Odessey & Oracle bass sound

[AtDusKGreg]

Just listening to The Zombies' Odessey and Oracle. Is it just me or is this the missing 60s masterpiece, halfway between Pet Sounds and Sgt. Pepper?

Anyway, to the point of my post: I was wondering if someone could help me figure out the bass sound on here. It has a better combination of tone and coherence than any I've ever heard. Most bass sounds are usually too metallic, sound too much like the strings of an electric bass when its not plugged in (I'm thinking recent Flea bass sounds) or so tone-ish that they lack definition, a coherent attack. This sound somehow does everything. Obviously, they had a billion dollars and Abbey Road, but besides that, anyone with advice on how to move in that direction? I've got a J Bass, a pretty good Hartke combo, and I record into the computer. I've got a d112, some other mics, an RNP, and RNC, and that's about it. Thoughts?

PS. If you haven't heard it, the album Heart by the band Stars (on Arts and Crafts, Broken Social Scene's label) has the closest thing I've heard to this sound outside of this record.

[AtDusKGreg]

Just after posting this noticed the long "Zombies Rock!" thread below. I apologize for committing the fatal TapeOP sin of repeating a topic, but I think there's value here: how do we characterize the bass sound? How can I approach it/use it for inspiration in a limited budget/means situation?

Thanks!

[nestle]

Dude, they did not have a million dollars. If you've read up about it they were given a very very tight budget resulting in them having to use mellotron instead of strings, stuff like that. Part of the reason the budget was tight was because they produced themselves. Yes it was Abby road and that might be a clue, they most often mic'ed the bass amp there, I would guess a U47 or AKG D12 about 2 ft away...try your D112. But I would imagine it was simply how it was played as with all great bands-

[Corin]

Well, this post is very timely as Zombies bassist (and noted A&R guy) Paul Atkinson just died a few days ago. I can't speak specifically of Odessey & Oracle (although Lord knows I've spent enough time studying that albim), but I have devoted an awful lot of thought to replicating the bass tones recorded at Abbey Road in the last 60's.

First of all, the biggest thing that ever happened to my bass playing was flat wound strings. My musical taste is positively pre- moon landing, but as far as I'm concerned, flats are it for bass. I consider Flea and Victor Wooten and Les Claypool and that lot to be the biggest pile of wanky shit I can imagine as far as playing bass and I absolutely loathe their tones, so that's where I'm coming from. Heavy Labella flats record amazingly well. McCartney used Pyramid strings. I generally use a picka nd pluck closer to the neck than the bridge (somewhere around the first Weather Report album, the entire bass playing community started playing up by the bridde, but there are other options)

Secondly, a medium or short scale bass actually sounds different than a long scale bass. Jon Brion has gotten some great period bass tones using weird old short scale basses. I use Guild Starfires and one actually has wooden bridge saddles for the full caveman bass tone.

Thirdly, play through a tube bass amp. I usually use a combination of DI and amp (as do most people), but lean a little on the amp. I find that a lot of novice engineers are very wary of micing the amp or using that in the mix, but that's where you get your boominess. Use the DI for articulation.

Then there's the matter of compression, but I'm sure someone more technically articulate can get into the Fairchilds and all that. Oh yeah, and record it to a well maintained 1" 4 track. Amazing songs help as well.

[greenmeansjoe]

[Corin]

You are correct, sir. Apparantly Chris White is feeling fine.

[Seej]

Chris White used a Fender Presicion bass on the album. The reason why it's so bass heavy on the cd cos it was mastered that way. And it was recorded for around the 1500 pound area at Abbey Road and one of the other studios that I cant seem to recall. ill have to go back to the liner notes for that.
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