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Conference napalm::guitar

Title:GUITARnotes - Where Every Note has Emotion
Notice:Discussion of the finer stringed instruments
Moderator:KDX200::COOPER
Created:Thu Aug 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3280
Total number of notes:61432

1611.0. "HELP WITH BASS TECHNIQUE" by USEM::SEAWARD () Fri Dec 29 1989 14:23

I have heard some bass players use a technique that synchronizes a
    tapping sound, like tapping a microphone, with each note plucked
    but don't know how to do this.  Is it a device added to a 
    pickup ?  Is is a characteristic of a certain bass guitar ?
    Or is this another one of those great sounds dubbed on in
    the recording studio ?   The sound I'm referring to is used
    effectively in some of the Eagles slower tunes...
    
    Can someone share the technique from their bag of magic
    tricks ?
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1611.1PercussivesMFGMEM::DERRICOFri Dec 29 1989 14:5214
       If it was The Eagle older stuff, you might be talking about
    a couple of things. One technique is playing at the neck 
    (where it joins the body), when you are doing normal fingering
    you actually hit the neck with the string using your right hand
    (if you're a rightie). It's sort of an informal way of tapping.
       Another technique is to Pluck the string with your index finger
    and thumb, this would also make the string slap against the neck.
    A third thing is to use a pick, you would get a sharper attack and
    might be similar to what you might be hearing.
       An even further out idea is that the sound might actually be the
    head of the kick drum, sort of a "Pat" sound.
    
    
       John
1611.2RICHO-SOUNDMPGS::MIKRUTDon't you boys know any NICE songs?Fri Dec 29 1989 14:574
    Rickenbacher bass guitars are characteristic of this type of sound
    (i.e., Geddy Lea, etc.)
    
    cheers/mike
1611.3Tap Bar ???USEM::SEAWARDFri Dec 29 1989 19:0610
    Thanks for the suggestions - they give me something to try; and
    yes I do recall a Rick providing this sound, which I thought
    was being caused by low action.
    
    For some reason I am recalling that a device called a tap bar
    was/is used to produce this effect (similar to click organ),
    and that the tap bar was in some way linked to one of the
    pickups...
    
    
1611.4Not Sure What Sound You're Looking ForAQUA::ROSTEveryone loves those dead presidentsFri Dec 29 1989 19:177
    
    It might help if you could name a *specific* song with this sound.
    
    Just playing with a pick makes the bass sound "clicky" to me. 
    Compression can make this more noticable as well.
    
    							Brian
1611.5pickit!HAMER::KRONBILL-THE-WONDER-MUTANTTue Jan 02 1990 17:356
    playing with a pick and resting the heel of your hand on the
    strings near the bridge will give you a great sounding click.....
    I believe "hotel calif." has that sound....(not OLD eagles though!)
    
    -Bill
    
1611.6Bridge info ?USEM::SEAWARDThu Jan 04 1990 14:2815
    re: .5
    
    I'll guess that you also need to be using the bridge
    pickup and enough high frequency EQ to pull out the
    tap - I have been experimenting with bi-amping to
    emphasize the highs.
    
    Actually, I used to use a lot of right hand palm muting
    until I noticed that I was decomposing the bridge; are
    you using an industrial strength replacement bridge,
    or can you make any suggestions about this type of
    equipment - I see Badass advertised a lot ?
    
    -Bill