Cosmo Valdemar

[quote name='Meddle' timestamp='1480199179' post='3182527'] I think the Isle of Wight gig was maybe recorded oddly. There are times when Roger Daltrey is standing closer to Entwistle's amps and you can hear his treble signal bleeding into the vocal mics. It is possible that only the bass amp in his bi-amp rig was committed to tape for whatever reason. The second thought I've had is that Entwistle might have taken that black Precision bass along at the last minute, as we don't see it again onstage. It might not have been setup to his exacting low-action specifications. I do sometimes wonder if the 'Slab tone' is actually a conglomeration of newly introduced roundwound strings on a P bass, with the foam mute removed and the action lowered. This is combined with newly invented 100 watt amplifiers setup in a newly invented bi-amp setup. If, prior to that, the only P bass tone committed to tape was that created with stiff flatwound strings, foam mutes, high action and an Ampeg B15 rumbling away. I think that maybe a few different things happened to converge in one place, right at the time that the first Slabs hit the UK market. I think the following Move clip has a Slab-like grind to the bass tone, but it looks like a normal P bass. [media]http://youtu.be/ELRHD4UCo74[/media] [/quote] Although the balance is a bit different to Live at Leeds - IOW seems to have the bassier side more prominent, whereas Leeds is all about the treble - I don't think the IOW recording is defective in any way. The treble is side is still clearly there, as heard on the My Generation solo and the into to 1921 for example. It's just not as prominent as it is at Leeds. Also, the IOW recording as a whole sounds less polished and more raw. another argument is that JE would never have allowed the IOW set to be released had his bass not been recorded properly! As mentioned before, the black P bass was used because it matched the skeleton suit - nothing more. As for the Move clip, the main similarity I can hear is that the bass is being played through - presumably - a guitar amp. However it sounds to me like flatwounds, and very much a 'standard' Precision. I don't think I've mentioned it before on here but a few months ago I got hold of an old Yamaha Attitude bass - the humble mono version from the 90s. To my absolute delight it seems to have that distinctive extra growl to the tone usually attributed to the Slabs. Now, appearances aside, my Attitude is very much a Precision, but with one difference - a maple-capped neck. As we know this is one of the fabled Slab 'oddities' that could have contributed to the tone. On my experience with the Attitude, I honestly think this could be the key to the tone. I'm now itching to get my hands on a Roger Waters sig as this also has a maple-capped neck. If my logic is correct this [i]should[/i] be able to pull of a similar trick - once the pickup had been changed of course. [quote name='EliasMooseblaster' timestamp='1480331473' post='3183340'] This has been mentioned a couple of times now, and has got me wondering...was he actually bi-amping this early? I am fully prepared to stand corrected, but I thought he only started splitting the signal when he moved over to Sunn amps and more exotic basses. [/quote] Although JE's rig became more complicated in later years with the stereo Alembics and frequency splitting etc, his setup at the time of Leeds/IOW was to run two stacks, one clean(ish) and bassy, the other driven and trebly, with the bass running to both.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1480066993' post='3181366'] If you are on a desert island by yourself it doesn't matter what tone you have. They all work. [/quote] That's the spirit!

Cool pic. You wouldn't catch me up there though!

The shape of the headstock is completely wrong to boot. Is this on Ebay, or a local sale? I'd hate to think of someone else getting ripped off.

Top chap, Lee. Very down to earth. We had a nice chat in the gents at the LBGS a few years back. He was disappointed at having to miss Roger Glover. [quote name='TrevorR' timestamp='1479072598' post='3173755'] Factoid... for the new ELO line up Jeff Lynne basically took all of Take That's touring band and added strings. [/quote] That's a factlet 😉

[quote name='Delberthot' timestamp='1478819723' post='3171979'] I'm always looking for Cheap Trick to come back [/quote] I'd love to see Cheap Trick.

[quote name='roceci' timestamp='1478869573' post='3172243'] They're after a bassist, we're all bass players...chuck us a link to the ad so we can string em along a bit [/quote]

Ha! I'm only up the road as well!

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1478687572' post='3170880'] I have no interest at all in groove, or in 'locking in' with a drummer. I prefer sound, texture and colour in music. [/quote] They aren't mutually exclusive...

I love a bit of Floyd - Animals is my favourite. I even own a pair of Converse with the Battersea Power Station artwork. They don't fit, but I digress. It's funny, it really took them a good few years to hit their stride - the Barrett years could be a different band entirely, and the pre-Echoes Gilmour output was uneven to say the least. Thank God they were given the chance to grow. Despite all this, I really can't get on with WYWH.

Are Gibson really discontinuing them?

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1478128256' post='3167075'] If I was playing metal I would daisy up 2 Orange tube rigs, one bass and one guitar rig with several fuzz, distortion and octave pedals. Any decent bass would work. Blue [/quote] Sir clearly has a very limited grasp of metal.

What were you all expecting, Motorhead?!

You don't need to add disclaimers Blue. This is quality stuff. Ringo sounded great, all out of key and nervous 😃

[quote name='Dropzone' timestamp='1478008970' post='3165945'] Third, with the presumption it is the pickups, what would people recommend for metal? [/quote] Do you mean with regard to replacement pickups?

F! I used to tune my bass to it as a young'un.

[quote name='AndrewJordan' timestamp='1477749596' post='3164268'] "Scientifically tuned, just as if they were real instruments" [/quote] 😂 Wonderful clip!

[quote name='Bassman Sam' timestamp='1477427335' post='3162213'] I think Yew Tree was flawed. It pulled in people that were innocent and let offenders go. Pete Townshend is still to release his book that he was " researching" [/quote] I appreciate it's not always easy when you're on the cutting edge of humour but it's always best to get your facts straight. His autobiography came out a few years ago. Still, it's a hilarious joke. "Where's the book, Pete?" - funny stuff, man.

Just another example of the general lack of respect given to working musicians. I would have insisted on sticking to the original agreement as well, regardless of the small audience - but if your band disagrees there's not much you can do. Definitely one to politely 'discuss' with the Landlady.

Go back with £800 cash. I reckon they would quickly change their tune!

[quote name='Bassmonkey' timestamp='1476971376' post='3158920'] Now I like it but the luthier was suggesting a black or white one.....will see Thanks though [/quote] I've got a spare mirror and white tort GL scratchplates if you're interested...

[quote name='dudewheresmybass' timestamp='1476967434' post='3158875'] IMO when played live the new material sounds killer. [/quote] +1 The live clip of Hardwired, released at the same time - awesome. The guitars are far, far heavier.

[quote name='Bassman68' timestamp='1476956032' post='3158732'] I've got enough basses in my collection, I don't think I can sneak another one in, but I've just clocked the Epiphone EB3 & I'm feeling weak! Help.. [/quote] The Epiphone EB3 won't be quite right as it's long scale. The bridge pickup - which is the root of the Andy Fraser tone - sounds too tight and burpy on a long scale bass. Short scale retains a lot more woomph for want of a better word. I speak from experience!