Is the bass in this video an old Ken Smith? 

(The Group is Mtume)
VMG

Looks like a Ken Smith to me; and I'm guessing by the date that the bass player is Basil Fearrington.


Edit: they did introductions at the end, and it is indeed Basil Fearrington.

It's been some time since I've seen one from those days, but it that looks like one of the first generation Smiths from the early '80's when Vinnie Fodera and Ken were working together in Brooklyn, prior to Vinnie opening his own company. It features the original large brass control plate with what, (if memory serves), featured a volume control, a switch or two, and a three band EQ, along with what became the standard body shape and readily recognizable headstock design. I'll take a wild guess and propose that the single pickup on this bass was one of the initial run made for Smith by Bill Lawrence.

I was building and repairing instruments in New York City at that time, but never did any major work on Smith basses as the local players could just as easily bring them back to Ken before he headed west. I did however purchase a few exotic hardwood tops from Ken, and considered Vinnie to be a courteous, considerate, enthusiastic, generous, and classy compatriot.

On an ancillary note, one of my best buddies from high school, Phil Field became a member of Mtume's band a year or so after this video was made, and worked with him for several years, earning songwriting credit on several compositions beginning with the Juicy Fruit album, and continuing until James Mtume dissolved the group.

I concur with Divid Houck, that the bassist in the video is Basil Fearrington.

Thanks fellas.  I thought it was a Ken Smith bass by the head-stock.  Neglected to ID to the bassist. 

Appreciate the history.
VMG

A new round;


So this fluff story ran on morning tv the other day about how 'science' had determined the song "Africa" by Toto to be something-something-yak-yak-yak. (I was only partly tuned in... I did like the song... it's catchy. I reckon that's what they meant) Anyway, the old music video was running in the background and suddenly I noticed the bass looked like an Alembic at first glance, because of the pearl oval inlays, and general shape. Then I noticed it was bound front and back, and may even be semi-acoustic. I also assume this is David Hungate, but it may be Porcaro for all I know.




Anybody got a guess on the bass or the player?  (there's a really good look at about 2:30 in)

My guess is an Oasis bass...

http://alembicguitars.net/club/messages/395/99742.html?1301000045

I dunno, Gregory; the only people I know to use ovals like that are Alembic, Epiphone, and Ed Reynolds - and it doesn't look like any of those.

I will add that by far the best version of "Africa" I ever heard was by an international ensemble based around a guzheng (gawd, I love living in a university town!)

Peter

Here's a talkbass thread on this:


https://www.talkbass.com/threads/mike-porcaro-bass-used-in-africa.1110369/

The pickup surrounds suggest it's an Oasis bass.  And, according to wikipedia, it's Hungate on the recording, but Porcaro in the video.

Just for kicks...found a pic of Mike with an Alembic:

 


Knew I could count on this bunch. Oasis... interesting design, especially gutsy for the early 80's.

Gary Cooper, the luthier who was Oasis, had previously worked at Alembic.

Quote from: David Houck on May 31, 2018, 05:52:37 PM
Gary Cooper, the luthier who was Oasis, had previously worked at Alembic.

Surely has been lots of inspired talent to come through that shop over the years, Dave. 


Just playing along with the game... the Alembic pictured above with Mike Porcaro looks a little unusual too... reverse-headstock Elan 5? Body looks more like a Europa or maybe an Orion though. Can't tell if it has a neck-through construction from that angle.

It's hard to tell from the picture, but some Oasis basses had head stock tuners and fine tuners in the bridge/tailpiece.   This looks like one of those bridges.

Michael