wombatboter Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 Just bought a greatest hits-cd of Nik Kershaw and I didn't regret it...great songs with often great bass lines..I have two questions concerning his music : I remembered that Paul Westwood played that funky slap bass on "I won't let the sun go down". Anyone happens to know what kind of bass he used on that track (sounds a bit Wal-ish to me). Second question : I remembered that I was unable at the time to play "Gone to Pieces" (I just wasn't fast enough) but now as I hear it again I have my doubts if it isn't a programmed synth bass (on YT the live clips feature a synth bass).. Synth bass or not ? [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xGUoGoiL7A[/media] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 I vaguely remember reading an interview in a guitar magazine with Nik Kershaw. He openly admitted that he used to cheat loads with his bass playing, varispeed. Didn't his bass player use a JD ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderthumbs Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 Yeah he used a JD at some point, as I remember them playing a set on The Tube many years ago (at the time of Radio Musicola) and he used one on that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WalMan Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 I think you are right re the Wal. I have a recollection of seeing one in TV clips - which is of course proof of absolutely nothing at all as regards the recording! His recent albums from 15 Minutes on are worth checking out too, as is the website, which is fairly tongue in cheek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Glasgow Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 (edited) I love this song!! It sounds to me like the bassline uses an open F#. Maybe the bass was tuned up a tone (F#, B, E, A). That would make the bassline a bit easier. It's really hard to get the correct articulation otherwise. Another possibility is that it was played in E but then sped up. I dunno... Do any of you hardcore slap guys on here know how to play it? Edited May 31, 2013 by Kevin Glasgow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lfalex v1.1 Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 It's on Human Racing, isn't it? I'll have a listen tonight, but I can't slap for toffee! Might be able to offer some insight, though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 [quote name='Kevin Glasgow' timestamp='1370011106' post='2095535'] I love this song!! It sounds to me like the bassline uses an open F#. Maybe the bass was tuned up a tone (F#, B, E, A). That would make the bassline a bit easier. It's really hard to get the correct articulation otherwise. Another possibility is that it was played in E but then sped up. I dunno... Do any of you hardcore slap guys on here know how to play it? [/quote] That would tie in with my varispeed recollection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 Yes, Gone to Pieces was recorded at half speed and then speeded up. I remember reading this in an interview with NK at the time. And he played a Wal! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iconic Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 Wasnt nick a bass session muso....played for elton amoungst others......may of dreamt that though?!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynottfan Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 didn't Mark king play on some stuff for Nik to, iirc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Glasgow Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 [quote name='Lynottfan' timestamp='1370019169' post='2095675'] didn't Mark king play on some stuff for Nik to, iirc? [/quote] Yeah, he's on this track from Nik's second album 'The Riddle'. [media]http://youtu.be/67N6TLG2_L4[/media] It's a great track with some awesome bass playing! I love the way he plays the lick at 0:14 it's super tight! I would love to know if there are any other NK tracks with Mark on bass? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spacey Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 I doubt you could do any of this with modern recording, there is just no room left in the track for the bass tone once they have finished with the zero db compressor. basses were instruments in those days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WalMan Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 [quote name='iconic' timestamp='1370017957' post='2095651'] Wasnt nick a bass session muso....played for elton amoungst others......may of dreamt that though?!? [/quote] No guitarist. I believe he may have been in Elton John's band (?as MD?) for a while Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zero9 Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 If Paul Westwood played it at the time (1983), it would've been a Strata bass (early Status Graphite) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
louisthebass Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 I'm having lessons with his current bass player Paul Geary . He's on this YT video: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOT-c4Gc_WM"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOT-c4Gc_WM[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EMG456 Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 Enjoyed listening to that again. Human Racing always seemed to me to have the Wal bass sound written all over it - excellently played too, even if there was some studio skulduggery going on! He's a very clever writer and arranger as well - really like the way he handles the key change in Gone to Pieces. Looks like I'm going to have to pay another visit to iTunes... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kinder Posted June 1, 2013 Share Posted June 1, 2013 I was very into Nik when I was a kid but didn't see him live until last year in Brum. The first set was Human Racing in its entirety (brilliant) so they did play Gone to Pieces at album speed. Second set was other classics plus tracks from his latest album, Eight. Well worth a listen if you like early Nik stuff - I think he's a really strong songwriter. What hit me was how good his voice was live, plus his current bassist is outstanding. The whole band was to be fair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted June 1, 2013 Share Posted June 1, 2013 (edited) Some of you guys might well enjoy this track.... featuring NK on lead vocals and our own JD1 on bass! [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T64YKHUY1dA[/media] Edited June 1, 2013 by Conan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wombatboter Posted June 2, 2013 Author Share Posted June 2, 2013 [quote name='WalMan' timestamp='1370025373' post='2095779'] No guitarist. I believe he may have been in Elton John's band (?as MD?) for a while [/quote] I thought he played guitar on "Nikita" (with Dave Patton on bass) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted June 3, 2013 Share Posted June 3, 2013 Our current drummer played/toured with this unit with Paul Geary on bass, IIRC. I think it was regarded as a very tight gig at the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stef030 Posted June 3, 2013 Share Posted June 3, 2013 I went to see nik at the playhouse in edinburgh in the eightes t,pau were the support band,yes I know I am that old the bass player used both a jd and a wall during the set,was a really good gig, liked his stuff ever since,15 minutes was good just a great songwriter cheers stef Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted June 3, 2013 Share Posted June 3, 2013 (edited) At the time I always though the "slap bass" on the recordings was a combination of DX7 and Emulator patches. If you're a fan of Nik Kershaw you should read Giles Smith's book "Lost In Music" there's a whole chapter on Nik about his transition from being in a rather muso band to pop stardom from an fan's PoV. Edited June 3, 2013 by BigRedX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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