Tony Levin SNL performance

[HornetAMX]

The Stingray he is playing on this performance with Robbie Robertson, what is the story on it? Looks very cool with the matching pickup cover color. What a great player!

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

You gotta love Manu as well! That beat is the hook of the song.

There's a lot of cool stuff going on with the bass that I never really payed attention to before (because I have been listening to the drums).

 

[HornetAMX]

Manu is great! I love Levin's tone here and on the LP.

 

[fly]

looks like he doesn't even have a pic guard

 

[bovinehost]

Tony knows people. Sometimes he gets special stuff.

 

[J Romano]

Thank you for sharing this. This is one of my all time favorite songs. To see it performed is icing on the the cake!!!

 

[oli@bass]

Probably this one?

AFAIK, it was a prototype with an exchangeable fretboard (fretted/fretless) that was lost in a fire.

 

[keko]

What a great bass tone! Bass line is great too!

I really enjoined this!

 

[drTStingray]

Love the laid back feel to this, and some great bass playing and tone there as well.

 

[Holdsg]

camerman had the wrong guy in his sights nearly the whole time!

I notice how TL plucks up near the neck to get that tone. I've been experimenting with that myself, and I likey.

 

[J Romano]

What is the instrument the musician just to the left of Mr. Levin playing. I have never seen an instrument like that before. It is almost ceramic looking. Is it stringed?

 

[Big Poppa]

that was the nova board...it was a cook idea but they didnt sound as good as a normal fretless or fretted

 

[J Romano]

Thanks BP, gonna look that one up!

 

[HornetAMX]

Great info everyone. I was searching and found this on Tony's website.

R.I.P.

* My old Fender Precision, circa '50s, serial #48,000-ish. Had my blood on it from when P.G. bashed my head by mistake.
* Super Silver Bass with interchangable necks. The Sledgehammer bass.
* 3 String Custom "Harley" bass.
* Pick Bass. Custom picks from around the planet embedded into finish.
* Clevinger upright
* Status Graphite walnut 4 string
* prototype NS Upright Electric
* Guild Ashbury "Rubber Bass". Used on P.S's "Lovetown"
* Bogart Custom frettless
* Half Frettless custom Chapman Stick
* Polycarbonate Stick
* 12 String Stick

Tony Levin - The Fire Page

 

[oli@bass]

Funny, how TL just says "bass" whenever he talks about a Music Man... seems to be synonymic to him

 

[LisaIs]

Forgot how much I love this song.... chills.

 

[Rano Bass]

that was the nova board...it was a cook idea but they didnt sound as good as a normal fretless or fretted

It looks like its the "Sledgehammer" bass.

Sounds good to me

 

[HornetAMX]

What is the instrument the musician just to the left of Mr. Levin playing. I have never seen an instrument like that before. It is almost ceramic looking. Is it stringed?

It was called the Omnichord. An interesting little instrument for sure. Found a demo on Youtube.

 

[bbernard]

I bought a second hand bass in the 80s with a novatone fretboard. The boards were magnetic and would adhere to the neck that had been modified with a thin piece of metal. At least in theory it would adhere. On the bass I had the magnets wore out over time. Problematic when the fretboard starts to slide off mid song.

 

[J Romano]

It was called the Omnichord. An interesting little instrument for sure. Found a demo on Youtube.

Thanks, watched the video. Never heard or knew of this little piece of equipment........ Early synth???