What is Babbington Playing?

[jamesmanzi]

Is that a baritone Jazzmaster, strung/tuned down low?

[GuitarGeek]

Fender Bass VI. Same make and model Jack Bruce used on the first Cream album. Also, Joe Perry wrote Back In The Saddle on a Bass VI. And I think Steve Howe said he used one on Gates Of Delirium (studio version, obviously), though I'm not exactly sure where. I seem to recall it's also one of the key ingredients in The Cure's signature sound. And the first time I saw The Church in concert, Steve Kilbey played one too.

Basicaly, it's a six string bass, theoretically tuned E to E, just like a regular guitar, but an octave down. But many musicians tune them higher, A to A or B to B, making them baritone guitars, because the 30" scale is more suited for that range (bass guitars usually have a 34" scale). Some have suggested the presence of the tremolo system make it clear that Fender never really intended it to be used as a "bass" so much as something for guitarists to "go berserk" in the low registers, or whatever.

[jamesmanzi]

Right. I always forget the Bass VI release a few years ago was the return of the Bass VI from olden days, and not a new thing.

[jamesmanzi]

He's apparently not on board with the reissue and just playing it on a bass bass now.

I love that the core of the Softs lineup is still together, although this is from a gig when Marshall was out sick.

[calyx]

When I visited Roy at his place in 1999 to interview him (at the time, ironically, he was living in a street called "Sinclair Road"), I saw his six-string bass guitar hanging on a wall, like some exhibited work of art.

[Zeuhlmate]

Sveinung Hovensjø (Terje Rypdal's seventies adventurous bassplayer) used it on at least 'Whenever', 'Odyssey' possibly also on Waves.

Here are some more players
https://armchairmaestro.com/2018/10/...-vi-by-fender/

[Zeuhlmate]

In those days there many other takes on the bass concept

8 string octave: https://www.hagstromguitars.com/bass...8-ii-bass.html

Built in Fuzz: https://www.vintageguitar.com/3679/gibson-eb-0f/

[Rarebird]

Sveinung Hovensjø (Terje Rypdal's seventies adventurous bassplayer) used it on at least 'Whenever', 'Odyssey' possibly also on Waves.

Here are some more players
https://armchairmaestro.com/2018/10/...-vi-by-fender/

Here is another player



The guy in black.

[arturs]

I bet these guys were a hit with the ladies back in the day...

[zeprogmeister]

I bet these guys were a hit with the ladies back in the day...

Good reminder that although we sometimes romanticize the 70's there was some cheesy crap made then too

[Rarebird]

Good reminder that although we sometimes romanticize the 70's there was some cheesy crap made then too

Crap was made in every decade. It's just that we mostly remember the good things.

[Mascodagama]

Roy is so hip. I first encountered him as an acoustic bassist in mainstream British jazz groups. My favourite recording in this vein from a Roy perspective is the first one I got, a duet album of Ellington covers he did with genius pianist Stan Tracey (RIP), the brilliantly-titled Stan Tracey Plays Duke Ellington. It was immediately clear in this spacious, relaxed context that Roy had it all: swing, propulsion and a fabulous melodic sense.