Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[rollmottle]

wasn't quite sure where to post this, but here goes...

been listening to a lot of The Mac over here these days and have been especially focused on John McVie's bass work. dude lays down the groove like nobody's business...ridiculous really. love that deep, taut sound especially on their huger records -- Fleetwood Mac, Rumours, Tusk.

anybody have any idea on the signal chain producing that sound? or a best guess as to what it might have been and/or techniques on how to approximately get there? (notwithstanding million dollar 70s studio big budgets of course...)



cheers.

[maxdimario]

bass playing is mostly in the fingers and the strings/bass.

[rollmottle]

maxdimario wrote on Wed, 12 October 2005 05:03

bass playing is mostly in the fingers and the strings/bass.

ok...

[TotalSonic]

fwiw -
He was using a few Alembic basses (w/ active pickups) mainly during that period.  I love mine - they really are amazing instruments.  I have a feeling listening to the recordings that his sound is primarily DI on those records but I'm not positive.

Best regards,
Steve Berson

[Ronny]

TotalSonic wrote on Wed, 12 October 2005 11:17

fwiw - He was using a few Alembic basses (w/ active pickups) mainly during that period.  I love mine - they really are amazing instruments.  I have a feeling listening to the recordings that his sound is primarily DI on those records but I'm not positive. Best regards, Steve Berson

I didn't know that you had an Alembic, Steve. Great bass and one of my faves of all time for performance and recording. Ever played a Ken Smith bass, also one of my faves?

[jetbase]

if you check the credits on "Rumours" you'll see that they mention Fatbox DI's. i first heard about that from an engineer who owns several Fatbox DI's when he was telling me how good they are. apparently, when you bought them you had to give each one a name & that name was engraved on them. he said they were quite expensive. i'm now minding a couple of them while he is overseas & i love 'em. i don't know if you can still get them, i've been unable to find out any information on them, & the electronics are sealed in goo, so i don't know how they're made.

i can assure you that i've still had less john mcvie quality bass tones come out of that DI though, so it's obviously just one ingredient in the magic potion.

glenn

[maxdimario]

he still gets that 'sound' live.

a lot of the bass sound is tied to the drum sound as well as the rest of the instruments, too.

that album let the sparse bass lines breathe, which contributes.

[Ronny]

maxdimario wrote on Thu, 13 October 2005 08:17

he still gets that 'sound' live. a lot of the bass sound is tied to the drum sound as well as the rest of the instruments, too. that album let the sparse bass lines breathe, which contributes.

Mick is a tight drummer that doesn't over play, mostly just playing a good steady beat, which contributes to the bass being seated well, IMHO.

[Jay Scherer]

maxdimario wrote on Thu, 13 October 2005 13:17

he still gets that 'sound' live. a lot of the bass sound is tied to the drum sound as well as the rest of the instruments, too. that album let the sparse bass lines breathe, which contributes.

I would say the guitar sounds have a bunch to do with it - there's enough space to drive a Mac truck through there. Put that bass sound in with a wall of distorted guitars and you'd never even notice it.

And is there a bass player anywhere that doesn't play that line from "The Chain" in slack moments at band practice?