Another 'How do I get Phil Lesh's tone?' thread

[connor]

Ok, so I'm wondering how to get Phil Lesh's tone with my current setup. It is:
 
Alembic Epic bass with flame maple top, DR Sunbeams
 
Alembic F-2B
Alembic SF-2
Eden WT-600 (used as a poweramp only)
Eden 410XLT cab
 
any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
Thanks!
Connor

[bsee]

Steal his fingers and technique?
 
First thing I'd do to get in the ballpark would be to find out what strings he uses and get a set. I have no idea what he is using.
 
For the benefit of the Lesh fans out there, you may have to specify a particular era to match. When a guy has been on the scene for almost half a century, chances are the tone has changed over the years.

[hieronymous]

Yes, definitely narrow in on what era you are talking about. Plus, use a pick! Any more than that, and I defer to the experts!

[cozmik_cowboy]

Yes - pick an era & research it, & use a pick.  At least early on he used Pyramid Gold flatwounds.  And get some bigger speakers.  He's mostly used 15s, some 18s - I don't remember ever hearing of him using 10s.  Then go back to childhood and study violin, switch to trumpet.......  
 
Peter

[connor]

The era I'm going for is late 70's... like 1977 or 1978.

[cozmik_cowboy]

By '77 he was using a 3X15, a 4X12 and a 2X18.
 
Blair Jackson, Grateful Dead Gear, 170.
 
During this period [Spring '77 tour], Phil was playing his Alembic custom through an Alembic F2B preamp hooked up to a McIntosh 2300 stereo power amp driving a pair of Hard Truckers cabinets filled with Gauss speakers - one with four 15s, the other with three 12s.
 
ibid., 177.
 
Peter

[edwin]

For that era I suggest trying to find some D'Addario Half-Rounds and playing with a pick. Back then I think it was a Fender Heavy, but recently Telefunken has reissued the graphite Dunlop that he's been using for the last 15 years at least (as well as Mike Gordon). I got a few from ebay and they are the real deal.
 
Edwin

[benson_murrensun]

I met Phil (briefly) when his book Searching For The Sound came out, and I asked him where I could get a graphite pick like the ones that I heard he uses. He reached into his pocket and gave me his pick. It was a Dunlop Stubby triangular pick: Dunlop 473R Triangle Stubby Guitar Picks, 10 bucks for a dozen at M.F. They are made of Lexan.

[benson_murrensun]

And now I am doubting my own veracity... After googling Telefunken graphite pick I saw some picks that look even more like the pick I got from Mr. Lesh than the Lexan ones I mentioned above. Open mouth, insert foot, deal with it.
I did try some actual graphite picks (thanks, Edwin) and like the sound better than any others I have tried. But I still don't sound like Lesh...

[David Houck]

Hah!  Maybe you're not holding it right.

[sonicus]

I remember when Mr. Lesh  would play on occasion with his fingers  instead of a pick  .I think I recall  seeing him play during the Alembic modified Gibson EB3 with Guild /Hagstrom pickups era. He ROARED on that Bass . It  might have been one of his most visceral periods in tone.  Think;  JACK LESH  lol !

[benson_murrensun]

I was watching the Festival Express movie again the other day and Phil was using the Gibson with no pick on those shows.

[benson_murrensun]

David,
 
Thanks for the suggestion. I tried holding the pick differently but I still didn't sound like Lesh. Imagine that. ;-)

[David Houck]

Well then I don't know what it could be.

[garth4664]

how to get Phil Lesh's tone?...hmmm I'm thinking drugs, lots of drugs