Chris Squire's effects history

hieronymous · Post by **hieronymous** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 3:36 pm

I'm surprised that the Maestro Bass Brassmaster has only been mentioned once, in passing. Here and there you read that this is the distortion/fuzz pedal that CS used - is this legitimate? I've got a couple of the clones - Black Cat Bass Octave Fuzz and a Malekko Heavy Industry B:ASSMASTER - and they're kind of weird pedals. They'll give a face-peeling fuzz if you crank the gain, but actually there's a sweet-spot where you can get a Jimi Hendrix kind of an octave-up sound (like this).

I realize that I'm not really sure what I'm asking, maybe just some evidence of the Brassmaster (pictures? interviews?) and also how and when he actually used it...

revolver323 · Post by **revolver323** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 3:50 pm

Visit this M1,link for an interview with Chris about the Brassmaster and his equipment circa 1973.

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 4:40 pm

Maestro Bass Brassmaster Project

hieronymous · Post by **hieronymous** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 6:12 am

Thanks for that link Dave!

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 6:40 am

"...although the Rickenbacker company recently custom-made a 6-string bass for him."

Would this be the 4005/6?

seyesbass · Post by **seyesbass** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 7:31 am

I just bought the Boss FZ5 which has Maestro and Octavia fuzz settings.
I emailed Chris about it because I was hoping it had THAT sound but as yet I havent managed to get to the sweet spot on the Maestro setting.
At the end of the day I think the only way of duplicating Chris's effects set up is to have two amps and split the pickup signals.
Im sure my wife will understand when I tell her I need another SVT stack!

stevebasshead · Post by **stevebasshead** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 8:18 am

Pete, if a 2nd SVT doesn't get, er, authorised(!) you could try sending each pickup through separate FX but send the output from each FX into a decent small mixer. Then send the mixer's single output into your amp. Granted you'd not be able to EQ each pickup/FX independantly but it's another way to split the pickups without the cost/weight/transport of a 2nd amp.

I recently changed from a 2 preamp (SVP-Pro and Sansamp PSA-1) stereo setup to the setup I described above using just the SVP-Pro. Now, the neck pup goes through a valve o/d unit and the bridge pup goes through chorus/flange/what-have-you, then into the mixer and finally into the SVP+poweramp.

I only changed so that I could use a single DI-out for a couple of big gigs we just did. So the DI carries the signal with the two pickups blended to my taste. I didn't want to hassle the soundman for 2 DI's and expect him to blend the two pickups to my taste - we were very little fish on big gigs after all! I'm pretty happy with the results and haven't (yet) felt the need to rewire my rack back the way I had it before.

revolver323 · Post by **revolver323** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 9:18 am

"Thanks for that link Dave!"

Glad to help, Harry.

The Internet is a wonderful thing sometimes. I recall reading that article when it first appeared. I bought my Brassmaster for $20 in Cincinnati the same year. Unfortunately, it went away with all my effects when I "retired" in 1978.

seyesbass · Post by **seyesbass** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 10:00 am

Good setup Steve.
I have thought about a similar kind of split signal arrangement.
Only snags at gigs are the space and the setup time for all the gear.I have to make room for the bass pedals and backline for that too.

seyesbass · Post by **seyesbass** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 11:14 am

heres a stage we could get two SVTs on.

stage shot
band shot Limelight.htm (0.4 k)

seyesbass · Post by **seyesbass** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 11:15 am

OOPs!
dont know what happened there...maybe later.

seyesbass · Post by **seyesbass** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 11:31 am

I dont think I have this computer stuff down yet!!

We had a Spinal Tap moment in the soundcheck when the logo fell on the drummers head.
Wish I had a shot of that!
The argument that followed was worthy of Crosby,Stills and Nash fighting backstage at the Filmore.
The amp next to my SVT is for the synth pedals by the way.The song we are playing there is Gates of Delirium.

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 11:55 am

Pete, you guys need to tour the US, and stop here:

http://www.kazoostate.com/

Great smaller venue!

BTW, where I saw Hard Days Night and Help! back in the 60s. Also all the Disney movies played there also. You could just stay seated when the movie was over and watch it again, no problem. Bring your own popcorn in a bag too. Also saw Raffi there in the 80s with the kids.

just_bassics · Post by **just_bassics** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 9:19 am

Hey, where have I seen that bass before?

seyesbass · Post by **seyesbass** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 1:12 am

Wow!

Thats a gorgeous theatre.
Chris Bradshaw our keyboard player is an experienced organist and I could see him having a whole solo section on the theatre organ.
We are seriously thinking of the logistics side of going to the US and Canada.