Author Topic: Another 'How do I get Phil Lesh's tone?' thread (Read 1383 times)

benson_murrensun · « **Reply #60 on:** January 24, 2011, 09:44:06 AM »

Gregory,
Yes, that's some bass overdrive from Phil! Thanks for the link. I like the tone, but I'm glad he usually plays it clean... 'cause I like that mo' betta.
Ben

glocke · « **Reply #61 on:** January 26, 2011, 03:21:08 AM »

So recomendations for a pedal to get that kind of sound ? I've tried a couple, and have yet to find something that does justice for tube driven bass overdrive??

Someone (James Demeter actually) suggested I try something called the Uberdrive, but I have not found a pedal like that anywhere on the internet.

benson_murrensun · « **Reply #62 on:** January 26, 2011, 09:55:05 AM »

I have been very happy with the SansAmp Bass Driver to add some overdrive. I have also toyed with the idea of getting a ZVEX Wooly Mammoth or a bass Big Muff, but those are kind of over-the-top, more heavy distortion than overdrive.

hieronymous · « **Reply #63 on:** January 26, 2011, 10:04:19 AM »

I would go so far as to say that the Woolly Mammoth is full on FUZZ, which doesn't play too well with active instruments.

dfung60 · « **Reply #64 on:** January 26, 2011, 10:29:41 PM »

It hasn't been made for years now, but I think the SWR Interstellar Overdrive (http://www.swrsound.com/support/manuals/pdfs/interstellarod.pdf) looked pretty interesting. I think this was designed in response to people requesting an all-tube SWR amp.

I've never tried one myself.

David Fung

sonicus · « **Reply #65 on:** January 26, 2011, 10:53:26 PM »

The SWR product is OK . But how about the Alembic F2-B with Channel 1 cascaded into Channel 2 ? I have tried it . It
works at getting overdrive distortion . It's Ok as well if distortion is what you desire. It can be pre amp as well as a multi- purpose effector. A big warm pre-amp sound if there ever was one.

811952 · « **Reply #66 on:** January 28, 2011, 08:48:31 AM »

Cascading channel 1 into channel 2 is the true beauty of the F2-B imo. Wish I still had mine.

John

slawie · « **Reply #67 on:** January 28, 2011, 05:54:10 PM »

I just tried cascading my F2-B yesterday.
Had my Jazz bass with Alembic pickups into
1 of channel A and cascaded into 1 of channel B
Talk about getting the warm fuzzies!
The power amp was set to parallel out so that I
could get sound out of both speakers what can I
say but......

Holy snappin' rsoles Margaret!

slawie

moonliner · « **Reply #68 on:** February 21, 2011, 05:43:34 PM »

I'm sure this question is answered somewhere in the forum already, but what bass is Phil using on American Beauty? It sounds similar to my favorite GD release, Europe 72 but I don't think Phil had the Godfather at the time of recording American Beauty...
Thanks. I love this forum.

edwin · « **Reply #69 on:** February 21, 2011, 06:12:04 PM »

My guess is the modified Gibson EB3. It's possible that it was the Starfire, but I doubt it. The similarities are due to Pyramid strings, short scale, Alembic modifications, amplification and Phil's fingers and mind.

sonicus · « **Reply #70 on:** February 21, 2011, 06:17:32 PM »

Might be_ The Alembic Modified EB3 with Guild/ Hagstrom Pickups.
Pickups might have had additional magnet material and wired with Darlington Pair emitter circuit.___ (RCA 3018) MIGHT BE ? I really like the tone from that Bass as well as I have noted on this site a few times . I have read that that Bass was stolen at some point .
SAD_______

Happy tone searching, and as always ,
Sonic Regards __________

sonicus · « **Reply #71 on:** February 21, 2011, 06:20:56 PM »

Edwin is right , it also could have been the Starfire . And also the Pyramid Gold strings , I still use those on occasion as well.

edwin · « **Reply #72 on:** February 21, 2011, 06:24:07 PM »

The EB3 was stolen and then turned up in a music store in the late 70s. Some guy bought it for $400 and offered it back to Phil for that price and he refused. I think it was Dan Schwartz who relayed that story. He got to play it at the time. From there, who knows where it went? It's probably sitting in a closet somewhere. It is a great sounding bass. I tried to get an early 60s EB3 to sound like that (it had one of the very first sets of Dark Stars on it), but it didn't ever quite capture the tone. My Starfire is closer.

dadabass2001 · « **Reply #73 on:** February 22, 2011, 12:02:35 PM »

IIRC, doesn't Phil play the EB3 in Festival Express? What a DVD!
Mike

sonicus · « **Reply #74 on:** February 22, 2011, 12:39:59 PM »

Yes, Phil plays his EB3 in Festival Express He plays alot without a pick , his finger style phase that I really like . I love this movie too !
I have the 2 DVD version_ it's AWESOME ! a must have.