Peter Gabriel-Sledgehammer

[LeftyBiskit]

Hi I've just been listening to Peter Gabriel's Sledgehammer,and I'm curious how to get that Bass sound,Has anyone got any Ideas?

[51m0n]

Its a very very compressed fretless IIRC

[Bilbo]

That'll be a Chapman Stick, won't it?

[51m0n]

See Q.9 here:-

[url="http://www.fretlessbass.com/LevinTonyInterview-01.html"]http://www.fretlessbass.com/LevinTonyInterview-01.html[/url]

[wateroftyne]

Fretless Cutlass II, played with a plec. Maybe a little bit of octavider going on?

[LeftyBiskit]

Thank's for that guy's-I will try those suggestions out,just as soon as I find the right setting on my pedal,the Tony levin interview was really helpful.

[ezbass]

Fretless MM played with a pick through an octave pedal (a bit of chorus won't go amiss either).

[Higgie]

[quote name='ezbass' post='686749' date='Dec 16 2009, 08:11 PM']Fretless MM played with a pick through an octave pedal (a bit of chorus won't go amiss either).[/quote]

That's exactly what I do. Fretless Stingray, Boss OC-2, Analogman Chorus. I play it with fingers though cos I suck with a pick

[ahpook]

iirc it was played on a fretless musicman sabre, with mutes

i may be wrong...i may be right.

[ezbass]

[quote name='ahpook' post='686784' date='Dec 16 2009, 09:25 PM']iirc it was played on a fretless musicman sabre, with mutes

i may be wrong...i may be right.[/quote]


You are correct Sir, TL still uses his fretless Sabre for playing this live with Peter Gabriel. It's the one with the THRAK sticker on it.

Oh dear I am a sad TL anorak!

[Low End Bee]

A big Earls Court 'tache is vital.

[Higgie]

Not the best example as the sound quality is sh*te, but you get the basic idea:



Also please excuse the sync issue, the sh*te playing, and intonation issues. On second thought, why the hell did I even post this video?

Edited December 18, 2009 by Higgie

[Conan]

Sounds OK to me mate!! Particularly attractive shot of the open wardrobe too!!

[ahpook]

[quote name='Higgie' post='687941' date='Dec 18 2009, 01:43 AM']Also please excuse the sync issue, the sh*te playing, and intonation issues. On second thought, why the hell did I even post this video? [/quote]

rubbish...sounds like a damn fine bit of playing to me !

and yes...nice sock pile in the background

Edited December 18, 2009 by ahpook

[mildmanofrock]

What's wrong with that? Sounds spot on to me!

[wateroftyne]

Very good!

[RayFW]

Here's a clip of TL playing live with a rather nifty cam attached to his bass:


and another where he shows his basses and briefly discusses his 'Sledgehammer' bass - a Cutlass II with graphite neck according to the vid:

[Higgie]

Thanks for the kind words peeps! Yup on second thought I should have shut the wardrobe door

Edited December 19, 2009 by Higgie

[wesfinn]

I've seen him using the cutless II for sledgehammer at rehearsals at realworld. incredible sound!

[lonestar]

I asked Tony Levin this at a Bass Clinic a while ago as we do it in my band.
Answer a Fretless Music man (I think) played with a pick, octave pedal and probably compression.

[lonestar]

I asked Tony Levin this at a Bass Clinic a while ago as we do it in my band.
Answer a Fretless Music man (I think) played with a pick, octave pedal and most probably compression; It was 1985

[Noisyjon]

Thread resurrection!

I saw this analysis/breakdown of Sledgehammer, with isolated parts, that recently went up on YouTube.

It's a bit 'all over the shop' but does a nice job and has Tony Franklin making an appearance as a guest contributor (Bass section starts 2:35 mins in)

Enjoy!

YouTube Link here    

Edited November 20, 2020 by Noisyjon

[Drax]

1 hour ago, Noisyjon said:

Thread resurrection!

I saw this analysis/breakdown of Sledgehammer, with isolated parts, that recently went up on YouTube.

It's a bit 'all over the shop' but does a nice job and has Tony Franklin making an appearance as a guest contributor (Bass section starts 2:35 mins in)

Enjoy!

YouTube Link here    

Love that, great level of detail he's pulled together. 

Great series in fact, now working through the others.. 

Edited November 20, 2020 by Drax

[Noisyjon]

32 minutes ago, Drax said:

Love that, great level of detail he's pulled together. 

Great series in fact, now working through the others.. 

Yes, I'm going to get into the other videos of his ASAP too.