South Side Of The Sky - what bass?

[pekka]

Hi and sorry if this has been done already but I recall reading that somebody said "South Side Of The Sky" was played on a Thunderbird and as I'm listening to it now I have to admit that it could be. Or did Chris have his non-reverse back then? If not, could he have used the two pickup Telecaster instead?

[just_bassics]

Ah, you speak of my favorite track! On the Fragile recording, Chris uses either his Telecaster Bass (most likely, since it is pictured prominently in pictures from that period) or his Jazz Bass (not certain he had his Jazz Bass then) but it was certainly not the Ric. I don't think the T-Bird showed up before Tormato or thereabouts... In concert in 2003 and most recently, last year's European tour, Chris uses either the green Maroudian CS-74 or his Jazz Bass.

That middle section of South Side is all Chris, where he demonstrates his unique vocal arranging style with some nice bass playing as well, and also served to solidly introduce Rick Wakeman to Yes fans. Bill Bruford is near perfect in his sycopated style. Coupled with the opening and closing guitar playing from Steve and Jon's clear storytelling, I still think that track is the perfect Yes song.

For Steve Howe fans, you're hearing Steve on his Gibson ES-5 Switchmaster and not his trademark ES-175, which on Fragile appears only on Heart of the Sunrise.

Chris' long lost Telecaster Bass was returned to him two years ago with the help of a very good friend of his and some alert forum members who spotted it on sale in Europe.

[ram]

I had always understood it to be the Telecaster bass on South Side of the Sky. This is the first Yes tune I ever heard and one of my favorites of all times. Great analysis and trivia elucidation Jim.

[kennyhowes]

waitaminutewaitaminutewaitaminutewaitaminute

Are y'all saying that "Roundabout" (which is on Fraglie) is NOT the 4001S?

[teeder]

waitaminutewaitaminutewaitaminutewaitaminute

Are y'all saying that "Roundabout" (which is on Fraglie) is NOT the 4001S?

Say it ain't so!
I wouldn't want to have to sell all my Ricks and start searching for Tele basses! (Not!)

[pekka]

Ah, you speak of my favorite track! On Fragile, Chris uses either his Telecaster Bass (most likely, since it is pictured prominently in pictures from that period) or his Jazz Bass (not certain he had his Jazz Bass then) but it was certainly not the Ric. I don't think the T-Bird showed up before Tormato or thereabouts... In concert in 2003 and most recently, last year's European tour, Chris uses either the green Maroudian CS-74 or his Jazz Bass.

Well, he had the non-reverse T-Bird in 1975 already because it was used on "Safe".

Anyway, the Telecaster maybe the answer. The sound is definitely different from other tracks, more throaty maybe and without the roundness of the Rick's neckpickup.

[pekka]

waitaminutewaitaminutewaitaminutewaitaminute

Are y'all saying that "Roundabout" (which is on Fraglie) is NOT the 4001S?

No no, of course not. "South Side Of The Sky".

[just_bassics]

waitaminutewaitaminutewaitaminutewaitaminute

Are y'all saying that "Roundabout" (which is on Fraglie) is NOT the 4001S?

No, no, no, I was referring to Steve's guitar selection at that point in my post! I have edited my first post for a little more clarity. We're only discussing "South Side" here, althought the entire record warrants a thourough discussion at some point...

[johnallg]

Man, I've listened to this a million times learning the part and find it hard to believe it was not the RM! I can get that tone out of my RIck.....

[pekka]

Man, I've listened to this a million times learning the part and find it hard to believe it was not the RM! I can get that tone out of my RIck.....

I can too, from my '91 4003 using the bridge PU.

Where the info that Chris used the Tele came from?

[miguelbass]

In concert in 2003 and most recently, last year's European tour, Chris uses either the green Maroudian CS-74 or his Jazz Bass.

I know this is not so important in a Rickenbacker forum but it's a Precision Bass that used recently for SSotS, and not his Jazz Bass. However it was the Mouradian that was used on the present tour.

Glad Telecaster came back to Chris' hands... It was still missing by the time of his interview on the Expanded FooW DVD... (late 2006).

I was so surprised when I heard for the first time that it's not the RM or indeed any RiC bass on SSotS!... As Mike Tobias once said (not exact words but...) if Chris will play another instrument, it will still sound like Chris because most of the tone comes from his fingers.

Miguel

[wayang]

Back in the early, cutting-edge days of small portable cassette players and tiny headphones, I used to listen to music during long Antarctic travelling...on a C-130 flying to Pole, in a helicopter with scientists, or in a tracked vehicle traversing the ice shelf to check survey points. My favorite songs for those occasions were ones that seemed to capture the majestic weirdness of the place...at the top of the list: 'South Side Of The Sky', and Bill Bruford's 'Sahara Of Snow' and 'Springtime In Siberia'.

[just_bassics]

Dane, I had a good friend back in the 80's, in my Navy days, that did a tour at Operation Deep Freeze. He told me about rare days off when he could go explore the ice caves of the Antarctic, eerily lit by ultraviolet rays to a deep purple hue in the darkness. I could imagine "SSOTS" being the soundtrack to such explorations.

Miguel, correct as usual, I meant to say that Chris used the Lakland Precision for SSOTS and not the jazz bass. Does use the Mouradian as well, and must like those still to this day, 'cause I can't seem to convince him to sell me one! For the record, I want the silver Reality model, big birthday's coming up if anyone's feeling generous! (50, and no, you won't find one, only fifteen made, according to Jim Mouradian).

[wayang]

A million miles away, it seemed...

...from all of eternity...

[BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS]

that shot in his flat has a sister shot in the paper stock picture book inserted in early gatefold versions of fragile which i have. anyone want to post it ?