Grateful Dead Music Forum

Is anyone aware of a particular Dead (or P+F) soundboard that has a little of Phil playing his bass on his own, with no one else playing? Even pre-song would be okay. Looking for the later Phil tone, not, say, the 5-26-72 bass solo, or the 10-15-77 Dallas pre-Jack Straw noodling he does. Something with the Modulus. Just need a minute or so of just Phil.

The first track of this is pretty revealing IMHO:

http://www.archive.org/details/gd95-03- ... sbeok.shnf

Somebody recorded the feed to Phil's ear-monitor during a rehearsal, and the first track is him working on a lick in Unbroken Chain by himself. The tone is not at all what I expected, but bass is funny like that... the same exact tone will sound completely different in an arena vs. a bedroom.

After seeing the semi trainwreck "Unbroken Chain" in Asheville last week and then listening to this rehearsal, Phil must be tired of teaching this song to people. He was obviously irritated on stage when it got off track.

My favorite part -
Phil "then we will be performing it before we are ready, like we always do"
Jerry "That's the way to do it man"

I have some files from 93-95 which are direct recordings of Phil's personal monitor mix, some are from soundcheck, some are from portions of shows.......
the souncheck monitor mix especially since it is Phils is ALL bass while he is tweaking his rig....

the show portions of the monitor mix are heavy on his bass obviously and also have soome entertainment value as you can hear just how much these guys used it to communicate, before, after, and even during songs........they are cracking each other up during the show..

Let me dig 'em out for you vic and I will send the via yousendit, if you want 'em........

I'd like those, too, Jeff! I keep hearing about them, but haven't gotten a copy.

Poor Phil... it's not that hard of a song, but it doesn't really flow from the fingers...

Yo I would like these monitor tapes too please. Unless they are the ones that are in circulation. I would be willing to trade.

Since it seems that a few people want them, I will dig them out this weekend and post on my server for you all to download............

Thanks, Jeff!

Unbroken Chain Soundcheck and Rehearsals....

http://www.archive.org/details/gd1995-0 ... .1366.shnf

11-8-01
Phil Solo Bass Jam to open the show..

http://www.archive.org/details/2001-11- ... beok.flacf

Those are both cool ... the fidelity on the Unbroken soundcheck is pretty poor, as it was done on an FM boombox. I'm looking to get a reading off a high quality board feed.

The Quintet one would be awesome, except all five copies on archive.org are audiences.

Thanks Jeff! Also on a note about these monitor feeds, back when the boys went to in ears, some crafty deadheads realized that you could, with the correct equipment hear what they were saying and playing within a reasonble proximity to the venue. I for one have attended many a show where in the lot we heard them joking around or playing the soundcheck. These were never recorded, I say that with a grain of salt because I never "saw" anyone taping it. Im just saying the vibe on that was to listen whether you were shut out or just curious. Near the end it became "for me" very important to see and hear as much as possible. So make nice with some techy taper dudes and hear the boys argue about Way to Go Home. I would really be happy to find that some of this was recorded and circulated. Of course we know some it is was but what Im saying is this went on for years at every venue. So the plethora has not been found...as yet.

Somebody recorded the feed to Phil's ear-monitor during a rehearsal, and the first track is him working on a lick in Unbroken Chain by himself. The tone is not at all what I expected, but bass is funny like that... the same exact tone will sound completely different in an arena vs. a bedroom.


The tone of a bass by itself, and in different settings of other musical instruments, and in different rooms, changes because of the sonic properties and interactions with the room and the other instruments. That is an awkward way of saying you can't just find your tonal settings and lock them in. Adjustments will have to be made to differentiate the bass or to have the tone complement the rest of the band. True of all instruments, actually. The value of a good soundman, and a soundcheck!