U2 tribute band needs new bassist, a question for you all

[Linus27]

@police squad Another thing to remember is if you are playing to the original album recording, some of the earlier songs are tuned slightly different. I think from memory U2 used to tune down in the earlier days. I thought I'd mention in case it throws you out a bit.

[police squad]

  On 30/11/2024 at 10:58, Linus27 said:

No not really. In the early days he used to use a little chorus live on stuff around the War period (New Years Day) but generally no. He does like a bit of overdrive and has a Big Muff pedal but its used to add some grit mid range. He's a big fan of Ampeg but favours Ashdown as it gives him more control over his sound. He generally goes for a big fat bass sound which is typical P- Bass with an Ampeg/Ashdown with some drive behind it. He also uses a pick on the more driving stuff.

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Much how I am these days. Thanks for the insight 

[police squad]

  On 30/11/2024 at 14:01, Linus27 said:

@police squad Another thing to remember is if you are playing to the original album recording, some of the earlier songs are tuned slightly different. I think from memory U2 used to tune down in the earlier days. I thought I'd mention in case it throws you out a bit.

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I was going to check with the guitarist about keys etc. But again, thanks for the headsup

[Geek99]

  On 30/11/2024 at 17:13, police squad said:

I was going to check with the guitarist about keys etc. But again, thanks for the headsup

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Yes I read that in “the unforgettable fire” a book from about 1990 where Steve iredale described having guitar after guitar thrust back at him as no one told him to tune down to e flat 

[police squad]

It's a shame he didn't play one of these 

Ive just got it out after 3 years in its case

It's amazing 

[police squad]

it appears half the set is standard tuning and half is E flat.

Which is brilliant because it means I have to have 2 basses in different tunings and maybe a third as a spare!!

[Geek99]

  On 30/11/2024 at 17:13, police squad said:

I was going to check with the guitarist about keys etc. But again, thanks for the headsup

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I bought a u2 play along book once and all the sound tracks were recorded in c#, e flat a#, very annoying 

[Beedster]

  On 01/12/2024 at 15:25, police squad said:

it appears half the set is standard tuning and half is E flat.

Which is brilliant because it means I have to have 2 basses in different tunings and maybe a third as a spare!!

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No, you’ll need six, flats and rounds for each of the above 👍

[warwickhunt]

  On 01/12/2024 at 15:25, police squad said:

it appears half the set is standard tuning and half is E flat.

Which is brilliant because it means I have to have 2 basses in different tunings and maybe a third as a spare!!

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What is the guitarist doing?  I'm fairly sure I'd be negotiating to do one tuning or the other!    

[ezbass]

  On 01/12/2024 at 15:23, police squad said:

It's a shame he didn't play one of these 

Ive just got it out after 3 years in its case

It's amazing 

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That'll work I reckon. Who's to say any different? Oh yeah, anoraks. However, the last bass player used a Ric, that's even further off of the mark.

[Lozz196]

  On 01/12/2024 at 15:58, Beedster said:

No, you’ll need six, flats and rounds for each of the above 👍

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Good call, possibly a spare as well?

[Linus27]

Another thing Adam uses on a regular basis is a Moog Taurus but it may be a bit overkill 😂

[peteb]

  On 01/12/2024 at 15:23, police squad said:

It's a shame he didn't play one of these 

Ive just got it out after 3 years in its case

It's amazing 

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I think that the thing with doing a tribute to someone like Adam Clayton is that he isn't really associated with a particular bass, giving you licence to use any bass he might credibly have used. 

 

The guys I have known in U2 tributes have generally used a P bass of some sort, and they always looked and sounded right. If you like that red Precision, then I would use that - it will work just fine. 

 

Edited December 1, 2024 by peteb

[Lozz196]

That’s a very good call, he’s used plenty of different types of basses over the years so not really identifiable with anything long term or specific, realistically Precision or Jazz will cover the sounds needed.

[Geek99]

  On 01/12/2024 at 16:03, warwickhunt said:

 

What is the guitarist doing?  I'm fairly sure I'd be negotiating to do one tuning or the other!    

