___---___ Posted October 9, 2008 Share Posted October 9, 2008 Hi. Can anyone tell me of an amp (preferably one in production currently) that can achieve that disco sound? Think of the bass tone in 'And The Beat Goes On' by The Whispers. I'm kind of trying to avoid tubes. Is it possible under the criteria? Thanks guys. X Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexclaber Posted October 9, 2008 Share Posted October 9, 2008 Lots to choose from. Your bass and how you play it matters more though! Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted October 9, 2008 Share Posted October 9, 2008 [quote name='alexclaber' post='303338' date='Oct 9 2008, 09:19 PM']Lots to choose from. Your bass and how you play it matters more though! Alex[/quote] I agree. Typical disco era basses were just the popular instruments of the time, ie. most of Leo Fenders designs - Fender Precision w/flats, eg. If Ya Think I'm Sexy (Rod Stewart), Fatback band tracks Fender Jazz w/flats, eg. Forget Me Nots (Patrice Rushen), some Abba tracks Musicman Stingray w/roundwounds, eg. many Chic and Brothers Johnson tracks. Louis Johnson had a very bright zingy sound whereas Bernard often had very dead strings. plus occasionally an Alembic would get used eg. Blame It On The Boogie (Jackson 5). Amp wise, Acoustic, Fender, Musicman and Ampeg would have probably been favoured. Acoustic were solid state and the rest were valve powered. Solid state back then were very expensive to mass produce. It wasn't until the advent of mass manufacturing developed for the computer industry that solid state amps became a lot more affordable. Cab wise there wasn't anything specifically disco either but HF horns weren't around then. So cabs would include 4x12 (eg. Fender), 2x15 (eg. Acoustic folded design) or 8x10 (eg. Ampeg). I'm not sure about how popular 4x10's were back then. Maybe some of the members who were gigging around then would like to chip in too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexclaber Posted October 9, 2008 Share Posted October 9, 2008 [quote name='Crazykiwi' post='303378' date='Oct 9 2008, 10:27 PM']Fender Jazz w/flats, eg. Forget Me Nots (Patrice Rushen)[/quote] Actually that classic line was played on a Fender Precision with fresh roundwounds - spank that P! Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayfan Posted October 9, 2008 Share Posted October 9, 2008 Try this one: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted October 9, 2008 Share Posted October 9, 2008 [quote name='alexclaber' post='303390' date='Oct 9 2008, 10:42 PM']Actually that classic line was played on a Fender Precision with fresh roundwounds - spank that P! Alex[/quote] Yes you're absolutely right, and I knew that but didn't check my typing before pressing the post button. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlosfandango Posted October 9, 2008 Share Posted October 9, 2008 There's nothing like an old Pbass with either flats or some old dead rounds DI'd direct to the desk, maybe a bit of opto or valve compression....yummy for disco and old school funk. I think. My favorite disco track would be Bee Gee's "You should be dancing" or "Brick House" with the Commodores....or anything by Chic...or "Stomp" with the Johnson Brothers....or...or Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodl2005 Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 I was around & gigging then-I WAS only 'bout 15y.o. tho!!! Above is all correct. I think a fair few used the "New" EV cabs with 4 x 10"s or 4x12"s as well as a 15" under 'em. Hard to beat a Fender P or J.-passive. & yep Chic= Music man Stingray-about the only active bass about then -widely used anyway-apart from Alembic. $$$$ anyone???? Turn off the tweeter on yr cab or use a sealed 810/610 I get great disco sounds using either of my Bergantino NV cabs-NV610 But I like the NV215 more!!! It THUMPS!!! & the Hi freq driver in it sounds good in ANY pos. so SMOOOOOOOTH!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Funk Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 [i]And The Beat Goes On[/i] sounds like a Musciman Stingray with dead strings DId into the desk. So I'd suggest getting a Stingray 4 (2EQ), a great DI (Avalon or something) and a very, very clean & transparent cab (eg. Acme). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 Bit of compression helps too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jensenmann Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 A lot of transistorized instrumental amplifiers suffered from poor electronic parts or poor electromic design. But this gave them a distinct sound. So if you want to sound like 70s get some of this equipment. Acoustic or Kustom comes to my mind. ... If I transfer this expierience to 2000 gear I´m asking me what will people in 2020 think about nowadays??? ("I need to get the bass-pod MKI first series with# below 666 for the sickest XXX-sound. That´s real vintage, hehehe!"). Maybe, who knows what time will bring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOSCOWBASS Posted October 13, 2008 Share Posted October 13, 2008 I was using this for lots of disco...late 70's[attachment=14728:ih_bass_crop.jpg] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick Posted October 13, 2008 Share Posted October 13, 2008 (edited) [quote name='MOSCOWBASS' post='305739' date='Oct 13 2008, 07:42 PM']I was using this for lots of disco...late 70's[attachment=14728:ih_bass_crop.jpg][/quote] I love this photo. Cool looking amp, carpet, wallpaper, decor etc.....Nice! Edited October 13, 2008 by nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted October 13, 2008 Share Posted October 13, 2008 Got to have a coily lead for that authentic sound! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lee650 Posted October 13, 2008 Share Posted October 13, 2008 "Forget me nots" as played on a p bass by "ready freddie washington" who now plays ken smiths just like crazykiwi cool!!!! Yes you're absolutely right, and I knew that but didn't check my typing before pressing the post button. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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