Author Topic: Cliff Williams' non-reverse  (Read 5136 times)

FrankieTbird

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Re: Cliff Williams' non-reverse
« Reply #15 on: March 06, 2019, 09:40:10 AM »
That non rev bass really looks like the one and same Leon had, with toggle and all:




Looks like it may have been a modified and converted TB-II, hence the xtra knobs & switch. 

Also it looks like the jack is very close to the tone pot there, almost seems there wouldn't be enough clearance for a full-size pot.

According to https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj-uMDf--3gAhULUa0KHWihAcsQFjAAegQICxAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.scribd.com%2Fdocument%2F23991128%2FLynyrd-Skynyrd-Leon-Wilkeson-Equipment-History&usg=AOvVaw0tdunZyQPjeadNhUzTKIw1, Leon only used it on the British/US/Japan tours 76-77.  Did Skynyrd and AC/DC tour together at that time?
« Last Edit: March 06, 2019, 09:50:53 AM by FrankieTbird »

TBird1958

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Re: Cliff Williams' non-reverse
« Reply #16 on: March 06, 2019, 10:03:06 AM »
That non rev bass really looks like the one and same Leon had, with toggle and all:


 

 The more I look at this bass, I don't think Gibson. The shape is just not "right' I think it's Ibanez or Greco.
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FrankieTbird

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Re: Cliff Williams' non-reverse
« Reply #17 on: March 06, 2019, 10:47:14 AM »

I found this comment on songfacts.com:

"Jimmy from Knox, TN - I saw Lynyrd Skynyrd in Knoxville,Tn in 1976 and AC/DC opened up for Skynyrd and what a show with Bon Scott and Ronnie Van Zant on the same stage"

...although it seems sketchy since AC/DC did not play the USA until '77.   ???

Basvarken

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Re: Cliff Williams' non-reverse
« Reply #18 on: March 06, 2019, 10:51:40 AM »
 
 The more I look at this bass, I don't think Gibson. The shape is just not "right' I think it's Ibanez or Greco.

Definitely not Greco. Greco used a three point bridge with tailbar instead of a two point bridge with tailbar.


Basvarken

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Re: Cliff Williams' non-reverse
« Reply #19 on: March 06, 2019, 10:55:46 AM »
I found this comment on songfacts.com:

"Jimmy from Knox, TN - I saw Lynyrd Skynyrd in Knoxville,Tn in 1976 and AC/DC opened up for Skynyrd and what a show with Bon Scott and Ronnie Van Zant on the same stage"

...although it seems sketchy since AC/DC did not play the USA until '77.   ???

Williams joined AC/DC in 1977.

FrankieTbird

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Re: Cliff Williams' non-reverse
« Reply #20 on: March 06, 2019, 10:59:40 AM »
Quote from: TBird1958
 

 The more I look at this bass, I don't think Gibson. The shape is just not "right' I think it's Ibanez or Greco.

It looks right to me but the pickguard definitely looks wrong.

Pekka

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Re: Cliff Williams' non-reverse
« Reply #21 on: March 06, 2019, 12:45:45 PM »
Williams joined AC/DC in 1977.

The pics I posted are from Hempstead USA, August 1978. Maybe Cliff or AC/DC got the bass from Leon?
He also used a P-bass during the same show.

http://www.highwaytoacdc.com/index.php?articleid=1109

uwe

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Re: Cliff Williams' non-reverse
« Reply #22 on: March 06, 2019, 04:01:17 PM »
I don't believe it was loaned, Cliff still played it years later in their videos:



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uwe

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Re: Cliff Williams' non-reverse
« Reply #23 on: March 06, 2019, 04:06:40 PM »
Not many rock bassists played electric bass with a bow!!!

We've taken too much for granted ... and all the time it had grown ...
From techno seeds we first planted ... evolved a mind of its own ...

Pekka

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Re: Cliff Williams' non-reverse
« Reply #24 on: March 06, 2019, 11:16:32 PM »
I don't believe it was loaned, Cliff still played it years later in their videos:

Take a good look, the bass on the videos is not the same. It's the one on the pic I posted where you comment on Cliff's good looks. :)

The "Back In Black" promo bass:


Pekka

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Re: Cliff Williams' non-reverse
« Reply #25 on: March 06, 2019, 11:19:34 PM »
Not many rock bassists played electric bass with a bow!!!


One player that springs to mind is Louis Cennamo who used to bow his Jazz Bass on the first Renaissance album. Also played with Colosseum (briefly), Steamhammer and the mighty Armageddon whose lone '75 album is a personal fav of slightly psychedelic a bit bluesy hard rock.

amptech

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Re: Cliff Williams' non-reverse
« Reply #26 on: March 06, 2019, 11:54:28 PM »
It's a reverse.

They came in different shapes too?? No wonder why it never caught on :mrgreen:

You are right, memory played a trick on me there..

EDIT: I see no mention in the other Cliff thread about him using a Gibson EB-3, he used it in 1985. Might have been a loaner, not sure.
I recall it was a black EB3L slothead, but who knows. I can't stand watching the Fly on the wall video, too embarassing - maybe someone else can check it out. I always thought the bass on that album was muddy, maybe he even used it in the studio?


« Last Edit: March 07, 2019, 12:04:37 AM by amptech »

Pekka

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Re: Cliff Williams' non-reverse
« Reply #27 on: March 07, 2019, 12:04:08 AM »
They came in different shapes too?? No wonder why it never caught on :mrgreen:

You are right, memory played a trick on me there..

 :mrgreen:

Well, I can't blame you. I was dead sure it was Williams already on that "Dog Eat Dog" clip. And I bet many thought it was Mark Evans on "Let There Be Rock" promo but it's Cliff with a blonde Ripper:

doombass

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Re: Cliff Williams' non-reverse
« Reply #28 on: March 07, 2019, 05:37:38 AM »
Take a good look, the bass on the videos is not the same. It's the one on the pic I posted where you comment on Cliff's good looks. :)

The "Back In Black" promo bass:


Yes, those are different basses judged by the inlays. I really think Cliff loaned that bass from Leon because by the 80's it was back in Leon's possession but refinned and with further modifications done to it, still the same inlays though.






4stringer77

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Re: Cliff Williams' non-reverse
« Reply #29 on: March 07, 2019, 07:12:49 AM »
Bet that bass could tell some stories if it could talk. Wonder where it ended up and if it still has emg pickups.
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