Lozz196 Posted November 22, 2014 Share Posted November 22, 2014 Just listened to Tony Blackburns Pick of The Pops on Radio 2 - the 2nd half of the show was 1980. And it was bass-tastic! Really clear, up in the mix bass on most of the songs played, ranging from Bowie, Spandau, OMD, ABBA, Denis Waterman (theme tune to Minder). So much for progress in recording and better technology/gear, bassists certainly seemed to be getting a better deal back then than now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax Posted November 22, 2014 Share Posted November 22, 2014 Ha, yeah heard some of that too. We've just thrown a band together for a friend's party - Theme from Minder is a lot of fun to play (as is Theme from Bergerac!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted November 22, 2014 Share Posted November 22, 2014 Before I was born.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted November 22, 2014 Share Posted November 22, 2014 After my time... [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][size=3] [/size][/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][size=3] [/size][/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][size=3] [/size][/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][size=3] [/size][/font][/color] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spongebob Posted November 22, 2014 Share Posted November 22, 2014 (edited) [quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1416668652' post='2612508'] So much for progress in recording and better technology/gear, bassists certainly seemed to be getting a better deal back then than now. [/quote] +1,00000+++ on this. One of my (numerous) sore points is how 'bass' has been reduced on record in the most part for the last 25-ish years to a dull thump. Or in the case of 'Later' on the tele, off the map completely! On the radio this morning was Diana Ross' (admittedly quite poor) version of 'Why Do Fools...' - and first thing I noticed was the high-level bass in the mix. Bit too much slappy poppy for my tastes, but amazing how a 'pop' track packs so much bottom. Current case is the new Foos album. I actually like it (first 'rock' album I have for a while) - but besides the bass riff track (think it's 'Outside'), the bass tone on the album is, IMHO, rubbish. Just a load of floor-shaking mush in a wall of sound. All those lovely Precisions he's got as well! Bring back bass definition! Edited November 22, 2014 by spongebob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger2611 Posted November 22, 2014 Share Posted November 22, 2014 I am trying to ensure the bass is definitely in the mix [url="https://soundcloud.com/yodaclub/walkaway-radio-edit"]https://soundcloud.com/yodaclub/walkaway-radio-edit[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Apple Posted November 22, 2014 Share Posted November 22, 2014 [quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1416669980' post='2612515'] Before I was born.. [/quote] What, again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diablo Posted November 22, 2014 Share Posted November 22, 2014 I often get a comment or two that the bass is too loud in the mix during an interval etc. I ignore it. Stood beside my amp I set the vol so I can hear it clearly, but also so I can still hear the guitards and vox. I'm not in the business of turning it down so far I cannot even hear myself! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbayne Posted November 22, 2014 Share Posted November 22, 2014 And here is what we were all listening to in 1980. I was only 15 so was too young to understand the ways of the world. [url="http://bettylou.zzruss.com/no1hits1980.htm"]http://bettylou.zzruss.com/no1hits1980.htm[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spacey Posted November 22, 2014 Share Posted November 22, 2014 Software emulators and lazy engineers IMO. In those days, the Amp got a Mic on it. It sounded awful solo, but stick it in the mix and you had a bass guitar. These days engineers just want the bass done, standard software woofilater software and it sounds like a Tuba, dead as a door nail. Play any bass, don't bother changing strings, because when it goes through the software, your going out of the mix in to a dull far away sub sonic place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted November 22, 2014 Share Posted November 22, 2014 A lot of bassists I hear stuck permanently down the bottom of the mix are down there simply because what they're playing doesn't belong anywhere else. At the risk of being hanged drawn and quartered, if you want to move up the mix then you need to consider why you've ended up down there all the while in the first place. It [b]could[/b] be because of the genre you're playing and there's really not a lot you can do about that unless you can reinvent it in some way. On the other hand, it's very easy to hide behind 'muffle', especially if you're not confident, comfortable and/or committed in stamping your style or personality on the material. Even once you're 'there' you have to work at it to stay there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diablo Posted November 22, 2014 Share Posted November 22, 2014 [quote]At the risk of being hanged drawn and quartered, if you want to move up the mix then you need to consider why you've ended up down there all the while in the first place.[/quote] If you are talking about when playing live, well the bass player is usually the one stood nearest the volume on the bass amp... you are as prominent as you want to be. Failing that buying beer for the sound man if you DI will see a higher mix! For recording, well you've go to be vocal and make your case to lift yourself up so you are more than a muffled drone in the background. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted November 23, 2014 Author Share Posted November 23, 2014 [quote name='Roger2611' timestamp='1416688009' post='2612705'] I am trying to ensure the bass is definitely in the mix [url="https://soundcloud.com/yodaclub/walkaway-radio-edit"]https://soundcloud.c...away-radio-edit[/url] [/quote] And it certainly is, some nice melodic up front playing there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Adams Posted November 23, 2014 Share Posted November 23, 2014 I listened last week, 1970. Tony Blackburn (bless him): "And this will be No1 next week for one week, Jimi Hendrix with Voodoo Chilli" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Cloud Posted November 23, 2014 Share Posted November 23, 2014 (edited) The 80's was a stunning, innovative, exciting and creative time for bass players. There has been no other era to match it imho. This was the era of the Wal, Status, Steinberger, Jaydee, Vigier, Musicman, Alembic etc etc etc. Fenders were widely regarded as seriously boring and uncool. How things have changed. Edited November 23, 2014 by White Cloud Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted November 23, 2014 Share Posted November 23, 2014 c.1977 - c.1985: golden era of bass IMHO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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