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Being slavishly adherent to the original would be my guess? 

[Lozz196]

Given that The Edge seems to use a different guitar for each song the guitarist will need a big van & deep pockets.

 

As a slight aside a mate of mine is convinced that different guitars/body woods/pickups/strings make no difference to the sound, and that the only thing that does is speakers.

 

So we’re telling him that from now on The Edge will just play a Strat for every song but that his roadies will be wheeling out a different cab for each, so he can get his sound.

[Geek99]

  On 01/12/2024 at 20:09, Lozz196 said:

Given that The Edge seems to use a different guitar for each song the guitarist will need a big van & deep pockets.

 

As a slight aside a mate of mine is convinced that different guitars/body woods/pickups/strings make no difference to the sound, and that the only thing that does is speakers.

 

So we’re telling him that from now on The Edge will just play a Strat for every song but that his roadies will be wheeling out a different cab for each, so he can get his sound.

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I agree in part, pickups and their construction and placement do make some difference- (a strat doesn’t sound like a telecaster and their size and materials are very  similar.
wood** less so as a factor … and I’m obviously right 

 

🍿….

 

** unless blesses by fairies back in 1961 of course …

extra 🍿

[Geek99]

  On 29/11/2024 at 14:13, police squad said:

Beautiful Day

I will follow

New years Day

Until the end of the world

Walk on

Desire

Angel of Harlem

All I want is you

Elevation

Vertigo

Even better than the real thing

Mysterious ways

The fly

I still haven't found what I'm looking for

Pride(In the name of love)

Sunday bloody Sunday

One

Bad (+40)

Where the streets have no name

With or without you

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May I draw your attention to Spanish Eyes? B side of Streets, very much a kick ass baseline. @ConstantineIsslamow posts a great cover version of it 

[Steve Browning]

  On 01/12/2024 at 15:23, police squad said:

It's a shame he didn't play one of these 

Ive just got it out after 3 years in its case

It's amazing 

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Very John Deacon. I would love one of those. 

[police squad]

  On 01/12/2024 at 15:58, Beedster said:

No, you’ll need six, flats and rounds for each of the above 👍

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ah yes, of course

[police squad]

  On 01/12/2024 at 19:37, Linus27 said:

Another thing Adam uses on a regular basis is a Moog Taurus but it may be a bit overkill 😂

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I did the taurus thing in my Police tribute, they're unique but not this time

[police squad]

  On 01/12/2024 at 16:03, warwickhunt said:

 

What is the guitarist doing?  I'm fairly sure I'd be negotiating to do one tuning or the other!    

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When I played on the same bill at Chinnerys, he used, a strat, a 12 string Ric, Gretsch, Explorer and something else I cant remember. This was for a 70 minute set. His rig was in stereo too. 2 x Blackstar heads and two 2x12 cabs. Guitars tuned to E and Eb.

Edited December 2, 2024 by police squad

[warwickhunt]

It's probably just me but I'm not a big fan of loads of guitar changes, regardless of whether the original band/frontman would have talked for a minute or 3 between every song... Bono's handclapping speech et al.    I drop tune my bass to D for 5 songs in my INXS tribute but all of those songs are grouped together to avoid unnecessary pauses/delays.  Tbh once you've done it a dozen times, you can drop and retune in seconds... virtually don't even need to use a tuner.

[Beedster]

Inspired by this thread, I'm listening to U2 today, and have to say what a damn fine listen it is, especially if you're a fan of solid power bass playing.

 

It might just be the random playing order, but I'd never noticed before just how Americana they sounded mid-late 80s?

 

Great gig though @police squad, I'm going to try to get to the Kent leg 👍

[Geek99]

  On 02/12/2024 at 12:09, Beedster said:

Inspired by this thread, I'm listening to U2 today, and have to say what a damn fine listen it is, especially if you're a fan of solid power bass playing.

 

It might just be the random playing order, but I'd never noticed before just how Americana they sounded mid-late 80s?

 

Great gig though @police squad, I'm going to try to get to the Kent leg 👍

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The Joshua tree stuff was inspired by US touring during war and unforgettable fire tours