Stanley Clarke with G-3

[uwe]

Well, the G-3 connection of Stanley inspired at least this Dutch collector to buy a G-3 at the time.

 http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://members.ziggo.nl/owvamst/gibsong3.jpg&imgrefurl=http://members.ziggo.nl/owvamst/gallery.html&usg=__5HTgSxtvQWMdtXKKLzayFt6nxn0=&h=350&w=250&sz=26&hl=de&start=6&um=1&tbnid=zZKgn61JZZmk3M:&tbnh=120&tbnw=86&prev=/images%3Fq%3DStanley%2BClarke%2BGibson%26hl%3Dde%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-US%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1

Interesting G-3 btw with gold hardware, schaller bridge and not a maple board plus extra toggle, most likely all of it modified.

[gearHed289]

I have an old Gibson brochure from '77 that shows Stanley with a G-3. I know he was playing an EB-2(D?) before the Alembics.

[Chris P.]

The Ricky 3000 of that guy is modded too, so this G3 will be modded also. Nice how he doesn't translate 'parelmoer' . Mother of Pearl.

[OldManC]

I knew that photo was fake! I found the original here. I guess they thought the V was a little too radical for him.

[eb2]

I think the Afro was bigger.  Much bigger.

In his Guitar Player interview in the late 70s they recounted his first use of an Alembic.  He had been playing an EB-2, which may have been a 2D, and the Alembic rep who saw him live told him how it sounded like "shit" and he should try out an Alembic.  Stanley seems to have agreed somewhat, as he seems to have kept the Gibson but did switch to the Alembic.  And much like the shift in bass tone that graced Led Zep discs after JPJ got his Alembic, Stanley marched headlong into nasal clanky-clank land.  I am no fan of fusion, but even so, I wish the guy had kept a Gibson around for at least some of his recordings.  So, maybe he did have a G3, as it is possible the fine folks at Norlin must have read the article and thought maybe they could win him back with a freebie.  But I don't think there is much real evidence of him playing one.  And that pic doesn't look real. 

[OldManC]

I think the Afro was bigger.  Much bigger.

You mean like this?



 

[hieronymous]

This is the only photographic evidence that I have ever seen of Stan playing an EB-2, or any Gibson for that matter:



(This came from the pictures in the booklet of the recent RTF compilation, The Anthology)

[barend]

You mean like this?



 

   great picture! Stanley with a flying V, hilarious,

I am quit a big Stanley Clarke fan. Especially his Return to Forever stuff and his first three solo records.
I like his Alembic tone.
Don't the like the later piccolo freaks outs.

I think the G-3 with the pickup switch in the first position (bridge and middle pickup) sounds rather Clarkish to me.
That's the position of the pickup switch I always use.

[Hornisse]

That is a great photo with the V!   This photo was circulated around the same time.



Looks more realistic, although I doubt that Louis used a Grabber on any recordings.  He is more know for using the Alembics and Music Man basses. (although he is photographed with a P bass on their first LP)

[gearHed289]

There's a youtube vid of Stanley with the EB-2, but I can't find it now. It did sound like poop. Just not the right axe for his technique.

[eb2]

I heard him play an upright and was much happier with the end result.  Needless to say my copy of School Days went to the used record shop a week after it was opened.  I learned my lesson, and avoided the hype on later bass geniuses, like when everyone was jumping up and down for that Jamaalama Takameema, or whatever his name was.

[barend]

I think I saw that EB-2 clip too once. Would like to see it again but I can't find it.

The EB-2 is just not suited for slapping because the pickup is so close to the neck. Slapping wasn't even invented when these basses came out. That's the main reason for selling my EB-3 and switching to a Precision again. I want to be able to execute all techniques when I play.

This clip shows him playing a Rickenbacker with only one pickup, solo staring at 3:20:




 

[Highlander]

The second oldest profession...? Surely negotiation came first, Uwe... 

[Chris P.]

A big  to this whole thread:)

[Denis]

Great video! Look at that cool NCSU t-shirt Bill is wearing.