Favorite Bass Sound? (Crazy on You, Takin' it...)

rickboy88 · Post by **rickboy88** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 7:02 pm

I thought I'd start up a thread about your favorite bass sound from a song or two by any group (hopefully this hasn't been covered before). What are they?

I was triggered to do this by hearing both "Crazy on You" (Heart) and "Takin' it the Streets" (Doobies) on the radio recently. I love the bass sound and bass part in both songs. Both also have a Ric-like sound, so I've always wondered what basses were actually used on those tracks. I've found footage of a Heart concert in the 70's and a Fender Jazz was used.
Tiran Porter (Doobies) played a Ric at one point in the 70's, but not sure if he used it on "Takin' it..," probably one of his best known bass lines. His Wikipedia entry notes that he's now gone mainly back to fingerstyle after being mainly a pick player.

Both bass parts are also up in the mix and fun to listen to.

kenposurf · Post by **kenposurf** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 7:19 pm

So many..two of my fave's both from the Stones...Jumpin' Jack Flash and Live With Me.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 7:59 am

Geddy Lee - Freewill (studio version)
Geddy Lee - Exit Stage Left
John Entwistle - Who Live at Leeds
Chris Squire - Fragile
Chris Squire - 90125
Animals - We Gotta get out of this place
Poison - Unskinny Bop
Genesis - The Lamb lies down on Broadway
John Whetton - pretty much everything he did with King Crimson
Adam Clayton U2 - Vertigo, New Year's Day
Paul McCartney - Come Together

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 8:22 am

What comes to my mind is not a "classic" one, but still, that's a bass riff that drives me nuts - from "Longview" by GreenDay.

charlyg · Post by **charlyg** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 8:23 am

Mel Schacher on Inside looking out, and Felix Pappalardi on Nantucket Sleighride! NOT a RICK sound!!!

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 8:39 am

"Hey Bulldog" and "Martha My Dear" - The Beatles (Paul McCartney on Rickenbacker 4001s)

"Tommy, Can You Hear Me?" - The Who (John Entiwstle on Fender Precision)

"Sloop John B" and "God Only Knows" (Really, all of Pet Sounds) - Beach Boys (Carol Kaye on Precision, Ray Pohlman on Danelectro, and Lyle Ritz on Upright all simultaneously)

"Handshake Drugs" - Wilco (John Stiratt on a Hofner Club most likely)

"Ný batterí" and "Glósóli" - Sigur Rós (Georg Hólm on Fender Jazz?)

"Blood on the Tracks" (album) - Bob Dylan (Tony Brown on Fender Precision?)

bitzerguy · Post by **bitzerguy** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 10:07 am

"Higher Ground" - Flea.
Geddy Lee - pretty much anything.
Stanley Clark - ditto

...Dean

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 10:33 am

Chalk up another vote for 'Freewill'.
Also 'Limelight' has a nice grind.

Most Smiths recordings qualify for great guitar & bass tone.

Pretty much anything I've heard of John Entwhistle's playing defines that nice, clear, piano tone.

peewee · Post by **peewee** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 10:47 am

For me it's a little varied;

Macca's tone during the Beatles period, regardless of which bass he used.

Fred Thomas or "Sweet" Charles Sherrell with James Brown/The JBs during the late '60s and early '70s.

Bruce Thomas on the first 3 Elvis Costello records.

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 11:04 am

Chris Squire: Heart of the Sunrise - studio version

Geddy Lee: Cinderella Man - Farewell to Kings

Whoever played bass with James Taylor when they recorded "your smiling face". Lee Sklar maybe?

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 1:49 pm

"Mel Schacher on Inside looking out, and Felix Pappalardi on Nantucket Sleighride!" Yes!
I love Felix's and Mels bass sound on any album, especially the red album.
Ron Wood on Beckola.
Chas Chandler on just about anything by the Animals.
I believe the guy in the Doobies used a P bass with a pick and always thought the Heart player played a Ric, not sure though.
Deep Purple around the Machinehead era.
First bassplayer from Foreigner had a nice sound for a softer sound, was a 4001, played up through Headgames I think.
Jack Bruce on West Bruce and Laing.
McCartney on Baby You're a Rich Man.

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 1:54 pm

I also liked Paul Goddard's tone with the Atlanta Rythym Section. Smooth but very Rickenbacker. Listen to "Spooky" and of course "Champagne Jam".

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 2:03 pm

Yes Goddard had a great tone, nice lines too.

woodyng · Post by **woodyng** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 7:14 am

i always thought "crazy on you" HAD to be a rickenbacker bass-but who knows? i love that sound,regardless. +1 to anything bruce thomas played,both his tone and his ability to come up with memorable melodic basslines. pete farndon.the bass guy in big country.the ox on "5:15". andy fraser.martin turner."starless and bible black"."ballad of you and me and pooneil".jack bruce. percy jones. chris wood.uh-oh,this could go on forever.....

phlemmy · Post by **phlemmy** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 8:51 am

Lemmy on all pre-91 Motorhead
Steve Harris on Iron Maiden's Killers
Dave Ellefson on Megadeth's Killing Is My Business...and Business is good
Phil Lynott on Thin Lizzy's Nightlife
DD Verni on Overkill's Feel the Fire
Francis Bucholz on Scorpions' In Trance
Rick Laird on Mahavishnu's Birds of Fire
Jody Henry on all of Omen's releases
Gary Thain on the early Uriah Heep albums