I'll Try This Here: Hey Nick!

[ernstinen]

Oldies question:I just heard that disco oldie "Staying Alive," and was knocked out by the synth bass sound. 1.) What synth is that? A MiniMoog?2.) Who played it?Thanks in advance,Ern

[nickbatzdorf]

No idea!Sorry Ern.You have my email address, right? NB@virtualinstrumentsmagDON'TSPAMMYASS.com

[liamkelly]

Hey ErnAccording to http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_bee_gees_stayin/Maurice Gibb played the bass guitar direct into the console, using a pick, as was his style. The lack of studio maintenance hampered Richardson all the way. "Someone had taken different-colored nail polish and repainted all the EQ knobs on the console - that should have tipped me off right there," he recalls. "The faders were so bad that I had to mark the spots on each one where they would drop out as I moved the fader and try to get past those spots quickly so I wouldn't lose signal."Interesting article actually. Not that I'm saying the Bee Gees were interesting. Not at all. Wanders off muttering to himself.

[ernstinen]

Quote:Hey ErnAccording to http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_bee_gees ... nteresting article actually. Not that I'm saying the Bee Gees were interesting. Not at all. Wanders off muttering to himself.Thanks, Liam! That is very interesting, especially the drum looping process.But, IMHO, there's no way that's a bass guitar. MAYBE if it was played through some weird envelope follower pedal or something. I'll do a little research to see if my ears have deceived me! Ern

[ernstinen]

Hmmmmmm --- I just listened again to a lousy mp3:http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.a ... =E"Staying Alive" MIGHT be a bass guitar, but the slides are so perfect it sounds like synth portamento to me. "Jive Talking" is DEFINITELY a synthesizer. Enough time spent on this, methinks! Ern

[sgs4u]

Quote:Hmmmmmm --- I just listened again to a lousy mp3:http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.a ... =E"Staying Alive" MIGHT be a bass guitar, but the slides are so perfect it sounds like synth portamento to me. "Jive Talking" is DEFINITELY a synthesizer. Enough time spent on this, methinks! Ern Sounds like a Hofner sp? (Paul McCartney), to me Ern, and yes, with an enveloper. That was right around the time when a lot of funk bands were using them.I'm pretty sure it's not a minimoog on that particular track. The way the bass lines are written in pentatonics, also sounds like easy choices on a fret board.

[ernstinen]

Quote:Sounds like a Hofner sp? (Paul McCartney), to me Ern, and yes, with an enveloper. That was right around the time when a lot of funk bands were using them.Hmm, that's possible, Steve. Very little sustain.Reminds me of how James Jamerson (Motown) got his sound with a Fender bass. He modified it with some kind of foam so that it didn't sustain. Of course, he greatly influenced McCartney, so you may be on to something. Good ears, my man!Ern

[liamkelly]

Me commenting on bass lines is a bit like a ballet dancer commenting on architecture! But Ern and Steve, I'm reluctant to let this one go. I have to add that I never thought my Taxi membership would lead to a debate on a 1978 bass line. But there you go.I think rhythmically it could be a bass. The lick has a fretboard progression - the second to fourth notes seem to hammer on. But the sound isn't really a standard DI'd bass. Maybe multitracking?I hope Barry Gibb is reading this. D'ya think he ever thought this would be debated?Liamwww.liamkellylive.com