Tim commerford's MM

[Woitseck]

Hey guys !
Does anybody know, what was the exact name of tim's bass? Like Musicman Stingray xxxxxxxx... the only thing i know is that it was a natural one..

 

[stingray96191]

I think it was just a stingray h. I think he stopped using rays before they came out with all the fancy options.

 

[Elad_E]

from my recollection he only used it throughout the first album.

I recall it was a natural pre-EB Stingray with a maple board, no pickguard, a black aftermarket bridge, a Bartolini pup and a home made thumb rest.
I don't know if he kept the 2 band preamp but if I had to I would guess he did as the bass tone on the Bullet in the Head video clip (which is a semi-live preformance) is the classic Stingray tone in my ears (despite the Bart pup).

 

[syciprider]

RATM's first album is one of those SR defining recordings. Take the Power Back had a great slap tone.

Too bad they're a bunch of pinko hippies.

 

[oli@bass]

That PU does not look like a Bart.

However.... great sound and great playing.

 

[pertyman]

Pic:

 

[syciprider]

Is it really THAT essential to have a thumb anchor? I use the fretboard or the pickguard edge.

 

[MadMatt]

Is it really THAT essential to have a thumb anchor? I use the fretboard or the pickguard edge.

I thought that is what the B string is for

 

[Holdsg]

Is it really THAT essential to have a thumb anchor? I use the fretboard or the pickguard edge.

+1 I also will never understand the value of having a thumbrest mounted below the strings, no one has ever explained that to me, either. Does it double as an ashtray or something?

 

[stingray96191]

+1 I also will never understand the value of having a thumbrest mounted below the strings, no one has ever explained that to me, either. Does it double as an ashtray or something?

i think thats a leo fender thing.. its supposed to rest your fingers on or give you an anchor from them from the days when you played downstrokes with your thumb.

 

[syciprider]

+1 I also will never understand the value of having a thumbrest mounted below the strings, no one has ever explained that to me, either. Does it double as an ashtray or something?

It's there to break your knuckles when you slap.

 

[Caca de Kick]

I also will never understand the value of having a thumbrest mounted below the strings, no one has ever explained that to me, either.

That's because it's not a "thumbrest". When the bass came out, the original design intent was to hook your fingers on the "finger rest", and pluck the strings with your thumb while resting your palm on the chrome cover. Watch old Beach Boys videos, Brian Wilson played in that very style.
Remember, Leo's goal was to mimmick an upright sound.

But Timmy's bass was a simple 2 band StingRay.

 

[Holdsg]

I learnt me somepin new today. Thanks Mike and Erin.

 

[Addison]

Is it really THAT essential to have a thumb anchor? I use the fretboard or the pickguard edge.

Try using the pickguard edge when you're jumping around like a maniac and playing Rage Against the Machine songs in front of 30,000 people... the pickguard doesn't really make for much of a solid anchor.

Using the fingerboard also REALLY changes your tone because you're playing so close to the neck... so, if you don't want that tone, then that would also rule out that option.

+1 I also will never understand the value of having a thumbrest mounted below the strings, no one has ever explained that to me, either. Does it double as an ashtray or something?

As said earlier, it's not a thumbrest.

It's commonly known as a "tugbar" since you would grab onto it with your fingertips and tug on it to give you more powerful dowstrokes with your thumb.

 

[syciprider]

Try using the pickguard edge when you're jumping around like a maniac and playing Rage Against the Machine songs in front of 30,000 people... the pickguard doesn't really make for much of a solid anchor.

Um... with a few exceptions, his bass lines are very simple stuff you can figure out in a couple of passes. He's known more for his tone than his playing. And he doesn't jump around like a maniac except during the breakdown parts.

 

[DonScott]

Love those simple lines... it's all attitude and a great tone !!

 

[Randracula]

Um... with a few exceptions, his bass lines are very simple stuff you can figure out in a couple of passes. He's known more for his tone than his playing. And he doesn't jump around like a maniac except during the breakdown parts.

IMO Tim's playing is very solid and he comes up with very memorable lines. It's one thing to learn his bass lines but to actually create them is something completely different.

 

[VenousPlatypus]

Pic:

that things sick! the more simple the better i suppose haha

 

[Lynottfan]

Big fan of Mr C here, I always thought his lines were simply perfectly constructed, not cacophonic jazz doodlings or mindless slap that so many seem to peddle, but seeing the picture does remind that I still think his best sound was with the Ray, I know the guy is a tone hound and I love his stuff and his sound now, but when I dig back to his early stuff his Ray sound is MIGHTY, imho.

 

[Duarte]

Um... with a few exceptions, his bass lines are very simple stuff you can figure out in a couple of passes. He's known more for his tone than his playing. And he doesn't jump around like a maniac except during the breakdown parts.

The complexity of the lines has nothing to do with it, if you want a place to anchor your thumb that doesn't exist on a stock bass, you put a thumbrest on. That's what he has done with all his basses (when I saw them earlier this year his other branded basses all had them). His technique is unique, he uses one finger to play and wears his bass higher than Jack ...it sounds and looks great.

Say you for some reason inexplicably removed the bridge bucker from my musicman basses, I would be completely lost as to where to place my hand. I put my thumb there and that's my thing.

And hand placement vastly affects your tone, and as you say he is well known for his tone.