Cletus wrote:
OK, I somewhat agree that it's not my favorite bass tone but I stand by my statement, discussions about timbre based on a you tube video don't hold much water. I agree if he played with a pick it would help define some things better, however I don't think he could pull off a lot of what he does with a pick so sometimes you have to compromise. The re verb would not do. Maybe some EQ but you have to remember as a duo Beller's job (on a song like that) is also percussionist and rhythm guitar. Re verb would mud things up and be a bitch for Keneally to play over because the rhythm would be less defined. I think Beller's tone fits the situation. It's not about getting the big fat Fowler tone in a coffee shop with no drummer. It would not work at all. He's taking his tone into guitar territory for a reason. His role is not of typical bass player and fluctuates between bass/guitar/percussion. I think he knows exactly what he's doing and probably landed on that tone because it works with the situation, not because it's the best bass tone he could achieve.
That whole "
percussionist and rhythm player" where if you are saying Brian's slap bass work
is what achieves this that only suits for a given portion of the entire performance.
There is just so much length where his laid back flat I play everything with my fingers tone is just somewhat lifeless.
The first two plus minutes his sound is flat and dead and he was not trying to do and rythmic or percussive attack styling whatsoever.
People that play a bass guitar with a pick and use reverb can achieve percussive and rhythm effect
and but also Mike Keneally could play that song solo or with the UCLA marching band with vodoo butter underpants on top of everyone head
where each and every persons head went back this far.
I have nothing but confidence in these musicians that they could do better
and that this is just how they chose to perform it. I am not their musical director they do it their way I just have my opinion but
if and when Brian should use a pick and some reverb I think it would sound better or minimally a frettless to get rid of that buzzyness
and add some inherent roundness if he insists on playing without a pick.
The problem for me with Brian's style in this particular arrangement is it is too laid back
and the attack on the notes is far too soft. If people think it's great good for them but for me it lacks what
I call "
The Roast Tone" but once again I am sure it was fun and these are very talented musicians
doing a good job feeding the pigeons in the park.
A round fretless sound or the use of some reverb would achieve so much more.
That is my opinion. As I had noted previously I think Steve Vai did not find Brian to fit
what he was doing the first time he auditioned for the band when Keneally was with Vai
and that was his finger bass playing style lacked the attack he was looking for.
I like lots of what Brian Beller does but this is one instance where for my taste I just do not
like his tonal palate and how it affects the overall arrangement.
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