Members RoboChrist Posted May 7, 2011 Members Share Posted May 7, 2011 I always loved that tone he got, no doubt Tom Scholz did something to give it that subharmonic effect, anyone in the know shed some light on it? Did they have subharmonizers in the '70s? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators isaac42 Posted May 8, 2011 Moderators Share Posted May 8, 2011 I always loved that tone he got, no doubt Tom Scholz did something to give it that subharmonic effect, anyone in the know shed some light on it? Did they have subharmonizers in the '70s? Possibly, bit I doubt that's it. Truth is, most people don't realize just how low 40 Hz really is. Even bass players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RoboChrist Posted May 8, 2011 Author Members Share Posted May 8, 2011 I could be wrong but it might have been Tom Scholz who laid most of the tracks on the first two albums, Fran was more of a live player. Given his penchant for studio wizardry I wouldn't be surprised if there was some kind of doubling or layering of the bass track to give it more oomph. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members trevcda Posted May 8, 2011 Members Share Posted May 8, 2011 I didn't hear it on this song, although I may have to dig out the vinyl and give it another listen , a lot of that sub harmonizer sound on other Boston songs came from a Hammond organ. As isaac42, the fundamental on a low E bass string is pretty low but many may have never heard it. I always remember the quote from the liner notes: "No synthesizers used. No computers used." Tom Sholz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jasper383 Posted May 9, 2011 Members Share Posted May 9, 2011 I thought Tom Scholz did all of the bass on the Boston records with a modded Gibson bass. Lots and lots of studio fiddling was used, I'm sure. Great bass on those albums; sits perfectly in the otherwise busy-guitar mix. I always figured it was a P Bass, but no. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lug Posted May 9, 2011 Members Share Posted May 9, 2011 I thought Tom Scholz did all of the bass on the Boston records with a modded Gibson bass. Lots and lots of studio fiddling was used, I'm sure. Great bass on those albums; sits perfectly in the otherwise busy-guitar mix. I always figured it was a P Bass, but no. I was always impressed with the actual bass lines he wrote. Definately not the typical "guitarist picks up bass" style at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators isaac42 Posted May 9, 2011 Moderators Share Posted May 9, 2011 Probably because he was a keyboard player. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jasper383 Posted May 11, 2011 Members Share Posted May 11, 2011 I was always impressed with the actual bass lines he wrote. Definately not the typical "guitarist picks up bass" style at all. Yes. Lots of classic bass counterpoint, not the "play along with the guitar part" you might expect. He has a real appreciation of the movement a bass line can deliver. Great bass parts and playing, yet those records rarely get mentioned when someone asks, "what should I listen to to learn great bass parts?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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