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Double Bass Why did Steve Swallow switch?
- Thread starter Futurebass
- Start date
I love repsondinng to zombiie threads. This interview is great.
If you're still out there, thanks for sharing.
Bob Cranshaw told me that's why he switched. Got hit by a cab and for years he couldn't transport his bass, though he could still play it. Said financially it was the best thing that happened to him. I hadn't heard that about Swallow. Maybe you've got the two tales confused.
Yeah, pretty sure that's Bob Cranshaw. Steve Swallow had a gig at the NAMM show and ended up wandering over to the Fender booth on a break. He played an EB and fell in love with it. At least that's how I remember the story...
Yes, that's what he said in www.jazzweekly.com | Interviews.
After the Fender booth he went to the Gibson booth and prefered that one over the Fender.
After the Fender booth he went to the Gibson booth and prefered that one over the Fender.
I played on a state Fair show that Mr. Swallow was on years ago( he was with singer Jack Jones of "Love Boat" fame). I don't recall what brand of BG he was playing but it must have been a Gibson.
I’m sure he’s had many basses, but I do think he’s playing a Fender P on Shinola. Great record.
As mentioned earlier in this thread, he’s known for playing an extra long scale instrument with a copper pick. I heard on a podcast that he plays a 37” scale instrument, but this thread mentions 35” and 36”. Not sure which is correct or when he made the switch.
Man, I have not heard this in decades. So good!
As of now though, Swallow no longer plays with a copper pick but with a Blue Chip pick. I guess he started with a tortoiseshell pick, went to copper after the ban, and went on to use Blue Chip’s because he feels it has the closet sound to a tortoiseshell pick he has tried.
In 1981-1982 Steve got a P-shaped hollow body -- spruce over maple -- built by Froc Fillipetti and George Furlanetto in the early days of what it now F Bass, Inc. Steve asked Froc to work up a piezo bridge for bass guitar; I don't know how much progress Froc made on that.
I was Froc's apprentice then and worked on the body. Steve Swallow was, and is, one of my musical heroes and inspirations. I got to meet him briefly at a concert right after he picked up the body. It was a fookin' awesome moment. Thank you again Froc!
Yeah he also says that he started on the EB2 in that video. Weird. Maybe I was hearing things?
Anyhoo, this thread reigniting my love for his unique broken walking style that he'll use instead of walking lines.
It's a lyrical alternative to walking and very unique to him it seems. I don't know of anyone else that does it like that.
No, it’s the earlier Bird version that some ppl (like the Real Book) refer to as Old Milestones. Miles version came later.
Earl
Supporting Member
There was an article in Bass Player magazine back in the 90s about both Steve and Bob Cranshaw. They were the only well known electric bass players in jazz at the time and I guess that hasn’t changed, except that Bob has passed on.
Anyway, i’ve been in enthralled by this album for many years. It might be my most played album.
Anyway, i’ve been in enthralled by this album for many years. It might be my most played album.
I think you mean the Downbeat article. The issue has Kenny Garrett on the cover.
