunt for Cure tone going?

Reposting links etc for you and anyone else who's travelling Fascination Street looking for Six Different Ways to Disintegration of their bass tones, there are Never Enough...



What Nick Von Nick said above in post #5 was in Irmantas' old thread, too, but I really liked what Mushroo said in that thread, The Cure Bass sound? :

Mushroo said:
You've gotten some good gear suggestions, but it's also really important to study Simon Gallup's technique if you want to sound like him.

Right hand, he has excellent pick-style technique, with good control and economy of motion. He doesn't seem to flail away as aggressively at the strings as a lot of other rock bassists, and he uses upstrokes as well as downstrokes. You'll notice he wears his bass slung rather low, which helps to keep his right wrist straight.

Left hand, he has good fingerboard knowledge and tends to shift up and down the neck, as opposed to playing across the strings. He is comfortable in all registers of the instrument. He tends to use a loose or floating left thumb (as opposed to using his thumb as a pivot or fulcrum on the back of the neck) which prevents "death grip" and facilitates easy shifting.

And of course, Simon Gallup is a team player and has a strong sense of time, neither of which can be achieved with effects pedals.
Click to expand...

And of course my diatribe! :laugh:
Feral Feline said:
From which era, which album, which song?


This will get you started...


cure simon gallup : www.talkbass.com - بحث Google


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The Cure's Simon Gallup | TalkBass.com

https://www.talkbass.com › ... › General Forums [BG] › Bassists [BG]
I have one compilation album from the Cure, (beginning to 1884 or so) and he's done wonderful things on bass. I don't play with a pick, but I like to sounds he gets ...
The Cure (Michael Dempsey, Simon Gallup, Phil Thornally ...

https://www.talkbass.com › ... › General Forums [BG] › Bassists [BG]
Sep 5, 2016 - TalkBass utilizes technology from Viglink that may give us a small affiliate commission on purchases made via links on our site. Thanks for your ...
The Cure - Simon Gallup - Hollywood Pantages | TalkBass.com

https://www.talkbass.com › ... › General Forums [BG] › Bassists [BG]
Nov 22, 2011 - The first three Cure albums played in their entirety + B sides. A fan's dream. Robert played a Fender VI bass on a couple of songs as well.
Looking for a Simon Gallup-esque sound | TalkBass.com

https://www.talkbass.com › ... › General Forums [BG] › Strings [BG]
May 17, 2011 - Hey, HUGE Cure & Simon Gallup fan here. First, I really hope you realize he's using Rickenbacker for this song. He only used the Thunderbird on ...
How can I achieve the tone of Simon Gallup in the album Faith ...

https://www.talkbass.com › ... › General Forums [BG] › Recordings [BG]
Oct 27, 2013 - How can I achieve the tone of Simon Gallup in the album Faith of The Cure?
How much do you like Simon Gallup? | TalkBass.com

https://www.talkbass.com › ... › General Forums [BG] › Bassists [BG]
May 17, 2010 - I think Simon Gallup is fantastic, very tasty basslines, I was a big fan of The Cure back in the 80's although I am sure he did not play on all of ...
The Cure - Freakshow - Simon Gallup | TalkBass.com

https://www.talkbass.com › ... › General Forums [BG] › Recordings [BG]
Jun 18, 2008 - Didn't get to see this at the concert I attended, but it nice to see Simon playing a J-Bass in The Cure's latest release. Freakshow [media]
Help me to get this sound!! Simon Gallup | TalkBass.com

https://www.talkbass.com › ... › General Forums [BG] › Effects [BG]
Oct 1, 2008 - (The Cure NDR) S. G : Yeah, but I didn’t really get involved with the sound in the studio. …It goes heavy on the bottom, I take out ...
The Cure's Simon Gallup- Magspies/Foolsdance | TalkBass.com

https://www.talkbass.com › ... › General Forums [BG] › Bassists [BG]
fans of Simon Gallup check this mp3 out- a record of the band he was in before The Cure- Magspies. pretty upfront bassplaying-...
Simon Gallup on "Fascination Street" | TalkBass.com

https://www.talkbass.com › ... › General Forums [BG] › Bassists [BG]
Nov 6, 2017 - Mainly because of Simon Gallup's buzzy bass tone that somehow ... "Smith said in 1992, "I think when people talk about the 'Cure sound', they ...
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I think there's still good info in a couple of your other threads, Irmantas...

TC Electronic Stereo Chorus + Pitch Modulator & Flanger on bass
Line 6 POD hd500 and The Cure tone

Good luck to all tone Cure-ators who Gallup towards this Primary goal.
 
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#8
I get a good Cure sound using a CEB-3 Bass Chorus and a DD-3 on the shortest mode. It's not even really perceptible as a delay in that mode, it just adds sort of a metallic click to the notes. The actual bass you use is not that important for the Cure, it's mostly in the pedals in my opinion. I use a Stingray and it still sounds really close.
 
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#9
Hola.
Le agregaría, chorus y flanger analógicos (CS2 BF2). Respecto de los amplificadores, en la primera época Peavey B400 MKIII y IV. Algo muy particular es que NO siempre utilizó amplificadores valvulares, también estado sólido.
 
#19
foal30 said:
Gallup was/is Big user of the Boss BF-2B I believe
The old Brown Boss Bass Pedals were all pretty good

I’m pleased he’s made up with Smith and the band is touring again.
Click to expand...
Yeah, they had very obvious positive chemistry on stage, and truly seemed to enjoy what they were doing. Can’t believe they’re in their 60s.

And yes, Gallup uses the flanger most of the show.
 
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