I found the OP in the crowd (in hat) scrutinizing that bass. 
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what is Adam Clayton playing?
- Thread starter txhawaii
- Start date
It was 1982. It was as easy as walking up to the stage at soundcheck in any bar (this time it was the Agora in Atlanta) and asking a complete unknown band who had exactly 1 single on college radio light rotation if I could have a few minutes for a paper. It was before the Red Rocks commercial breakthrough, before MTV picked up Gloria. This was when Boy was beginning to get critical review in the US and I will Follow was playing on a few dozen independent college stations 3-4 times a day. I know they are among the most successful arena bands of all time. But they didn't start that way. Nobody does.
Who are those kids playing U2 songs?
Ahhh....Classic U2. Watching these videos reminds me why I love this band, especially this era. Adam & Larry have always been an unshakeable rhythm section IMO. And Edge was working his tail off, not to mention Bono's vocals!!
Man what a great sound! Does anyone know for sure what Chorus pedal that is?
Killer bassline!
Killer bassline!
Indeed! Seeing that bass made a huge impression on me as a teen and I thought it was so cool my first bass guitar was a sunburst Precision.
Same here! And I've always been curious about that pickguard, it just doesn't make sense. It's such an odd thing to cut it like that.
My friend in Dublin had his Fender RW modified by his luthier to replicate that bass. It looks fantastic!
I know that Adam bought two Joe Osborn Lakland basses when they first came out.
One active, one passive.
One active, one passive.
Ah, old U2. That reminded me that I used to like them. Then, you know, Bono...
I wonder if the pick guard just broke in a weird way and he rolled with it? Also, love chrome control plates for Precisions. Dude in Autolux also has something similar. It’s good looking and useful!
I saw them in a bar in East Lansing around the same time. I stood about 3 feet away from Bono for the entire show. I knew they were going to be big, but I didn’t realize how big. Unfortunately, when they got big, I lost interest.
AFAIK:
It’s a ‘72 Precision with an early ‘80s maple-board Jazz Bass neck. He preferred the Jazz neck as it was “more lady-like”.
Much later (Vertigo video) it ended up with a chrome pickguard and a Jazz neck with black block markers. He seemed to like swapping stuff around (or maybe his tech did!)
I’ll look for some pics.
It’s a ‘72 Precision with an early ‘80s maple-board Jazz Bass neck. He preferred the Jazz neck as it was “more lady-like”.
Much later (Vertigo video) it ended up with a chrome pickguard and a Jazz neck with black block markers. He seemed to like swapping stuff around (or maybe his tech did!)
I’ll look for some pics.
‘72 Precision with ‘80s maple Jazz neck, then later a ‘70s blocks neck.
Pick guards replaced over time.
Less and less sunburst!
One of my favorite bassists!
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.
Yup
impressive. I photographed filmmaker Robert Rodriguez when he released his first hit El Mariachi. It was the same awkward "i'm not famous" attitude that you probably saw with U2.
Its amazing you got unfettered access to them when they were nobodies. imagine trying to interview them now?
I always found AC's bass lines to be more complicated in the early days and fell into simplicity as they got older.
ah yes...bono. the simpson's gave him the right treatment back then. #wanker
My son and I were watching this video last night waiting for the ball to drop. I found this old thread while trying to figure out what kind of effect Adam was using for this song.
Love the memories, especially how accessible they were in the early days. A few years ago I heard a local DJ tell a story about how U2 came to our relatively small Midwest city for their Boy or October tour. The show was sparsely attended and the DJ recounted how he sat around after the show just talking with the guys from the band. I can't imagine that happening today.
Love the memories, especially how accessible they were in the early days. A few years ago I heard a local DJ tell a story about how U2 came to our relatively small Midwest city for their Boy or October tour. The show was sparsely attended and the DJ recounted how he sat around after the show just talking with the guys from the band. I can't imagine that happening today.
