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Post by Ginnie on Mar 22, 2011 0:36:33 GMT
Hey folks...
I'm working on this wee project ... SAHB Gear...
Anyone who has any information on what instruments anyone in SAHB used please post here.
I've seen pictures of Chris playing what seems to be a mid fifties Fender Precision Bass, blonde with a large white pickguard. Also a "fireglo" type Rickenbaker 4001. And of course the Gibson Explorer.
Zal used a 60's Gibson SG with a Marshall 100 watt Head through a Beatles Vox cabinet. After it was stolen he replaced it with a 100-watt Sunn stack and a Gibson Firebird.
That's all I have so far...
Can anyone here provide more details about their gear?
What acoustic guitar was used on "The Hammer Song"?
Catherine, perhaps you could bug Chris for a couple of minutes and ask him?
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Post by Catherine on Mar 22, 2011 7:22:24 GMT
Will do, Sir Gin 
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Post by Ginnie on Mar 22, 2011 21:18:52 GMT
That would be really cool, Catherine. Thanks so much.
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Post by Ginnie on Mar 22, 2011 23:08:22 GMT
Okay, this is all I have on Chris' Basses... The Fender Precision I'm guessing is pre-1957 based on its headstock. I have no idea of the year of his Rickenbacker. Was his Explorer bass actually made by Gibson or did he have it made by someone else? I don't see the familiar Gibson name on the headstock.  |
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Post by Catherine on Mar 23, 2011 7:32:14 GMT
Sorry Gin, haven't spoken to Chris yet but the Explorer was made by Dick Knight, who, apparently, rarely make bass guitars, son of Mr Knight continues the business.
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Post by Ginnie on Mar 25, 2011 15:54:43 GMT
Okay - Jack Mcdougall informs that the blonde wasn't a Fender Precision but a Fender Telecaster bass (which was made from '68 to '79 - and its was designed like a fifties Precision - thus my confusion). Chris's also did not have any pickguard.
He also played another bass which was in fact a Precision - it was brownish in colour and had a black pickguard.
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Post by Ginnie on Mar 25, 2011 16:00:02 GMT
Notes on Zal's Dick Knight Explorer: ! Here's a really special guitar, and a piece of UK / Scottish rock history too! This guitar was custom built in 1977 (Oc 1977 stamped into the headstock) for Chris Glen of (at that time) The Sensational Alex Harvey Band. It was then used by Zal Cleminson with SAHB on the Fourplay tour, and also with Nazareth when he joined them. It is viewable on the excellent track 'Whatever You Want Babe' on Youtube (see above) The neck pickup is a P90, which I've had looked at, and it looks to be a Gibson pickup, most likely taken from a mid 60's SG Special or similar. The bridge pickup is an early Dimarzio Dual-Sound (which is coil-splittable via the small toggle on the pickguard). Mahogany body and neck, ebony fretboard with trapezoid inlays. The binding is all in fantastic shape, as is the pickguard. Other than a headstock repair by Nigel Stockbridge (straight across the head - not the neck!) the guitar is ALL ORIGINAL, like the day it left Dick Knight's hands when it was made. Usual 'Patina' and a few minor knocks but nothing major and usual on a 33 year old guitar! Includes the original, really shabby case (well it did tour a lot back in the 70's), original curly lead (love them!) both not pictured - and also a very expensive SKB hard case which you can see in the pics. Awesome guitarwww.zimbio.com/Alex+Harvey/articles/0sxbKYz2HSs/Dick+Knight+Explorer+Chris+Glen+Zal+Cleminson |
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Post by Catherine on Mar 25, 2011 20:41:13 GMT
Okay - Jack Mcdougall informs that the blonde wasn't a Fender Precision but a Fender Telecaster bass (which was made from '68 to '79 - and its was designed like a fifties Precision - thus my confusion). Chris's also did not have any pickguard. He also played another bass which was in fact a Precision - it was brownish in colour and had a black pickguard. The Precision was always his heart's desire and if it's the smae one and I recall correctly, it was brownish in that there was no laquer left on the body, it was down to the wood in places. Said guitar was stolen several times and always found the way back to Chris - legend has it. He just called but I'm afraid he was so excited about recording with Cafe Jacques that I didn't get the chance to ask him anything of relevance to your project Gin - we'll speak again over the weekend and I'll try again then. |
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Post by Catherine on Mar 29, 2011 6:19:30 GMT
Okay - Jack Mcdougall informs that the blonde wasn't a Fender Precision but a Fender Telecaster bass (which was made from '68 to '79 - and its was designed like a fifties Precision - thus my confusion). Chris's also did not have any pickguard. He also played another bass which was in fact a Precision - it was brownish in colour and had a black pickguard.  |
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Post by Addy on Apr 10, 2011 1:10:26 GMT
Hi, I found this in the 1975 Xmas Programme.  [/img] |
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Post by Ginnie on Apr 10, 2011 3:52:17 GMT
Hi, I found this in the 1975 Xmas Programme. [/img][/quote] Great stuff, Addy! I'm assuming Zal stopped using the SG by then and got the Firebird. Also, Chris had used a Fender Telecaster Bass (yes, Telecaster) and Rickenbaker before that. Got this info too from the SAHB Yahoo group:
...in reply to Ginnie's question. This is taken word for word from an information piece in Melody Maker called The Alex Harvey File that was published at the time of the UK tour in May 1974. Hope it helps.
