Tommy Caldwell on bass...

[SwitchGear]

Always loved the tone and vibe of the legendary Tommy Caldwell from the original MTB line-up back in the 1970's. Him and his brother on lead guitar Toy where taught to play their instruments with their thumbs, from their Dad. Gave them unique tones and a col vibe for the their music.

Tommy's p bass was set-up to distort when pushed giving him that gritty tone when grooving on his lead runs. Hot DiMarzio pups at the right height gave him that tone when he put his thumb harder into it. Sounds like flat wound strings to me but I don't know for sure.


Check out the YouTube live video

 

[SwitchGear]

 

[joebeadg]

Tommy was a mofo on bass and had a great tone. My first tucker concert happened to be Tommy's last gig, died a week later. I've always loved tucker amd Tommy's why, Ive never heard this particular 24hrs. solo, very nice.

 

[SwitchGear]

 

[bassbrad]

I always dug the MTB Tommy and Toy and other edgy players in that niche between Rock, Boogie, Blues, Country and Western that embraced their country funky side too. Tommy has such a monster tone and perpetual groove that was always swinging. I got to see him play up close when a little band I played in opened a few shows for them. He was palming a hunk of plastic, wouldn't dare to call it a pick, to fortify his thumbnail. He would also pull strings with his thumb and first two fingers for accents.

Paul Goddard from ARS was another favorite of mine.

 

[SwitchGear]

Live Tucker from new years eve 12/31/78 in New Orleans. Great fidelity. Tommy's bass and Paul Riddles drums sound full and clear. The band is tight. Must listen live album for fans of the original band.

Marshall Tucker Band: New Year's Eve 1978

 

[jerry]

There is a lot of Tommy in the first half hour of this:

 

[LG TPAFL]

Yessir, that whole show/video has some great bass playing and great tone.

 

[Bob_Ross]

I have never actively nor willingly listened to the Marshall Tucker Band, so I’m not very familiar with Tommy’s bass playing… However, I do remember reading an interview with him in Guitar Player magazine many many years ago, where he claimed that he had to apply wax to the underside of his pickguard because he sweat so much while playing that it would otherwise destroy the electronics in his P Bass!

 

[friskinator]

I grew up in Spartanburg, SC, home of the MTB. Those guys are still legends there, for obvious reasons.

 

[LG TPAFL]

I have never actively nor willingly listened to the Marshall Tucker Band, so I'm not very familiar with Tommy's bass playing… However, I do remember reading an interview with him in Guitar Player magazine many many years ago, where he claimed that he had to apply wax to the underside of his pickguard because he sweat so much while playing that it would otherwise destroy the electronics in his P Bass!

He's certainly pouring off some sweat in that Midnight Special performance. Pre LED lighting.....

 

[LG TPAFL]

Tommy's p bass was set-up to distort when pushed giving him that gritty tone when grooving on his lead runs.

Man, is that ever evident on that Midnight Special solo on 24 hours. I was wondering how he was going to the distortion. Looks like just a roll on the volume knob.

 

[Hawk620]

There is a lot of Tommy in the first half hour of this:

Man, that brought back some memories. Mostly of when I was as young as all of them were and we were playing their music in bars. That was the era of southern rock and country rock. It was a lot of fun.