I'm not 100% sure on this, but didn't Tony use Chapman's "Patch of Shades" pedal for the phaser type sounds on those earlier (Levin era) Crimson recordings?
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Tony Levin's great Chapman Stick sound
- Thread starter Les Fret
- Start date
Not sure, but even if he did, Patch Of Shades wasn't a signal processor per se; it was a device that allowed you to to adjust the wet/dry mix of an external signal processor on the fly.
Hi!
I share the desires of this thread's originator - I bought my stick in 1980 having been influenced entirely by Tony's sound, first in Peter Gabriel's band, and then in Discipline, the first name that the re-formed King Crimson toured under.
I would agree with most of the replies so far, especially about compression being key and there being a phaser involved (think of the intro to Elephant Talk.) And if I remember right, the bass side of his stick went through an Ampeg SVT on the point of frying itself, which added richness to the tone.
But I would add two things.
First, I think wannabes like me all too easily forget how much of a signature sound comes from the fingers (and the soul) of the player I want to sound like. Tony Levin's is my favourite Chapman Stick sound, by miles. And amongst those that come close, are his bass guitar and upright sounds!
Second, when I first heard The Stick, they came with flatwound strings, and these I believe contributed hugely to that classic TL Stick tone. Listen to his stick parts on early Peter Gabriel albums, other stuff he used the stick on (like that Joan Armatrading record he's on,) and the classic Elephant Talk. Then listen to his contemporary stick work - different sound. When the Tony Levin Band play Elephant Talk, it doesn't sound as good (IMO.) Even Tony Levin doesn't sound like Tony Levin used to!
Anyone got any old flatwounds they don't want?
I share the desires of this thread's originator - I bought my stick in 1980 having been influenced entirely by Tony's sound, first in Peter Gabriel's band, and then in Discipline, the first name that the re-formed King Crimson toured under.
I would agree with most of the replies so far, especially about compression being key and there being a phaser involved (think of the intro to Elephant Talk.) And if I remember right, the bass side of his stick went through an Ampeg SVT on the point of frying itself, which added richness to the tone.
But I would add two things.
First, I think wannabes like me all too easily forget how much of a signature sound comes from the fingers (and the soul) of the player I want to sound like. Tony Levin's is my favourite Chapman Stick sound, by miles. And amongst those that come close, are his bass guitar and upright sounds!
Second, when I first heard The Stick, they came with flatwound strings, and these I believe contributed hugely to that classic TL Stick tone. Listen to his stick parts on early Peter Gabriel albums, other stuff he used the stick on (like that Joan Armatrading record he's on,) and the classic Elephant Talk. Then listen to his contemporary stick work - different sound. When the Tony Levin Band play Elephant Talk, it doesn't sound as good (IMO.) Even Tony Levin doesn't sound like Tony Levin used to!
Anyone got any old flatwounds they don't want?
