Bob Babbit talks Motown technique

[Clarky]

Nothing too startling here but I found it interesting especially about playing softly (which he says Jamerson used to do, which is what enabled his facility of playing fast with just the one finger - the 'claw'). There's a few more videos in this series on YT but this is a starter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TI9iAkTSOd8

[lowdown]

Thanks for the link Clarky - great stuff.



Garry

[andydye]

He's a legend

[essexbasscat]

Thanks Clarky, what a great way to start Sunday, listening to BB

[Clarky]

The signature Fender bass he was talking about seems to have been ditched (see here [url="http://www.bobbabbitt.com/smf/index.php?topic=279.45"]http://www.bobbabbit...hp?topic=279.45[/url]). Whatever you think of signature basses, it seems a sign of the times that Biffy Clyro's bass player gets a signature bass (albeit a Squier) and Bob Babbitt doesn't!

Edited April 1, 2012 by Clarky

[Judo Chop]

[quote name='Clarky' timestamp='1333274940' post='1599397']
The signature Fender bass he was talking about seems to have been ditched (see here [url="http://www.bobbabbitt.com/smf/index.php?topic=279.45"]http://www.bobbabbit...hp?topic=279.45[/url]). Whatever you think of signature basses, it seems a sign of the times that Biffy Clyro's bass player gets a signature bass (albeit a Squier) and Bob Babbitt doesn't!
[/quote]

You know Pete Wentz has one too don't you?

[Jazzneck]

And thanks from me too.
Great stuff.

[Clarky]

[quote name='Jack Cahalane' timestamp='1333296748' post='1599679']
You know Pete Wentz has one too don't you?
[/quote]
[attachment=103903:scream-16_6155.jpg]

[Judo Chop]

[quote name='Clarky' timestamp='1333305264' post='1599829']

[attachment=103903:scream-16_6155.jpg]
[/quote]

Can't tell if that's sarcasm or genuine shock

[Owen]

That is righteous tone.

[thisnameistaken]

[quote name='owen' timestamp='1333355419' post='1600296']
That is righteous tone.[/quote]

And it took no mojo-inflated vintage gear to do it.

OK, so one heavily mojoed bassist.

[Owen]

What was the name of the mute thing he is using? I just cannot remember.

[thisnameistaken]

http://www.bassmute.com/bassmute/bm_mainframe.html

[Owen]

Pretty obvious when you think about it! Thanks. I shall have one when the time is right.

[EssentialTension]

It looked like one of these:




[url="http://www.bassmute.com/bassmute/bm_mainframe.html"]http://www.bassmute...._mainframe.html[/url]


EDIT: Hmmm, beaten to it by half an hour!!!

Edited April 2, 2012 by EssentialTension

[thisnameistaken]

TBH I wedge a slice or two of mouse mat under the strings and it does the same job for approx. £2, not found a compelling reason to spend £85 for a lever and a spring.

[Owen]

[quote name='thisnameistaken' timestamp='1333376907' post='1600779']
TBH I wedge a slice or two of mouse mat under the strings and it does the same job for approx. £2, not found a compelling reason to spend £85 for a lever and a spring.
[/quote]

So have I and it worked, thanks for reminding me. The way of GAS is magnetic and compelling. Just save £85. Score!

[Dash]

Nice video. Only problem is that it sent me down the Youtube rabbit-hole for over an hour.

[essexbasscat]

The only problem with the mousemat solution is that it can't realistically be changed between songs

Is there a cheaper version of some king of selectable damping ? (and not the palm of your hand )

[EssentialTension]

[quote name='essexbasscat' timestamp='1333401923' post='1601344']
The only problem with the mousemat solution is that it can't realistically be changed between songs
[/quote]
Why not? It only takes a couple of seconds.

[thisnameistaken]

Yeah it's pretty easy to stick something under the strings between songs. Admittedly you might not get perfectly even damping across all the strings but I doubt the old Fenders did either.

[essexbasscat]

Our band frequently runs one number into another, making the play list up as we go to keep the audience, especially when we're really cooking.

There's also a comment I remember reading around here a while ago that it only takes 5 seconds for a dance floor to go cold. There was some agreement on that at the time.

I can also easily imagine other members of my band getting more than a bit peeved when the bass player says 'hang on a second' for yet another time.

Still, that's just the band I'm in. I dare say the mousemat hoky koky may work well for others and fair play to them.

Edited April 3, 2012 by essexbasscat

[lojo]

Ive a bit of foam I can change in seconds, its taller than it is wide, so it gets pushed through sideways then turned into place, great when I go from a poppy number to a motown type feel

To be honest though, dont think anyone notices, but it gives me more confidence in my playing as I hear the sustain gone

[Sibob]

You can't really compare the Squier brand signatures to Fender brand signatures, they're aimed at utterly different markets

The BB signature looks nice, wonder if the bassmute will be standard.....assuming it gets made at all

Si

[Clarky]

Fair point about Squiers and different market ... But I am guessing Bob Babbitt has influenced many more than Pino Palladino for example and didn't Fender CS recently launcha limited ed signature in skuzzy black for some bassist I for one had never heard of?