TrevorR Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 (edited) I've seen quite a few "fave bass line" type threads on here. However, I've not spotted anything just focusing on amazing recorded bass tones. And what I mean by that is that irrespective of how good/complex/funky/simple/rubbish the bassline the simple sound of each note sends shivers down your spine. So often the bass is a fine sounding thud or dommmmmm and the interest is in the playing style. However, sometimes the tone is to die for! Here are a few examples where I think the sheer sound of the bass is worth the cost of entry no matter what notes were played... Takin' It To The Streets - Doobie Bros, Tiran Porter. The bass sound on this track is sublime. From those first single and double notes right through. Round and hollow and woody with a great clank in the background all at once. Porter's funky playing is just the icing on the cake... Is this pretty much the ultimate bass sound, discuss... http://youtu.be/foEba5RQlOE Heat Of The Moment - Asia, John Whetton. In the breakdown section about 1 minute 45 seconds in he plays some simple hits and the bass tone is pure classic rock. http://youtu.be/cpxsMyoXUZQ Only Time Will Tell - Asia, JW The following track on that album has a pretty great bass tone too. Mostly just eighth notes on the root but the bass sounds lovely. http://youtu.be/_FqMJALd16I Black Moon - Emerson Lake and Palmer, Greg Lake Lake used a Mk 1 Wal Custom bass on this album. Once Keith has finished his widdley intro after about 50 seconds Lake and Palmer come in with a crushing rhythm based around simple double bass/bass drum hits. Promo video prop notwithstanding, Lake's Wal sounds absolutely immense, growly and aggressive. Mmmmmmm... http://youtu.be/Z16byMOSbqQ Love Is The Drug - Roxy Music, John Gustafson I love the aggressive punch in Gustafson's bass sound. Plus it's a killer bass line. JG was such a great player and always had a great bass sound. Punchy in a lo fi 70s way. This is a hand built P bass with overwound pickups built for JG by Ian Waller in his pre-Wal basses day. http://youtu.be/OtCVLtcfLi4 Wherever I Lay My Hat - Paul Young, Pino Palladino Of course... And I could have chosen any of Paul Young's big 80s hits. Come Back And Stay or Every Time You Go Away would have sufficed just as well to showcase Palladino's wonderful fretless tone. However, this one provides a whole intro and verse where the bass is particularly showcased. Even the OTT chorus and 80s production values don't detract from the sound but, rather, make it all the more charming. http://youtu.be/UefQPKl-6qw Finally... Tempus Fugit - Yes, Chris Squire Drama probably isn't the most well regarded Yes album but this "Yessles" project provides some real treats. Squire's tone on this track is immense from the initial bass stabs through the crazy riffage. The clanky sound shines even through the effects layered on top. Great bass sound, great bass playing. http://youtu.be/vzxZzIiO84Y Edited October 6, 2015 by TrevorR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogerstodge Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 This is the best bass tone I've ever heard although this is live, actual song starts about 1m 30s in http://youtu.be/4wsd-vRaVHE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 A good bass tone (or not) is entirely dependant on the arrangement and overall sound of the track in question. Something that sounds awesome on one track would be hideously inappropriate on another. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 (edited) Love the tone of the bass on the Doobies track at the start, but then felt it was a bit overbearing as the track, and the bassline progressed. Great call on Roxy, and of course Pino on Paul Young is leaning on an open door. One tone I have always loved is a very distinct technique - flats, pick and mute.I'll never use it, but here's my favourite example: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Nw0zzA9ceQ[/media] and then some wonderful fingerstyle from Bob Babbitt: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57Ykv1D0qEE[/media] Edited October 7, 2015 by Mykesbass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevB Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 [quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1444161617' post='2880842'] One tone I have always loved is a very distinct technique - flats, pick and mute. [/quote] Me too, how about a bit of this... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8Le8bH3Y8U Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 [quote name='KevB' timestamp='1444164213' post='2880873'] Me too, how about a bit of this... [/quote] Ooh, yes, good call. I'm going to find a way of using this sound in something one day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 I don't record much. Getting the tone you want live will always be a battle. There are just too many variables to get it right all the time. Blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Starr Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 This was the tone that made me want to play bass, almost anything on the album but the tone, the tone. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wAv0TplhNY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeystrange Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 (edited) I've always loved this... http://youtu.be/KQk8c-GYGO8 Edited October 6, 2015 by joeystrange Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted October 7, 2015 Share Posted October 7, 2015 For me the best tone in bass playing, in no particular order: Reggie McBride with Keb Mo. Cornell C Williams with Jon Cleary. Anything by Bob Babbitt and everything by Nathan East. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted October 7, 2015 Share Posted October 7, 2015 [quote name='KevB' timestamp='1444164213' post='2880873'] Me too, how about a bit of this... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8Le8bH3Y8U [/quote] Same Bass player on this track as well, I believe (Russ Stapleford). http://youtu.be/aaQWOne1sfo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
