Phil Distortion

[Rusty the Scoob]

Now that I've done all this work to clean up my tone, of course the first thing I do is start thinking about making it dirty again. I'm a big fan of the early years, 69-72, and sometimes Phil gets a real nice grind to his tone.

I suppose it's probably just a Fender tube head pushed near its limits, right? What would be a good way to get that tone in a pedal form? Or maybe rackmount as long as it's easily switchable.

[DeadlyHeptet]

I never remember seeing any boxes when I saw Phil early on. A couple of thoughts though; Dave Barber makes what he calls a Linden Equalizer, basically a re-creation of the front end of the old Ampeg flip top bass amps. He refers to the sound as "'charmingly aggressive' without any abrasive shards that could offend." However, if offending is part of your sound, there are other options.

If you are considering an overdrive, he also makes a number of low gain overdrives that would be wonderful if they indeed respond as they do with guitar. Regardless, he is always there to offer advice and I can highly vouch for his products.

[JonnyBoy]

Yhea Rusty, I would bet the OD is from the tubes being pushed to the brink. I am actually surprised there isn't more distortion from the amps...not to mention the lower wattage D120's breaking up....

[Rusty the Scoob]

I believe you're both exactly right - he just didn't have the wattage to achieve a clean sound.

That Linden pedal looks like what I'm after, but modeled after a Twin or similar head instead an Ampeg. I'm not sure what the differences are, but nobody knows Fender heads better than RUKind!

[tigerstrat]

Here's a rogue's gallery of bass dirt! http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=25737&id=161799250522916

[tigerstrat]

I believe you're both exactly right - he just didn't have the wattage to achieve a clean sound.

That Linden pedal looks like what I'm after, but modeled after a Twin or similar head instead an Ampeg. I'm not sure what the differences are, but nobody knows Fender heads better than RUKind!

That's interesting, you might give the Ampeg-modeled pedal a chance. Always felt my 70's SVT head could really womp some primal Phil growls and moans, whether I was using a 4x10, 2x15 or 1x15- never did play it through an SVT 8x10 cab.

[Phil Lesh101]

Now that I've done all this work to clean up my tone, of course the first thing I do is start thinking about making it dirty again. I'm a big fan of the early years, 69-72, and sometimes Phil gets a real nice grind to his tone.

I suppose it's probably just a Fender tube head pushed near its limits, right? What would be a good way to get that tone in a pedal form? Or maybe rackmount as long as it's easily switchable.

Your the Bass player From Fennario I asume? Right? I Just Happened to pot on your Webpage that You said That Phil Uses No Pedals?Effects...... Are you serrious?

[Rusty the Scoob]

Not as part of his basic sound, really. He's got them in his rack for sure, but can you point me to a recording where he's using a very obvious and prominent effect like Mike Gordon in Makisupa Policeman, for example?

[Phil Lesh101]

Not as part of his basic sound, really. He's got them in his rack for sure, but can you point me to a recording where he's using a very obvious and prominent effect like Mike Gordon in Makisupa Policeman, for example?

True. he shurely didnt stikck the basic sound though, But he used the Crap out of his pedals in the Space jams

[Phil Lesh101]

Not as part of his basic sound, really. He's got them in his rack for sure, but can you point me to a recording where he's using a very obvious and prominent effect like Mike Gordon in Makisupa Policeman, for example?

Mike Gordon isnt in anyway a Phil Lesh" All Mike Gordon uses in everysong is some type of pedel, When your in a Band Called Fish. But you spell it with a " PH " You cant stay to the basic bass tone
It wouldnt be right

[seanc]

I really think that was 100% unintentional. While it may have been kinda neat in hindsight. I would have to bet that this was just a situation where somebody did not turn down, a volume war started and ultimately Phil lost..
Personally, I find it painful to listen to those situations. In my mind everything seemed out of control, but not in a good way.


If it was at all desirable on Phil or the band's part, distortion would have easily and very early on been incorporated into his sound.

[Phil Lesh101]

He never Distorted His tone

[zambiland]

I would love to try Brad's overdrive. I think it would be just about perfect for this kind of grit. I've been contemplating this recently in conjunction with my current Starfire configuration. I also miss the tremolo from the Fenders.

[JamminJommy]

He never Distorted His tone

My ears beg to differ with regards to everything up until '73 or so. In fact, on the Hundred Year Hall second disc, he gets quite a bit of grit during the super spacey section of The Other One. Now, while this is not necessarily 100% intentional, it is fairly evident. It's a fairly noticeable byproduct of running a bass through a tube guitar amp. That touch of grit on the attacks is what makes it sound sweet to my ears. Later on, especially with Peter Miller's rig, his tone is crystal clear.

I would love to try Brad's overdrive. I think it would be just about perfect for this kind of grit. I've been contemplating this recently in conjunction with my current Starfire configuration.

I would love to hear that! I have a sneaking suspicion that that might give you that Live Dead kind of thunder!

Peace,

Jommy

[tastyjams]

I would love to try Brad's overdrive. I think it would be just about perfect for this kind of grit. I've been contemplating this recently in conjunction with my current Starfire configuration. I also miss the tremolo from the Fenders.

I let my bassist use my Earth Drive during practice a while back, and it gets reeeally close to Phil's '69 sound. He's really into Phil and the Dead, but he plays with his fingers, and has a more standard jazz approach to the instrument, but when he played with a pick through the Earth Drive, the bombs just flowed out of his fingers.