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Why all the Duff bashing?

I never thought much of Duff but read an article about him in a Bass magazine a while back, and recently saw his white Fender for sale at a Guitar store. I haven't listened to AFD in a long while, but what comes to mind a lot is the sound of the bass punching through the rest of the music.

For me it's not so much how good (or technical) a bass player is, but how memorable his bass sound is within a song.
 
+1 I agree with you. Chops/technique are not the only definition of a good bass player. He is a great supporter and his bass lines (in all their simplicity) speak highly for why he has managed to survive so long in the industry. :bassist:


Very well said. I know I tend to play an active bass line, but my goal is to make it fit the music - if I'm doing too much or not serving the song, I want to know about it. Duff isn't someone I aspire to emulate from a chops standpoint, but he's extremely solid laying a foundation for the G'N'R songs, and some of his lines have some great melodic moments. Ultimately, a bass player should be serving the song in however it's called for - Duff's done it very well.
 
funny you post this. i was going to post... what's up with all the duff love? gnr was during my time and i still rock out to some of the old stuff... but i've been surprised since i've been on the board to see the amount of people who seem to be talking about him and his tone and wanting to get his tone and such. i don't think he's bad... but i don't see what's so special. and i've listened to various clips people have put up for his tone. it's nice buy itself but it seems to get lost in the mix. personally, i don't see it. that's not a bash.... he just doesn't speak to me.

Huh? You lose McKagan's playing in the AFD or UYI mixes? It's pretty prominent to my ears.
 
Damn. I thought that this was going to be a Hilary Duff thread. :(



Oh well. The other Duff isn't a technically astounding player (or if he is he doesn't show it), but he does what is needed. If I was in GnR or Velvet Revolver, I would do exactly what he does - I have the skills needed to do more complex lines, but for those bands there is just no need, and it would sound wrong.
 
Huh? You lose McKagan's playing in the AFD or UYI mixes? It's pretty prominent to my ears.

Yeah bit confused by this one??? There is definate notable tone on both those albums and most people would recognise it as duff's sound?

Ive always loved Guns, as simple as the basslines are. Duff plays tight licks that bring another level to the song and more melody.

Quality bass players dont over play and provide solid lines that deliver melodically. This can be technical or simple, Duff qualifies.
 
I think he's a good meat and potatoes kind of player after listening to a few VR tracks, nothing wrong with that. On the other hand I can't stand GnR, I think it's mostly axl's voice, and switch stations if they come on so I can't comment on his playing in that band.

Regarding "ghost" players, that's been going on in studios forever so it's certainly conceivable someone else came in and re-did his tracks if he wasn't cutting it at the time. It's all about the product in the end; record companies will do what they need to to get the product out the door and the money rolling in, and I certainly don't think any band would own up to one of their guys' tracks being redone by someone else.
 
I think he's a good meat and potatoes kind of player after listening to a few VR tracks, nothing wrong with that. On the other hand I can't stand GnR, I think it's mostly axl's voice, and switch stations if they come on so I can't comment on his playing in that band...
I'm not a big VR fan at all so I could be wrong here, but I think his lines were more varied with funky walks, runs, fills etc in GnR. His playing on Appetite was great, IMO. From what I heard with VR, it was a lot more straight quarter note, laid back stuff.
 
I'm not a big VR fan at all so I could be wrong here, but I think his lines were more varied with funky walks, runs, fills etc in GnR. His playing on Appetite was great, IMO. From what I heard with VR, it was a lot more straight quarter note, laid back stuff.

FWIW, I read in an interview somewhere that he said with Axl's singing he had more room to fill with those runs and fills and with Scott in VR, the vocals created a lot of melodies, so he concentrated more on laying a solid foundation and grooving with Matt...

If anybody wants the exact quote, I'll see if I can find it..
 
FWIW, I read in an interview somewhere that he said with Axl's singing he had more room to fill with those runs and fills and with Scott in VR, the vocals created a lot of melodies, so he concentrated more on laying a solid foundation and grooving with Matt...

If anybody wants the exact quote, I'll see if I can find it..
Certainly makes sense. Thanks.
 

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