Who's Crying Now

[Stone Soup]

Pretty sure it was the Magnum III on that whole record. They auctioned it off on Ebay several years back. He started to use the Steinberger by Frontiers.

I'm pretty sure this is the correct answer. I remember wanting an Ovation badly back then, because of the sound on that recording.

 

[Rano Bass]

Thanks guys, now i have gas for one of those Ovation basses...

 

[Rip Topaz]

Dayum. That sonofagun sang even better live.

Seriously. I'm not a Journey fan but dang.

 

[bubba-b]

as a huge journey (and ross) fan, would like to interject one point. ovation made ross a custom magnum IV that he used for the escape (E5C4P3) recordings. iirc, it had the charcoal sunburst finish and had a very rare set neck. most of the magnums that i've seen were all bolt-on's.

because ross was a main influence early on for me, my first real 'good' bass was a red magnum II i got back in 82' at the local mall (serramonte music center). was so stoked! of course, a month later he played his steinberger at 'day on the green' in oakland. took me a few years to get my steiny but that bass was the bee's knees.

anywhoo, that custom magnum was auctioned off a few years ago. i believe the winner of the auction is from england.

tbh, unless there's a gear list showing what exactly was used on what song, we'll never know. only the guys in the band and kevin elson would know for sure.

 

[Needenaneden]

Wow, that's music! Do bands make music like this anymore?

 

[64jazzbass]

Wow, that's music! Do bands make music like this anymore?

Not much.....

 

[Scott in Dallas]

Stone In Love is one of my favorite bass lines ever. Great tone on that whole album.

 

[Dluxe]

as a huge journey (and ross) fan, would like to interject one point. ovation made ross a custom magnum IV that he used for the escape (E5C4P3) recordings. iirc, it had the charcoal sunburst finish and had a very rare set neck. most of the magnums that i've seen were all bolt-on's.

because ross was a main influence early on for me, my first real 'good' bass was a red magnum II i got back in 82' at the local mall (serramonte music center). was so stoked! of course, a month later he played his steinberger at 'day on the green' in oakland. took me a few years to get my steiny but that bass was the bee's knees.

anywhoo, that custom magnum was auctioned off a few years ago. i believe the winner of the auction is from england.

tbh, unless there's a gear list showing what exactly was used on what song, we'll never know. only the guys in the band and kevin elson would know for sure.

I found a pic of the auctioned bass that I had saved. It was a Magnum IV and had a set neck. Here is the only pic I have of it.

BASS GUITAR used by JOURNEY on "ESCAPE" ALBUM RECORDING
SIGNED TWICE by ROSS VALORY WHO WILL MEET YOU IN PERSON
eBay Item number: 7342741214
Ended: Aug-20-05 17:47:18 PDT, Winning bid: US $2,651.99

 

[Misterwogan]

I thought that he was a Stingray player. Anyway, I play this song with a P-Bass and it just kills those sustained low notes.

 

[bubba-b]

I found a pic of the auctioned bass that I had saved. It was a Magnum IV and had a set neck. Here is the only pic I have of it.

BASS GUITAR used by JOURNEY on "ESCAPE" ALBUM RECORDING
SIGNED TWICE by ROSS VALORY WHO WILL MEET YOU IN PERSON
eBay Item number: 7342741214
Ended: Aug-20-05 17:47:18 PDT, Winning bid: US $2,651.99

ah, there it is! completely blanked on the finish. the two-tone natural-to-black looks better than the graphite (imo) finish the IV's came in.

it be nice to own a piece of history such as that. i'd definitely be a bidder if his magnum II he used on the E5C4P3 tour was up for grabs. or if geddy auctions off his b&w ricky! wow, could you imagine how high the bids would go for THAT piece of bass history...

 

[barebones]

Let's resurrect, shall we?! Just heard this on the radio and wondered for the millionth time about the use of chorus and compression on the bass. Anyone?

P.S. Cool to know what bass he was using. Never would have guessed!

 

[Geri O]

It sounds like the rear pickup of whatever bass he's using.

Geri O

 

[brad houser]

probably a Peavey T 40 or an Ovation. that's what I saw him with in photos back then. BUT, as many of us know, he may have used whatever was laying around the studio. in that case I would say: Fender Jazz, bridge PU soloed.

 

[zapdady]

This post was all about what bass Ross Valory played. I'm wondering if any effects were also used. Does anyone have any info or insights? I need to play this tune and am looking for a starting point. I have multiple basses and effect pedals. Thank everyone.
zapdady

 

[ctmullins]

We play a few Journey tunes. I can “ballpark” that tone using the bridge pickup and some chorus/flanger.

 

[Colinatbass]

Does anybody know what bass Ross Valory was playing in this Journey tune? I heard it was a Peavey of some sort. Great growl and sustain.

It was a late 70s Ovation Magnum II. To get the chorus effect, he used an Eventide Harmonizer set to either +1 or -1.

He recorded the “Escape” album largely with the Ovation, and I believe it wasn’t until “Frontiers” that he used the Steinberger.