Roger Glover's bass sound

[Jigster]

...well in particular in Smoke On The Water - have been loving his sound and it just doesn't feel like it's finger style? Am I wrong?

Also, anyone know to what extent Deep Purple downtuned, guessing they must have - half a step, whole step?

[Clarky]

All the pictures of him I have seen show him using a pick

[Conan]

I would guess that he used a pick on that track, and quite a lot of other stuff. He does play with fingers as well though... His current sound with the Vigier basses is lovely!

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jp3de50_d8"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jp3de50_d8[/url]

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7xF51AFkys"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7xF51AFkys[/url]

Edited January 8, 2010 by Conan

[billphreets]

didnt he use a rick back in the day? p-bass too i believe.........?

[Conan]

[quote name='billphreets' post='705155' date='Jan 8 2010, 09:23 AM']didnt he use a rick back in the day? p-bass too i believe.........?[/quote]

The first of the two vids posted above shows him using a Rick (with a wierd pup arrangement!) on Smoke on the Water...

[paul h]

Not really much use but cool nonetheless. Edited January 8, 2010 by paul h

[Paul S]

One of the best bassists I have seen play live - from 70s to more recently. Nothing flashy but his fills are generally very interesting and many of them pretty bloody difficult. And, yes - he does play the occasional bit with his fingers but most of the driving stuff is done with a pick. I remember reading an interview he did where he goes into some detail about various methods he uses to change the sound, too - using the fat end to get a smoother paddling sound (along with palm muting) for the main riff on Black Night, for example. A generally unsung bass hero, IMHO.

[thunderbird13]

[quote name='Paul S' post='705292' date='Jan 8 2010, 11:13 AM']One of the best bassists I have seen play live - from 70s to more recently. Nothing flashy but his fills are generally very interesting and many of them pretty bloody difficult. And, yes - he does play the occasional bit with his fingers but most of the driving stuff is done with a pick. I remember reading an interview he did where he goes into some detail about various methods he uses to change the sound, too - using the fat end to get a smoother paddling sound (along with palm muting) for the main riff on Black Night, for example. A generally unsung bass hero, IMHO.[/quote]

+1 I tried working out some rainbow songs last year and there is a lot going on there that you dont realise until you start playing it !

[stevebasshead]

[quote name='Conan' post='705165' date='Jan 8 2010, 09:35 AM']The first of the two vids posted above shows him using a Rick (with a wierd pup arrangement!) on Smoke on the Water...[/quote]

The angled Jazz pickups were a mod done after the Machine Head album was recorded, his Ric was stock at the time. Lovely sound, different to other prominent Ric users a the time. Not sure what amps/studio magickery was used - anyone know?

His Ric is being discussed here at the moment [url="http://www.rickresource.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=392953"]http://www.rickresource.com/phpBB3/viewtop...11&t=392953[/url]

[Jigster]

+1

that's what I love about his Smoke On Water sound - there's a really punchy, sweet, to my ears, nicely overdriven kind of sound sitting there underneath - class. Love to know what his rig was

[RhysP]

As far as I know he used a couple of SVTs.

[Bloodaxe]

[quote name='Jigster' post='705119' date='Jan 8 2010, 08:47 AM']...well in particular in Smoke On The Water - have been loving his sound and it just doesn't feel like it's finger style? Am I wrong?[/quote]

He's used a variety of things over the years, but he's always brought Roger Glover along.



4:45 Sunburst/Maple P, pick between p/up & neck, palm resting on the ashtray. The amp's a Marshall (possibly a Super Bass 100), cabs appear to be Marshalls as well - no idea what's in them though (9:00 ish). BTW anyone know the source for this clip? It's obviously a TV studio, but it's very early DP Mk II.

[quote name='Jigster' post='705119' date='Jan 8 2010, 08:47 AM']Also, anyone know to what extent Deep Purple downtuned, guessing they must have - half a step, whole step?[/quote]

Never aware of them detuning - I'm sure Jon Lord would have had a few choice words in that department!. Smoke's in G, as is Highway Star. Lazy = F up to G up to A.

Great, great player - possibly the Definitive Rock Bassist. Sure, there are better players from a technical perspective - JPJ for one - but Glover kept it nailed no matter what was going down.

Pete.

[Jigster]

thanks for all the responses - i never thought to look on you tube durr!!

great stuff

[spinynorman]

The start of Smoke is great to play. The guitar and keyboard build a level of anticipation, but that riff doesn't really get under way till the bass comes in. Just hit those Gs like thunder.

[gaztone]

Hi Guys, Glover has always been a pick player, early purple days he used a p-bass, then switched to a Rickenbacker, strangely fitted with slanted Jazz bass pick-ups (perhaps to accomodate the narrower string spacing??) later switching to Vigier.

[spectoremg]

Thread revival time.
Been listening to Made in Japan lately and my ears are possibly deceiving me but is Jon Lord doubling up on some of the sub E bass on it? Any thoughts?

[Bbiigg Kev]

Decent bloke Roger, quality bassist as we all know, not PC in the lyrics dept, listen to All night long !!!

Vigier player for over 20 years now !!!

Stunning basses and guitars

Edited March 3, 2017 by Bbiigg Kev

[spectoremg]

Did he use the modded Rick on Who Do We Think We Are? The bass is awesome on that album.

[Cosmo Valdemar]

[quote name='spectoremg' timestamp='1488653297' post='3250852']
Did he use the modded Rick on Who Do We Think We Are? The bass is awesome on that album.
[/quote]

I believe he did... Still very Rick bit with a massive low end. I prefer his Machine Head sound, a bit more clank and definition. But they're both cool!