Sledgehammer?

[bassmonkey]

Just been listening to this track.

Is it a synth or just bass with heavy effects?

If bass, then I guess it's Toe-Knee playing it, and being as you guys know all there is to know about him, what effects did he use?

Can anyone email me a transcription?

 

[MingusBASS]

I'm pretty sure he was using a fretless MM Sabre with his funk fingers(small drum sticks attached to his index and middle fingers) to get the sound heard on the recording. I know he used the funk fingers on the song Big Time, so I could be confused.

Andrew

 

[dinosaur]

For many years now I have held up Sledgehammer as one of the finest examples of bass tone and just the greatness of the bass part in general. Tony played a 4-string all-black fretless Stingray on this track, and I think he used a pick rather than funk fingers, although the attack is just ridiculous!

There's an interview here which mentions Sledgehammer a couple of times:

http://www.fretlessbass.com/LevinTonyInterview-01.html

james.

 

[0557]

Tony used a boss OC2 octaver on those recordings. It was played with a pick, he used the butts of drumsticks taped to his hands after a suggestion by Peter Gabriel to get the effect for "Big Time". A few years after that, Funk Fingers were born. Manu Katche accually played the drum pattern on levins strings while Tony fingered the notes.

 

[MingusBASS]

It turns out Tony did use a Sabre, not a Stingray on Sledgehammer. Thanks for the background on those tracks 0557.

Andrew

 

[Freddy-G.]

Just today I saw in Bass Player mag that TL has released a new CD. Gotta check that out.

 

[niftydog]

wo wo wo wo wo!! Tony's website has all the RIGHT answers guys.

The original track was NOT recorded with a musicman of any sort. "The Sledgehammer bass" as it was affectionately known was a Super Silver Bass with interchangable necks. (I'd never heard of it either and can't find any info by googling so it's a mystery!) It burned in the very unfortunate fire at his barn years ago whilst he was on tour with Crimson.

Since then he has been using a black, fretless Sabre for live renditions. He does NOT use Funk Fingers to play Sledgehammer, but there is an octave of some kind (my bet is on the old style EBS) and loads of chorus and compression.

Lastly, the track Big Time only has two or three short sections in which bass is recorded, most of the songs bass duties are handled by a synth. The sections in question were actually recorded by Tony playing the notes whilst the drummer, Jerry Marotta, pounded on the strings with his drum sticks. After this session, Peter suggested that he tie some drum sticks to his fingers, Tonys tech made some up and whammo, Funk Fingers were born.

If you listen to the track you will understand that for anyone to play that line using Funk Fingers they would have to be nothing short of superhuman. 64th notes @ 120bpm anyone? I'd like to see that.

Steam is the definitive Funk Fingers track, and IMO, playing it live with Manu Katche on drums to a stadium full of fans is about the most fun you can have with your clothes on!

 

[Psychicpet]

the Silver Bass with interchangeable fingerboards was a Music Man

 

[Psychicpet]

BP still has a StingRay w/interchangeable boards kickin' around in SLO as well.but yes, Tony's silver one did burn unfortunately.

 

[Gerk]

Sounds like an OC2 to me (glances over at his OC2). There's one spot in the pre-chorus where it craps outs JUST like the OC2 .. it also does it at around 2:12 just before he goes into the next verse, a very signature sound

That and give blood have to be 2 of my fav tony tracks. Ooohhh the tones

Mark

 

[niftydog]

Bizarre! Some info on the fabled "super silver," thanks a heap! Got any more? So from that I take it there wasn't many in existence? Was it based on a sabre or other or none? Anybody!?

I'm not saying it was one or the other octave pedal, but that's just my take. The EBS craps out in a similar way to the boss when you do a fast slide down the E string - is that the part you're talking about? That's pretty diligent listening there Gerk!

 

[Gerk]

I'm not saying it was one or the other octave pedal, but that's just my take. The EBS craps out in a similar way to the boss when you do a fast slide down the E string - is that the part you're talking about? That's pretty diligent listening there Gerk!

Fair enough.

My ears perk up when I hear ocatavers for some reason I guess it also helps that I do audio work (live/studio/etc). Some FOH/monitors, have an (ever growing) studio at home

http://studiogerk.com/pics/