Alex: Fender Telecaster, old Gibson J45 accoustic and H/H 100 watt combination amplifier.
Zal: Gibson SG Standard Fender Stratocaster, Accoustic 100 watt combination amplifier, wah-wah pedal, Ernie Bail Super Slinky strings.
Chris: Rickenbacker stereo bass, 1940 Fender Precision bass and an old steel guitar of unidentified make. Accoustic bass set up which he uses most, but also a Sound City 200 watt amp which has been modified at the factory and is used with Marshall cabinets with special speakers. Rotosound and Fender wire-wound heavy guage strings.
Hugh: Farfisa and Wurlitzer electric pianos and an H/H amplifier which incorporates speakers. Plays harmonica and accordian on recordings.
Ted: Hayman drum kit with 24 inch bass drum. 35 year old 6 1/2 x 14 inch Premier Dominion snare drum. 13 x 9, 14 x 10, 16 x 16 and 18 x 18 inch Hayman tom toms. Avedis Zildjan 20 inch crash and 18 inch medium ride, and Paiste 20 inch ride cymbals. Hi hats are 15 inch with Avedis Zildjan on the top and Paiste on the bottom. Sticks are C Specials made by Bradleys of Glasgow.
PA System: Complete JBL system powered by Crown DC200A power amps, Quad 303 amps, a standard RSE mixing desk through a Mavis 3-way stereo electronic crossover. On-stage monitors consist of two RSE full-range monitor cabinets, driven by Quad 303 amps mixed by two customised WEM Audiomasters. |
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Post by andrew on Oct 3, 2011 1:33:44 GMT
The pictures of Chris with the Tele bass all over the cover of the 'Live' album, which was the first SAHB album I got, was probably the reason I got into playing bass. I have 5 basses in my collection, no Tele unfortunately! You can hear the distinctive Rick sound on 'Impossible Dream'. I have to admit I don't like the sound of the bass, much prefer the Tele or Precision sound!
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Post by Ginnie on Oct 3, 2011 22:20:57 GMT
The pictures of Chris with the Tele bass all over the cover of the 'Live' album, which was the first SAHB album I got, was probably the reason I got into playing bass. I have 5 basses in my collection, no Tele unfortunately! You can hear the distinctive Rick sound on 'Impossible Dream'. I have to admit I don't like the sound of the bass, much prefer the Tele or Precision sound! The Rickie served the Beatles well - very good sounds on Revolver and especially Sgt. Pepper. Up until Revolver, the bass really suffered on their recordings. Mind you it was a Hofner short scale, not a Precision. |
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pekka
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Post by pekka on Jan 10, 2016 12:57:33 GMT
The pictures of Chris with the Tele bass all over the cover of the 'Live' album, which was the first SAHB album I got, was probably the reason I got into playing bass. I have 5 basses in my collection, no Tele unfortunately! You can hear the distinctive Rick sound on 'Impossible Dream'. I have to admit I don't like the sound of the bass, much prefer the Tele or Precision sound! Chris' Telecaster could have also been an early Precision ('51-'54) since it's similar (Telecaster was Fender's first reissue bass in 1968). Anyway, the paint has been stripped of (like on John Paul Jones' '52 Precision) and there's also pictures of him having a white pickguard attached. I also believe that this bass was used on "The Impossible Dream" even 'though the pictures have the Rickenbacker. It sounds very similar to the "Live" album and his Acoustic amps and cabinets also contribute to the sound strongly. It's quite similar to John Paul Jones' sound with the single coil P-bass (=Telecaster style) and he used Acoustic amp and cabinet too. I've also seen a pic of Chris with a maple necked Precision bass in addition to the black headstock model. |
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bigal
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Post by bigal on Feb 9, 2021 20:26:35 GMT
Dick Knight Explorer hard case,is now in my possession (thanks Darren)and will be fully renovated,it’s in a bit of a state,but a good project....I’ll stick some photos up,when I get around to it...Al
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