Billy Sheehan's right hand technique

[PrimalConcreteSledge]

What are your opinions on Billy Sheehan's right hand technique? I understand his bass has unbelievably huge neck dive, so it's hard to keep the neck at an angle -- that's why Billy has it sorta paralell with the floor. But it's seems that he angles his wrist quite a bit; would that be "poor" technique? I know that he is a professional and everything, and who the heck am I to question his technique, but it seems that this kind of playing might result in some wrist problems. What do you guys think?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=veLGBk1mE5U&feature=related

[thelowsoundofbass]

It doesn't look overly bad, angled a bit. You want to try and avoid that, but a little angle isn't going to cause near as many problems as a major "wrist flop" angle.

lowsound

[rh15951]

If you're gona play like that, buy a guitar :p

[PrimalConcreteSledge]

If you're gona play like that, buy a guitar :p

It's an electric bass GUITAR! :p

[rh15951]

omg

[exit]

It's an electric bass GUITAR! :p

I knew something was fishy here

[Livewire]

his technique bugs me the **** out. his hands look so ugly the way he plays and imo his tone is ****.

[Jody LeCompte]

But he's so fast and that's all that matters.

[Livewire]

But he's so fast and that's all that matters.

all his basslines are constant fills.

[PrimalConcreteSledge]

his technique bugs me the **** out. his hands look so ugly the way he plays and imo his tone is ****.

I agree with you that it's painful to look at this hands/technique when he plays given that he angles his wrists. I also agree with you that his playing is constant fills.
The one thing I disagree with you is his tone; IMO, Dimarzio precision pickups are amazing, but to each their own. It's all about preference.

[Jody LeCompte]

He can be a very solid player.

His work with Mr Big was pretty cool.

[PrimalConcreteSledge]

He can be a very solid player.

His work with Mr Big was pretty cool.

That's what is very misleading about Billy Sheehan. Most videos on youtube is of him just shredding. People never see his work with Mr. Big and Talas and automatically deduce that all his does is wank on his bass.

I still think his technique is painful to watch.

[Jody LeCompte]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_5EDyD9D1Q&NR=1

Very tasteful playing IMO.

Granted, Richie Kotzen is my idol... So I'm a bit biased.

[TheJerkyBoys]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_5EDyD9D1Q&NR=1

Very tasteful playing IMO.

Granted, Richie Kotzen is my idol... So I'm a bit biased.

I love the little trill in the beginning. Pretty easy to do and sounds pretty good.

[Jody LeCompte]

Psh.

Billy was lucky to get to stand next to Richie Kotzen.

<_<

[PrimalConcreteSledge]

Psh.

Billy was lucky to get to stand next to Richie Kotzen.

<_<

Or is it the other way around? :p

[Ting]

I used to idolize him until i realized he's really not THAT great. His tone hurts my ears.

[PrimalConcreteSledge]

I used to idolize him until i realized he's really not THAT great. His tone hurts my ears.

Oh yeah? Well, whose tone do you prefer?

[Ting]

Oh yeah? Well, whose tone do you prefer?

Jaco's fretted tone is pretty awesome. He plays his fretted jazz for most of his Modern Electric bass vid. But in Billy's defense you really do need a tone like that to hear what he's doing.

[PrimalConcreteSledge]

Jaco's fretted tone is pretty awesome. He plays his fretted jazz for most of his Modern Electric bass vid. But in Billy's defense you really do need a tone like that to hear what he's doing.

Jaco's tone is pretty good, but I still find Dimarzio Precision pickups to be my favorite. I think Les Claypool's tone is amazing.

[Jody LeCompte]

Or is it the other way around? :p

Nope.

I'm pretty sure I got it right the first time around.

[Ting]

If we are talking about slap tone MM ranks right on up there.

[CatfishJew]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_5EDyD9D1Q&NR=1

Very tasteful playing IMO.

Granted, Richie Kotzen is my idol... So I'm a bit biased.

yeah, if you're good enough to fill paul gilbert's shoes you deserve some respect.

[PrimalConcreteSledge]

If we are talking about slap tone MM ranks right on up there.

Music Man Stingray for the funkiest bass out there?

[Ting]

Music Man Stingray for the funkiest bass out there?

Marcus Miller. My bad.

[PrimalConcreteSledge]

Marcus Miller. My bad.

Lol, it's always confusing when someone says MM;
Yeah Marcus Miller's tone is great.

[Az_Holl]

Sheehans been playing like that since the 70's.

If hes wrists havent ****ed up yet, im going to awesome that hes not doing anything wrong.

And yeah his tone isnt great, but it works for what hes doing, Like Ting said: you need a tone like that to pull of what hes doing

have you ever tried to shred without dist? You might as well slam your dick into a bucket full of butter and record that, it'll probably sound better

[Led_Zeppelin678]

Compression is actually more important for what he does.

For a real good idea of how Sheehan's playing is in general, check out some Niacin. One Less Worry and Super Grande are good places to start.

[Az_Holl]

Well... yes and no,

Compression is important, but distortion is a natural compressor, so it really does 2 jobs.

[Jody LeCompte]

yeah, if you're good enough to fill paul gilbert's shoes you deserve some respect.

