what is Adam Clayton playing?

[txhawaii]

I should go to sleep but youtube got the best of me...

I watched a 1983 video of U2 playing New Year's Day and saw AC playing a modified Fender P bass with a cut-away pickguard and what I guess would be a Badass bridge.

Why cut the pickguard? Any guesses?

Here's the video

 

[lug]

Those old P basses can be heavy. Any weight savings help!

 

[Mushroo]

One of my favorite bassists!

Invalid Link Removedthe Fender P bass with the weird pickguard was "the first bass he ever owned." His mom bought it for him when he was 14 (1974-75).

If I had to guess, probably he was just young and didn't know what he was doing, thought it would be fun to "mod" his bass. Either that, or his mum was budget-conscious and bought a used pawnshop bass that had already been modded. It was very common to mod Fender basses in the 70s.

He plays it on some of the Rattle and Hum songs:

 

[Ghastly]

This one should have been his first signature bass, imo.

 

[DanGouge]

This was his go-to live bass from, like 1983 to 1997. I don't think it was his first bass as it doesn't appear to show up in any live shots or anything prior to 1983 or so.

 

[DennyOnBass]

I have no idea, but I'd guess that the pickguard had already broken, and he might have cut it down further to prevent him from cutting his hand on it.

 

[cdef]

This one should have been his first signature bass, imo.

View attachment 4473176

Martín García Facal took it upon himself to build a latter-day replica of that Precision, complete with cig burn.

 

[nickpc]

Not sure about the bass, but I had to get the good headphones out to listen to that a second time - really sweet p-bass tone there!

 

[txhawaii]

One of my favorite bassists!

Invalid Link Removedthe Fender P bass with the weird pickguard was "the first bass he ever owned." His mom bought it for him when he was 14 (1974-75).

If I had to guess, probably he was just young and didn't know what he was doing, thought it would be fun to "mod" his bass. Either that, or his mum was budget-conscious and bought a used pawnshop bass that had already been modded. It was very common to mod Fender basses in the 70s.

He plays it on some of the Rattle and Hum songs:

i never noticed that on Rattle and Hum. I was always fixated on the headstock.

 

[txhawaii]

looks like he's playing a different p bass in the early 80s in Live from Red Rocks. Great concert!

but he also plays a sweet sounding ibanez musician as well. i really like the sound of this bass.

 

[Jeff Hughes]

In the documentary about the making of "The Unforgettable Fire", you can see AC playing a tobacco burst Jazz Bass with the pickguard missing. Perhaps it was just an aesthetic he was into. On a P though you still need the bit to hold the controls on, and he liked the place to stick the pick.

 

[knight of ni]

Why cut the pickguard? Any guesses?

The attitude. This is rock after all.
(To think I bought the record right when it was out and watch this video makes me feel err no longer young! )

 

[Gustopher]

Why cut the pickguard? Any guesses?

Why not?

 

[Wilmingtonian]

I just like how he doesn't miss his chance to get to the front of the stage while The Edge is at the piano.

 

[HardNHeavy]

"hey Adam, i got this new scroll saw, chk it out"

 

[Wilmingtonian]

View attachment 4473306
Live from Red Rocks. Great concert!

I think MTV and that concert video of Sunday Bloody Sunday really pushed U2 in front of the American audience like nothing else to that point. At least that is my experience as a pre-teen at the time.

 

[skygzr]

I always loved his sound.

And Edge without a hat! Man I miss the 80s.

 

[Killing Floor]

It’s in a lot of older pics. He had it on “3 by” shows that were carried into the release of Boy and also when they supported J Geils Band.
I love Clayton and U2, War is framed on my office wall.
But… way too many pictures of U2 from that era he’s facing backwards or hiding behind Larry.
Too long a story but I got to interview them for my school paper during the Boy era. They were all a little awkward l, not quite embracing the fame that was soon to come. He and Bono were both very homesick and Adam hardly said a word. I’m sure he’s better now haha.

 

[txhawaii]

I think MTV and that concert video of Sunday Bloody Sunday really pushed U2 in front of the American audience like nothing else to that point. At least that is my experience as a pre-teen at the time.

mtv did wonders for all us 80s kids.

 

[txhawaii]

It’s in a lot of older pics. He had it on “3 by” shows that were carried into the release of Boy and also when they supported J Geils Band.
I love Clayton and U2, War is framed on my office wall.
But… way too many pictures of U2 from that era he’s facing backwards or hiding behind Larry.
Too long a story but I got to interview them for my school paper during the Boy era. They were all a little awkward l, not quite embracing the fame that was soon to come. He and Bono were both very homesick and Adam hardly said a word. I’m sure he’s better now haha.

what school paper got you in front of U2?