Stax & the Duck

[Pilgrim]

I'm watching the 2008 Stax 50th Anniversary concert at the Orpheum theater....Booker T is playing....and Duck Dunn has a metallic red P-style bass with matching headstock, inlaid pearl blocks and binding on the neck...and tapewound strings.  I suspect it's his Lakland sig bass (couldn't see the bridge, which is oval on the Lakland) - but I didn't expect black/tapewound strings.  

Since we play both Green Onions and Time is Tight in our sets, I paid particular attention....they did both, and it was pleasing to hear that my take is pretty much on target.  They're not complex numbers, but that means they must be done tight and right, not sloppy.

Isaac Hayes also performed - this must not have been too long before his death, as he passed in August of 2008.

[jmcgliss]

We have quite a few Stax tunes in our sets also. I'm using a well-worn set of DR Black Beauties on a DS'd P-bass with good effect. Maybe that's what Duck was using?  According to Ed Friedland's 'R&B Masters" book, Duck used a slightly brighter tone than his contemporaries.

[Dave W]

Could be. Thanks to coated rounds available now (DR and others) black doesn't always mean tapewounds.

[Basshappi]

I was watching The Blues Brothers this weekend and it got me to thinking that I need some Booker T in my CD collection. I have some in vinyl but got nothing to play it on.

[Pilgrim]

Good point about the DR's!  I just saw black strings, but it could indeed have been a coating rather than tape.

If you play bass, you just gotta love Time is Tight and Green Onions - they both give the bass a chance to lead the way.

[jmcgliss]

I have the Stax live from Norway DVD. Great stuff.

[uwe]

Those black DRs sound and look gorgeous. Probably my fave string type.