argibbo Posted October 7, 2015 Share Posted October 7, 2015 Dion and the Belmonts. "Teenager in Love". The person who recorded that double bass is a god. It sits there in the stereo mix and just growls at you. You can smell the varnish. "Katmandu" - Cat Stevens (from Mona Bone Jakon). Another double bass, but this one is MASSIVE. Careful, coz this track starts off quietly (so quietly that the tape hiss is very apparent) and then, wait for it.........a bull fiddle the size of a small planet! "From The Underworld" by the Herd. Recorded in the days when they mic'ed bass amps up. I love that phasey bass sound, all string and no body. Bet it played well on am radio. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colgraff Posted October 7, 2015 Share Posted October 7, 2015 Steve Harris's bass sound around the Tim of Seventh Son. Especially at Monsters of Rock 88. Its not a sound that would be appropriate in many scenarios but to me it complements the IM sound perfectly. http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ikOER7cEDGI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted October 7, 2015 Share Posted October 7, 2015 [quote name='argibbo' timestamp='1444198376' post='2880981'] Dion and the Belmonts. "Teenager in Love". The person who recorded that double bass is a god. It sits there in the stereo mix and just growls at you. You can smell the varnish. "Katmandu" - Cat Stevens (from Mona Bone Jakon). Another double bass, but this one is MASSIVE. Careful, coz this track starts off quietly (so quietly that the tape hiss is very apparent) and then, wait for it.........a bull fiddle the size of a small planet! "From The Underworld" by the Herd. Recorded in the days when they mic'ed bass amps up. I love that phasey bass sound, all string and no body. Bet it played well on am radio. [/quote] Dion sounds like it is thumping out from a jukebox - just like those sorts of tracks should! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted October 7, 2015 Share Posted October 7, 2015 [quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1444161617' post='2880842'] and then some wonderful fingerstyle from Bob Babbit: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57Ykv1D0qEE[/media] [/quote] I always assumed that was Jamerson. Either way it is one of those lines that gets better each time I listen to it, and each time I try to play it I realise just how subtle and nuanced it is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funky Dunky Posted October 7, 2015 Share Posted October 7, 2015 https://youtu.be/Hk7MCvCHNQA That's one of the few instances of fretless playing/tone that I actually love. Everyone loves Pino's line from 'Wherever I Lay My Hat' but I think the tone is horrid. It's a nice line but the tone isn't my cup of tea at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted October 7, 2015 Share Posted October 7, 2015 [quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1444205576' post='2881023'] I always assumed that was Jamerson. Either way it is one of those lines that gets better each time I listen to it, and each time I try to play it I realise just how subtle and nuanced it is [/quote] Definitely Babbitt (and sorry, missed the extra t in the original post). Yes, very cool line as well as fabulous tone. [url="http://www.bobbabbitt.com/disc.htm"]http://www.bobbabbitt.com/disc.htm[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
operative451 Posted October 7, 2015 Share Posted October 7, 2015 This is where i realised the bass is the lead instrument on a lot of music i love... Fuzz, nasty dirt... [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1AL2oTiTU0[/media] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrevorR Posted October 7, 2015 Author Share Posted October 7, 2015 [quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1444206558' post='2881039'] Definitely Babbitt (and sorry, missed the extra t in the original post). Yes, very cool line as well as fabulous tone. [url="http://www.bobbabbitt.com/disc.htm"]http://www.bobbabbitt.com/disc.htm[/url] [/quote] Was lucky to see the Funk Brothers playing at the Royal Festival Hall a (good) few years ago. What an amazing band and, while, Bob Babbitt probably gets overshadowed by the Jamerson legend a bit what an amazing player. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted October 7, 2015 Share Posted October 7, 2015 [quote name='rogerstodge' timestamp='1444160480' post='2880818'] This is the best bass tone I've ever heard although this is live, actual song starts about 1m 30s in [/quote] [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1444160997' post='2880825'] A good bass tone (or not) is entirely dependant on the arrangement and overall sound of the track in question. Something that sounds awesome on one track would be hideously inappropriate on another. [/quote] True - in fact, despite the examples I posted, to me, the bass tone on those early stranglers recordings were absolutely perfect and helped define that musical style. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted October 7, 2015 Share Posted October 7, 2015 [quote name='TrevorR' timestamp='1444208724' post='2881060'] Was lucky to see the Funk Brothers playing at the Royal Festival Hall a (good) few years ago. What an amazing band and, while, Bob Babbitt probably gets overshadowed by the Jamerson legend a bit what an amazing player. [/quote] Lucky man! I was going to use some of his work with Gladys Knight as an example, but on those recordings it was his lines and style, not the tone that stood out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted October 7, 2015 Share Posted October 7, 2015 2000, I took the family so see that gig. Midnight Train To Georgia is Bob Babbitt's tone at it's best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted October 7, 2015 Share Posted October 7, 2015 [quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1444209687' post='2881075'] 2000, I took the family so see that gig. Midnight Train To Georgia is Bob Babbitt's tone at it's best. [/quote] I had "If I Were Your Woman" in mind, but on second listening it wasn't as great as I thought, but we are talking headphones and compressed, nasty uploads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Number6 Posted October 7, 2015 Share Posted October 7, 2015 [quote name='colgraff' timestamp='1444200384' post='2880989'] Steve Harris's bass sound around the Tim of Seventh Son. Especially at Monsters of Rock 88. Its not a sound that would be appropriate in many scenarios but to me it complements the IM sound perfectly. http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ikOER7cEDGI [/quote] Aah Donington 88 those were they days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted October 7, 2015 Share Posted October 7, 2015 [quote name='rogerstodge' timestamp='1444160480' post='2880818'] This is the best bass tone I've ever heard although this is live, actual song starts about 1m 30s in [media]http://youtu.be/4wsd-vRaVHE[/media] [/quote] This. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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