Tech Talk - Felix Pappalardi's bass

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Felix Pappalardi's bass

Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Other music related lounges
Forum Name: Tech Talk
Forum Description: Discuss musical instruments, equipment, hi-fi, speakers, vinyl, gadgets,etc.
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=33877
Printed Date: November 25 2024 at 06:14
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Topic: Felix Pappalardi's bass

Posted By: S Lang
Subject: Felix Pappalardi's bass
Date Posted: January 30 2007 at 22:36

Whilst the late Pappalardi's band Mountain is not yet accepted in PA as Prog, many of you are familiar with the music.

I'd be particularly interested to learn as what equipment was used in creating his rather unique, creamy, fuzzy bass sound, something that remains a novelty?

Replies:

Posted By: micky
Date Posted: January 30 2007 at 22:43

a Hofner..

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The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip

Posted By: dwill123
Date Posted: January 31 2007 at 09:18

micky wrote:

a Hofner..

Correction, actually it's a Gibson EB-1. Here's an article Pappalardi gave to "Guitar Player Magazine" in 1972, in it he explains his equipment:

http://www.pappalardi.com/Articles9.html - http://www.pappalardi.com/Articles9.html

Here's a picture of the Gibson EB-1

Here's a good picutre of Pappalardi playing one w\Mountain:

Posted By: S Lang
Date Posted: February 01 2007 at 04:18

Thanks Mickey. Any more clues as why I don't hear more of that sound elsewhere?

Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: February 01 2007 at 07:08

S Lang wrote:

Thanks Mickey. Any more clues as why I don't hear more of that sound elsewhere?

Given the facts:

a) you look like a fake McCartney (since you can't even have a real Hoffner, which BTW was a really bad instrument)

b) Felix was deaf by the time that Mountain had stopped in the mid-70's

c) Felix got shot dead by his wife while fighting custody over it

d) that bass sound in Mountain is not exactly great

you might understand why it has few adepts

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let's just stay above the moral melee
prefer the sink to the gutter
keep our sand-castle virtues
content to be a doer
as well as a thinker,
prefer lifting our pen
rather than un-sheath our sword

Posted By: S Lang
Date Posted: February 01 2007 at 17:47

Sean Trane wrote:

S Lang wrote:

Thanks Mickey. Any more clues as why I don't hear more of that sound elsewhere?

Given the facts:

a) you look like a fake McCartney

b) Felix was deaf by the time that Mountain had stoppedin the mid-70's

c) Felix got shot by his wife while fighting custody over it

d) that bass sound in mountain is not exactly great

yopu might understand why it has few adepts

Very funny and informative Mr Trane....

Posted By: S Lang
Date Posted: February 01 2007 at 17:50

dwill123 wrote:

micky wrote:

a Hofner..

Correction, actually it's a Gibson EB-1. Here's an article Pappalardi gave to "Guitar Player Magazine" in 1972, in it he explains his equipment:

http://www.pappalardi.com/Articles9.html - http://www.pappalardi.com/Articles9.html

Here's a picture of the Gibson EB-1

Here's a good picutre of Pappalardi playing one w\Mountain:

Thanks Dwill123, the article is of great interest. Cheers!

Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: February 02 2007 at 03:31

S Lang wrote:

Sean Trane wrote:

S Lang wrote:

Thanks Mickey. Any more clues as why I don't hear more of that sound elsewhere?

Given the facts:

a) you look like a fake McCartney

b) Felix was deaf by the time that Mountain had stoppedin the mid-70's

c) Felix got shot by his wife while fighting custody over it

d) that bass sound in mountain is not exactly great

yopu might understand why it has few adepts

Very funny and informative Mr Trane....

Funny yes,

informative if you take the humour out of it, yes also.

Posted By: S Lang
Date Posted: February 03 2007 at 04:20

Mr Trane,

This topic is meant to be Tech Talk, not of personal views expressed on artists, no matter how funny they may have meant to be.

If you find it irresistable to comment on Pappalardi's contribution to music, you may care to use a more appropriate thread. Your standing at PA is not enhanced by such opportunistic snipe when technical information is sought at the right place.

Posted By: rileydog22
Date Posted: February 03 2007 at 20:35

It seems that Sean's post was entirely relevant, especially part d. Sean expressed dislike for the bass tone achieved by the bass. That was to help you understand that the bass's tone is not in accordance with everyone's taste, which shows precisely why the bass is not more universally used.

And for crying out loud, lighten up!

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Posted By: dwill123
Date Posted: February 03 2007 at 21:03

First let me state up front that I'm a little biased here. I think Mountain was one of the top ten rock bands of all time with "Climbing" being one of the top ten rock albums of all time. I also beleive that Mountain was one of the most unique sounding bands and Felix Pappalardi's bass sound was an intergral part of that sound. I saw Mountain many times in the 70s and each time Pappalardi used that EB-1. Now Felix Pappalardi was not just some bass player in a rock band he was an extremely successful producer (including one of Cream's album which everybody knows). I think that is the sound he wanted for the group and it worked for me and a lot others whether the bass was used by others or not.

Posted By: S Lang
Date Posted: February 04 2007 at 03:12

rileydog22 wrote:

It seems that Sean's post was entirely relevant, especially part d. Sean expressed dislike for the bass tone achieved by the bass. That was to help you understand that the bass's tone is not in accordance with everyone's taste, which shows precisely why the bass is not more universally used.

And for crying out loud, lighten up!

My thread was calling for technical inputs on how Pappalardi arrived at that particular and rather unique bass sound. It did not ask for personal preferences on that, or on his abilities, or snippets of (here) irrelevant biography of his life.

Relevant info - of course - may be welcome. Being a smart arse, just for the sake of it is more appropriate to Chat Rooms.

Observation of and/or a degree of attention to the actual topic may assist the image of PA positively in future.

Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: February 04 2007 at 03:31

I think this thread has run its course, as the information requested has been given. However, since I see the danger of its descent into a pointless and totally irrelevant argument, it would be better for it to be closed.