Cosmo Valdemar

Wow!

I don't think you want everyhting too tight. The song's supposed to be ratty and dirty - a bit of flop and rattle won't hurt. I played in drop C for years using 50 - 110 Rotosounds. But, for the heavier way of life, I much prefer downtuned 4 strings to fivers, you can get a far more aggressive sound. IMHO and all that.

[quote name='megallica' timestamp='1435299980' post='2807329'] I read somewhere that Jason used ESP basses on the garage days re-revisited ep. I think there is a pic of Jason with Cliffs Aria bass on the sleeve though. [/quote] It's definitely the Aria. Unmistakeable sound. [quote name='Funky Dunky' timestamp='1435306879' post='2807399'] Did Jason use a Spector on the black album? Always thought it sounded like a Spector on Enter Sandman. [/quote] Black album is mostly Spector, with some Wal I think. Jason played a Warwick 12 string on 'Wherever I May Roam', those great bit 'clannnggg!' sounds.

[quote name='lemmywinks' timestamp='1435231716' post='2806721'] Bass in Metallica has never sounded better than Jason's Sadowskys and whatever else he used to record (Zon, Spector, Alembic etc.). The guy had great taste in gear and a great sound. [/quote] I never though much of Jason's Sadowsky sound. I recall from interviews at the time that he was conciously trying to achieve a more Motown-inspired sound which didn't really work - subsequently his Sadowsky tone on record comes across as quite loose and undefined (ReLoad, I'm looking at you!). The majority of Metallica and Load was recorded with Spectors, with a bit of Wal here and there. I may be wrong but I don;t think he ever recorded with the Alembics in the studio. IMO his best sound is with Cliff's Aria Elite on the Garage Days EP. Brutally punchy and growly, and LOUD!

[quote name='Funky Dunky' timestamp='1435222540' post='2806582'] And don't get me started on Quirk Crammit. His note choice is just abysmal - but I give him all the credit in the world for his rhythm playing. Dude goes stroke for stroke with James Hetfield (fnarr) on those riffs, and he does it live. [/quote] On the early Metallica records, Kirk only played the solos. All rhythm guitar was played by Hetfield only. A common practice in metal recording though, easier to get a tighter sound that way.

If your vocalist has a limited range he might struggle with 'Saturday Night'...

[URL=http://s903.photobucket.com/user/ben_merrick/media/mother-of-god.jpg.html][IMG]http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac238/ben_merrick/mother-of-god.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Bass VI without question! Wonderful things, cool as hell. Always amusing to watch people's faces as they wonder where all the bass is coming from.

+1 Such joyous basslines, full of spirit and mischief. My favourite Tull period.

[quote name='dudewheresmybass' timestamp='1434629431' post='2801318'] I played three different levels of t bird the other day at Andertons. The entry level bolt on neck sounded terrible, but played ok, whereas the classic (?) set neck epiphone kicked even the USA version to the curb. The epiphone had a clarity and bite that the USA didn't. The USA sounded weak and lifeless to both myself and the guitarists I took with me. The USA left me cold, and wondering why it cost over a thousand pounds more than the epiphone model [/quote] Even in the video the Epiphone Classic Pro sounds livelier than the contemporary US model. I'm really not a fan of the current pickups though, all the treble and growl seems to have been lost. I reckon the Classic Pro would be great with a pair of Thunderbuckers installed.

[quote name='Cameronj279' timestamp='1434616538' post='2801153'] This may be a stupid question but bear in mind I know nothing at all about Thunderbird basses. Do they naturally sound very muddy and fuzz effected or is that a sound coming from the amp? [/quote] The guy's playing through a mic'd up SVT rig so there is a little bit of drive coming from there. I would much rather here a demo presented in this way as opposed to the usual clicky DI nightmares.

I've just stumbled upon these videos that might prove intriguing. I've no idea what the chap is on about but you get a good idea of the tonal differences between various Thunderbirds - some Gibson, some not. I'm a bit of a traditionalist when it comes to Thunderbirds and it's interesting to hear how different the modern version is to the 'classic'. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVPxnecYtMM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aDiy8nbYVA

[quote name='spectoremg' timestamp='1434563601' post='2800840'] Sorry, I meant after a certain period. Come to think of it it was around 90125 that they started to regress! [/quote] 'Progressive' was never anything more than a label anyway.

[quote name='spectoremg' timestamp='1434400288' post='2799291'] The trouble with Yes is they're a 'progressive' band who didn't progress. Mind they've had some fun along the way - The Buggles! [/quote] Yeah, 90125 sounds exactly like Time and A Word to me...

[quote name='chrismuzz' timestamp='1434352457' post='2798755'] That's very contradictory! Stringing through the body dramatically increases the break angle. This in some cases can make the string feel tighter and improve tuning stability. [/quote] It's still the break angle that causes the difference, not the fact that the strings are going through the body.

[quote name='6v6' timestamp='1434460422' post='2799783'] Undue snark IMO, everybody in the band starts the gig slightly reserved and nervous, then a few songs in it's starting to flow, everyone gets into it and starts digging in and/or turning up to keep up with the increasingly excitable and invariably gurning drummer. Happened in every band I've ever been in to varying degrees, been regularly gigging for over 20 years. [/quote] +1. Sound check always has a sensible head on. It's natural to dig in a generally play much faster once the adrenaline kicks in. And of course, once the room is full of people your finely-honed stage sound is likely to need rethinking anyway.

[quote name='seashell' timestamp='1434239013' post='2797983'] Never! Let your freak flag fly as long as you can. Look at Gandalf! [/quote] I've had long hair since I was 15. Every year I want to chop off the lot, particularly when the hot weather arrives, but I do feel like I owe it to someone. Powerful song, that. That Yes clip was horrible though. Veering close to parody. They should beg Jon Anderson to come back.

You lucky, lucky b'stard!