Mark Bedford - Madness... What strings did he use?

[miles'tone]

I heard Baggy Trousers for the first time in ages yesterday and was blown away by the tone of Bedders' P bass. Even better than I remember.
Anyone know what strings he was using back then? Can't find much about his gear on't'web.

[Highfox]

I guess Roto's were the order of the day for the British players.

[Thunderbird]

I think it was Rotosound

[ambient]

Bass strings ?

[TrevorR]

The strings of a dove, wah ho wah ho . The strings of a dove, wah ho wah ho...

[miles'tone]

[quote name='TrevorR' timestamp='1473965082' post='3134618']
The strings of a dove, wah ho wah ho . The strings of a dove, wah ho wah ho...
[/quote]
Very good 😀

[Cosmo Valdemar]

[quote name='TrevorR' timestamp='1473965082' post='3134618']
The strings of a dove, wah ho wah ho . The strings of a dove, wah ho wah ho...
[/quote]

😂

[Funky Dunky]

He's a cracking player, and has a great tone. Fantastic timing, too.

[Hobbayne]

His playing on the One Step Beyond album inspired me to pick up the bass.

[spectoremg]

Didn't he play on Wyatt's version of Shipbuilding?

[Hobbayne]

[quote name='spectoremg' timestamp='1474041439' post='3135247']
Didn't he play on Wyatt's version of Shipbuilding?
[/quote]

Yes.
Quote from Wiki

[i]Costello had produced what he described as "the best lyrics I've ever written".[sup][url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shipbuilding_%28song%29#cite_note-Sold_on_Song-1"][1][/url][/sup] In a 1983 interview with [url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NME"]NME[/url], [url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Bedford"]Mark Bedford[/url] of [url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madness_%28band%29"]Madness[/url], who played stand-up [url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_bass"]double bass[/url] on the single, recounted the history of the song:[/i]

[BrunoBass]

[quote name='Funky Dunky' timestamp='1473981108' post='3134776']
He's a cracking player, and has a great tone. Fantastic timing, too.
[/quote]

Wholeheartedly agree. A much underrated bassist.

[BrunoBass]

[quote name='Hobbayne' timestamp='1474024888' post='3135037']
His playing on the One Step Beyond album inspired me to pick up the bass.
[/quote]

Slightly later than One Step Beyond for me, but one of the first basslines I ever learnt was The Business (B-Side of Baggy Trousers). So many great bass players came out of the 2-Tone scene; Mark Bedford, Horace Panter, David Steele etc..

[Hobbayne]

[quote name='PaulGibsonBass' timestamp='1474228405' post='3136419']
Slightly later than One Step Beyond for me, but one of the first basslines I ever learnt was The Business (B-Side of Baggy Trousers). So many great bass players came out of the 2-Tone scene; Mark Bedford, Horace Panter, David Steele etc..
[/quote]

Oh yes, The Business was an instrumental version of a song called Take It Or Leave It.

[woodster]

I learned the bass by studying every bass line of every song Madness recorded, up to and including the acrimonious Keep on Moving album. There are many wonderful lines in their catalogue which inspired me from age 11 right through my formative years.
I would say I owe Mark Bedford a huge debt.

[miles'tone]

It's mind blowing what he (and the rest of the band) achieved so young. They were still pretty much kids playing way beyond their years weren't they?

[Lozz196]

We played at The 100 Club a few months back and Madness had been there the week before, so all their (named) coat-hangers were still on the rail. I simply had to use Bedders` one.

[bonzodog]

[quote name='miles'tone' timestamp='1474302108' post='3136952']
It's mind blowing what he (and the rest of the band) achieved so young. They were still pretty much kids playing way beyond their years weren't they?
[/quote]

Ive often thought that too. So young to be writing such great music. Same goes for the jam.

[Muzz]

His reworking of the bass line to Labi Siffre's It Must Be Love is just great, tho I notice in the vid he's playing....a Rick? Blimey... It is black and white, though

[lojo]

In not sure what to add other than , yes his tone is awesome , and it's a biggish band to cut through

[enty]

I agree with comments above - great bass player and we worth learning from. Any idea what bass he played on Jools Holland recently? It was a red P-bass type, but I don't think it was a Fender.

[enty]

[quote name='enty' timestamp='1476002204' post='3150286']
I agree with comments above - great bass player and we worth learning from. Any idea what bass he played on Jools Holland recently? It was a red P-bass type, but I don't think it was a Fender.
[/quote]I've just answered my own question...it was a Bass Centre Bruce Thomas Profile bass