All Right Now - But Not On A Stingray

[Hobbayne]

We had a new singer come to rehearsal tonight, and we ran through our set list for him.
He wanted to have a go at All Right Now by Free. I had my MM Stingray and was playing with a pick all evening. When we got to he bass solo part, what a racket! Oh well, you live and learn!

[risingson]

Can't you dial back the treble on the preamp? I like (love) the sounds of Stingrays but I hate the sound of them with the treble on them ramped up, it gets really clicky. If ever get round to owning one I'd probably string it with flats to take the edge off the aggressiveness a little.

[BB3000S]

+1 on dialling back the treble - ever so slightly and the harshness is but a thing of the past.

[Hobbayne]

Yes I did cut the treble, but it did seem to reduce the presence of the bass a bit.

[mike257]

I used to have loads of problems with rattling on my 'ray, now I have it set up with action you could drive a bus under and it sounds immense! Maybe a quick lift of the strings will help you out.

[casapete]

I used to play this song on my Stingray - back treble off and whack the mid and bass up a touch and you have
a Gibson EB3 ish tone. That's why I love Stingrays, so versatile and useful.

[arthurhenry]

The important thing is - did he play the open A rhythm against the high G/D F#/D, or cop out like so many players do?

[Monckyman]

Keep the Ray, ditch the song.

[Happy Jack]

[quote name='arthurhenry' timestamp='1327412969' post='1510756']
The important thing is - did he play the open A rhythm against the high G/D F#/D, or cop out like so many players do?
[/quote]

Cop out is the way to go ... far too much like hard work for a pub gig.

[bassmachine2112]

I had the same problem.
I dropped the pick up down and it helped.
The solution for me was to fit a seymour duncan smd 4ds pick up.big growly purring machine now.
Purrfect for me

[leftyhook]

Ah..Andy Fraser. It's all about the tight short notes which I don't believe you can get with a pick. He used the bridge pick-up on his EB, but the guy had funky fingers.

Finger style it has to be for Free. Listen to the bass solo on the studio version of Mr Big. "bo-bo-bo-bo-bo-bo-bo-...." the gaps are essential and come from the playing style.
I analysed his playing from me being 14 years old and it has definitely been entrenched into my own style.

The lead into the guitar solo on Alright Now (not a bass solo!) was created to fill out the song for the lack of keyboard/guitar when playing live.
So you HAVE to play the open A whilst doing the noted up the top of the neck.!

Edited January 24, 2012 by leftyhook

[witterth]

Stingray eq, Allright Now, this works for me,no treble, mid half way and bass full
and defintley use your fingers.
high G/D/F# at the dusty end
there may well be a kind of "thumbed" low E in between those notes, never could quite tell
Chorus is mainly A & F#/E stay away from the D now!

[arthurhenry]

[quote name='witterth' timestamp='1327425082' post='1511026']
Stingray eq, Allright Now, this works for me,no treble, mid half way and bass full
and defintley use your fingers.
high G/D/F# at the dusty end
there may well be a kind of "thumbed" low E in between those notes, never could quite tell
Chorus is mainly A & F#/E stay away from the D now!
[/quote]

As mentioned above, there is a VITAL open A between and along with the high notes. So many players miss it and ruin the part as a result. It's not hard to do!

Edit: Play the low part with an open A too, rather than 5th fret to make the next bit easier. A bit of muting is required for this.

Edited January 24, 2012 by arthurhenry

[Len_derby]

It's a bit easier to hear what Fraser is doing on 'All Right Now' on the 'Live' album by Free.

For anyone not familiar with it, that's a brilliant album.

[leftyhook]

[quote name='Len_derby' timestamp='1327430540' post='1511152']
It's a bit easier to hear what Fraser is doing on 'All Right Now' on the 'Live' album by Free.

For anyone not familiar with it, that's a brilliant album.
[/quote]
It is, groooves like hell.

Getting really 'anoraky' here, but the live All right Now has a different line during the chorus. He hits a G,( pushed with the rest of the band) rather than sticking on an A through the chord changes. He also plays the low A rather than the middle during the chorus.

I know, I need a hobby.

Edited January 24, 2012 by leftyhook

[mep]

[quote name='Monckyman' timestamp='1327417294' post='1510867']
Keep the Ray, ditch the song.
[/quote]

+1

I string mine with nickel roundwounds which helps a bit. It's a 2 band eq Ray & I have bass & treble up full and use a pick for quite a few songs.

[leftyhook]

2 different topics here! I love Musicman basses. Wish i had one.

But, despite All right now being one of my least favourite Free songs, I love Fraser's playing more.

Ditch the song and play Mr Big instead

[BILL POSTERS]

Like someone else already said. Why mess about - Just ditch the song.

Its naffsville baby.

[waynepunkdude]

[quote name='Monckyman' timestamp='1327417294' post='1510867']
Keep the Ray, ditch the song.
[/quote]

Yep, just reminds me of sh*t chewing gum ads.

[waynepunkdude]

[quote name='waynepunkdude' timestamp='1327447902' post='1511578']
Yep, just reminds me of sh*t chewing gum ads.
[/quote]

Not the best flavour TBF.

[leftyhook]

Fraser and Rodgers can live on the royalties from this one song alone.

[Monckyman]

[quote name='leftyhook' timestamp='1327448187' post='1511585']
Fraser and Rodgers can live on the royalties from this one song alone.
[/quote]
Bully for them, the song is utter drivel dadrock posturing hoary old bollocks.
I`m constantly amazed that bands seem to think they have to play it.
It`s 42 years old ffs.
Best play something more modern sounding like "The Seige of Mafeking"

[leschirons]

I hate this song so I told the drummer that I was with about 10 years ago that none of the notes needed to play it are on my bass.

He seemed to accept that.

[risingson]

[quote name='Monckyman' timestamp='1327498280' post='1512304']
Bully for them, the song is utter drivel dadrock posturing hoary old bollocks.
I`m constantly amazed that bands seem to think they have to play it.
It`s 42 years old ffs.
Best play something more modern sounding like "The Seige of Mafeking"
[/quote]

People absolutely love it unfortunately.

[Marvin]

[quote name='Monckyman' timestamp='1327498280' post='1512304']
Bully for them, the song is utter drivel dadrock posturing hoary old bollocks.
I`m constantly amazed that bands seem to think they have to play it.
It`s 42 years old ffs.
Best play something more modern sounding like "The Seige of Mafeking"
[/quote]

I left a band after 4 rehearsals because they insisted on putting it in the set list. Plenty of bands do it and I didn't see the necessity in another one doing it. Come to think of it there are plenty of 'classic covers' I don't know how to play.