The Lowdown on Lowdown

[LBS-bass]

Did anyone ever notice that there's maybe some studio magic going on in this song?

I'm working on this for a show and during this section where it goes to the F# it sounds like all the popping is done on a second track, either by a guitar in the low register or the bass is double-tracked. If not, it's way above my pay scale to play all of the notes in there.

It's cued up to this spot; listen with headphones or something where you can really hear the bass. What am I actually hearing here?



Trying to decide if I should play this figure with a higher F# (9th fret) to start, which would put me in better position to play the pops, or if I should play it on a fiver which would mean dragging another bass along, and I'm not that great on five string.

I doubt any of the guitarists will play it, but I will get together with them tonight and find out what they're doing.

In the live version, it looks like the bassist is playing it all on a five-string but it's simplified.

 

[JimK]

It's Hungate doing 2 bass tracks, overdubbed...right?

 

[jerry]

You could always borrow from Freddy Washington's live version.

 

[matti777]

I was listening to this recently

 

[LBS-bass]

You could always borrow from Freddy Washington's live version.

I would prefer to play it more like Freddie does in that spot. I don't think the popping there adds a whole lot to that section; it's always sounded a little contrived to me. We played it the other night in a first rehearsal and I don't think anyone cared about what I played there so I might play around with it a little bit.

 

[LBS-bass]

It's Hungate doing 2 bass tracks, overdubbed...right?

It sounds like that to me, but I don't know who played the original.

 

[ahc]

I've played this since it came out and it always bothered me too. I ended up playing the F# section like the live version in post# 4 from matti777. I did read somewhere that it was David Hungate and it is doubletracked.

 

[JRA]

What am I actually hearing here?

2 bass tracks, overdubbed

 

[LBS-bass]

On this version the bassist is playing all the pops, but he's playing a five string which makes that seem a bit easier.

 

[matti777]

It looks like a 4 string to me. I really like this guys videos:

 

[LBS-bass]

It looks like a 4 string to me. I really like this guys videos:

Oh, I think you are correct. I was seeing a shadow and thinking it was a fifth string!

Watching the video you posted, he's not playing the pops during the bridge at all.

 

[JimK]

It sounds like that to me, but I don't know who played the original.

Hungate on a P-bass.
Pretty much Toto's debut with Boz as the lead singer.