- Oct 8, 2009
- 1,511
- 138
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Babicz FCH Hardware
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Tony Butler (Big Country) tone
- Thread starter themacinator
- Start date
- Oct 8, 2009
- 1,511
- 138
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Babicz FCH Hardware
the album the crossing should have been a classic. there isn't a bad song on it. for some reason, they never quite connected after that, but they put out really good stuff for quite a while.
- Oct 8, 2009
- 1,511
- 138
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Babicz FCH Hardware
I agree, Butler's playing, especially on the early records, was outstanding. I marvel at the tone and composition of his part on "Wonderland", one of my fave songs ever. Their second album 'Steeltown' has an even more upfront bass tone, with a very unusual, dense, dark sound to it. "Where the Rose is Sown" kills me.
I've never tried to break down his sound, but it intrigues me too. Trebly, picky, chorusy, reverby, and a distinctive playing technique. Simply wonderful stuff.
I've never tried to break down his sound, but it intrigues me too. Trebly, picky, chorusy, reverby, and a distinctive playing technique. Simply wonderful stuff.
macinator, just realized the link you posted is for a cover version of the tune - not Big Country. A well-done cover, though. Here's a link to the original tune: YouTube - East of Eden, Extended mix, Big Country.
- Oct 8, 2009
- 1,511
- 138
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Babicz FCH Hardware
Yeah redplanet you're right. Good catch. I fixed it and I agree with all you said. I wish I knew how he got that tone.
i also liked his bass playing on some of pete townsend's solo albums. they (big country) kind of tanked in america when one of their members said some pretty derogatory things about american rock bands.
I agree, and even some of their final albums before Stuart's suicide had some great tracks on them.
Isn't there a chorus effect, or maybe flanger, on it? I'm going from memory here.
I am a huge fan of Tony's as well...I agree, I think he used chorus a lot actually.
Tony used a Wal in the promo video for Pete Townshend's song Slit Skirts. I don't know what he used on the LP tracks, but it does sound Wal-ish.
I still think the best songs Stuart Adamson wrote are Into the Valley and The Saints are coming when he was in The Skids. The bass tone on Scared to Dance is great too. As is evidenced on the intro to Into the Valley.
Tony bought a whitish/yellowish Warwick Streamer from us when we first opened the Bass Centre L.A. back in 1986. However i don't know if he ever used it on any albums or played it live. Nice guy, though.
Ibanez? Nah, that was an Aria, in Big Country's early days.
Good question on basses used (9 years ago lol!) so I asked him. He told me for Pete Townsend albums he used a bass owned by Townsend. Early Big Country he mentioned Aria endorsed. He specifically told me: " From the Crossing album forward he used his prized black P bass on the albums." I saw them live at the Pier in NYC in 1986 which is on YouTube now. He used a white Deluxe P bass with a jazz pickup in that show, but pretty much all bass tracks on albums were done with his black Fender Precision. As of May 8,2017 he still has it!