Certainly true.

[Az_Holl]

I really like and respect Kotzen as a player... but i dont like how Mr. Big sounded after Gilbert left.

I just wasnt right dammit :upset:

[Jody LeCompte]

I'll kill you.

[Az_Holl]

Paul plays the bass :eek: :eek:!!!!11111one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eBzEw-88EE

[Jody LeCompte]

That was pretty entertaining.

[PrimalConcreteSledge]

Paul plays the bass :eek: :eek:!!!!11111one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eBzEw-88EE

So, what do you think of Billy's bass?
IMO it would hard to slap on because of the pickup position and the knobs.

[Jody LeCompte]

Slapping isn't really Sheehan's point of interest, he has done it before though.

Possible? Yes.
Comfortable? That's debatable.

[PrimalConcreteSledge]

Slapping isn't really Sheehan's point of interest, he has done it before though.

Possible? Yes.
Comfortable? That's debatable.

Yeah, he does slap in some Niacin videos.

[Az_Holl]

So, what do you think of Billy's bass?
IMO it would hard to slap on because of the pickup position and the knobs.

Well i have the same pickup set up as Sheehan, and it really does make slapping hard, and makes it sound like arse.

Sheehan has said a couple of times that his bass, his tone etc arent set-up to slap. Plus theres the fact that he doesnt slap anyway.

And Billys bass is cool, its not for me, but i think the tone works for most of the stuff that he does.

[PrimalConcreteSledge]

And Billys bass is cool, its not for me, but i think the tone works for most of the stuff that he does.

Could you explain why it's not for you especially since you have the same pickups on your bass?

I tried his bass once -- didn't like the neck dive and the knob positiond as I do a lot double thumping (Wooten's technique) and slapping. I tried out other signature basses like that of Geddy Lee but didn't like the thin neck; didn't like Marcus Miller's bass because of the knob positions.

[burtonbassist_101]

he's almost unhumanly fast... and his tone does indeed work for what he's doing.

he might not be the "grooviest" bass player in the world (yes, i went there), but, he's great at what he does. there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. almost nobody can deny that at one point in time, they were amazed at billy's bass playing. he is an inspiration to a lot of people out there, and is often regarded as a bass legend. most people don't reach that level of acclaim for no reason.

[Az_Holl]

Could you explain why it's not for you especially since you have the same pickups on your bass?

I tried his bass once -- didn't like the neck dive and the knob positiond as I do a lot double thumping (Wooten's technique) and slapping. I tried out other signature basses like that of Geddy Lee but didn't like the thin neck; didn't like Marcus Miller's bass because of the knob positions.
I just figured that i prefer the sound of a pickup down near the bridge more.

I do like using the humbucker at the neck for clean, super bassy dub tone, but its not something that i really want or need.

[Az_Holl]

oh and heres a video of me a few years back when i was sheehans little **** sucker

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2ASduuSP8E

[PrimalConcreteSledge]

I just figured that i prefer the sound of a pickup down near the bridge more.

I do like using the humbucker at the neck for clean, super bassy dub tone, but its not something that i really want or need.

So the pickup is the only reason? If the humbucker was at the bridge you'd buy his bass?

[Az_Holl]

Im not really into buying signature stuff.

Id rather buy a P bass, add a humbucker at the neck and save myself 600$

[PrimalConcreteSledge]

Im not really into buying signature stuff.

Id rather buy a P bass, add a humbucker at the neck and save myself 600$

Not many people know how to add pickups and all that wonderful ****.
It must be pretty cool to know how to do it. I would want to learn it myself sometime.

Should we say Billy Sheehan's bass is a little overpriced? I think they raised the price at samash from $1300 to $1500. Ridiculous.

[Az_Holl]

Well you could get someone to do it for you, and im sure they would charge you 600$ to do it.

All basses are over-priced anyway. People dont mind paying taht much for the Attitdue because its a quality instruement.

[blacklungfever]

For a real good idea of how Sheehan's playing is in general, check out some Niacin

This.

Niacin is incredible.

[Naminator]

He isn't that fast, I've seen faster.

And lol, huge neck dive?

[TheJerkyBoys]

He isn't that fast, I've seen faster.

And lol, huge neck dive?

What he is saying is that the bass is neck heavy.

[Led_Zeppelin678]

It is indeed a very nice bass. If I had a lot of money, I'd own one, but I need an amp before a bass and the next bass I get is probably going to be a SSII.

[TheJerkyBoys]

It is indeed a very nice bass. If I had a lot of money, I'd own one, but I need an amp before a bass and the next bass I get is probably going to be a SSII.

I used to have that Yamaha Attitude bass. I hated the neck dip which pretty much ruined it for me.

[ebe9]

I kept waiting for the swarm of mosquito's to make an appearance.

Yes it's fast, but for me thats about all it had going for it.

[Polyamarous]

Billy Sheehan is not worthy enough to suck the **** from my arse-beard.

Someone needs to tell him to get a real fúcking job.

[rh15951]

Billy Sheehan is not worthy enough to suck the **** from my arse-beard.

Someone needs to tell him to get a real fúcking job.

hahahahaha