TruckinThruTennessee wrote:I love the sound Phil gets at the Fillmore West and Fillmore East shows in 69, I'm wondering can anybody tell me anything they know about that bass, I've read all the post concerning Phil's SG bass, but I'm not looking for any one thing I'm looking for just everything in general about that bass. also feel free to put anything you know about Phil 69 rig just so I can figure out how to get those tones a little easier. amplification, strings, anything at all will be greatly appreciated thanks in advance guys.
Thanks,
TruckinThruTennessee
Bass: Gibson SG (maybe EB-0, maybe EB-3, there is some debate)
Pickups: Hagstrom BiSonics with preamps. Probably similar to Alembic Blaster.
Strings: Pyramid Gold
Amp: 4 Fender Showmen with milspec 6L6 tubes. The ones to get are the Philips 7581As. NOS. It makes a difference. Back in those days, the crew used to go down to LA and go to military auctions and buy them by the palette. At some point I might try the 7581A reissues.
Speakers: 4 Sunn 200S with JBL D140s. They are actually identical to K140s except for the cones. K140s are an acceptable substitute to my ears.
That's the classic rig with the SG. However, in '69, it could be you are hearing the Starfire, which at that point was fairly stock with the addition of upgraded wiring and buffers built onto the bottom of the pickups powered by 9 volts. I'm not exactly sure when the switch over to the SG happened, but the earliest I can find a picture with any reliability is June 21st: