Bernard Edwards tribute part 1 (Good Times - We Are Family) bassline

[demoniciceberg]

It's a fact that you look a lot like Robert Downey Jr. And you are an amazing bass player!

[satchelpooch01]

Thanks very much for this B. E. tribute - a unique talent sadly missed. I'm sorry to hear about others' displeasure with J. B.'s playing with Nile - I have one of Jerry's instructional videos that I bought in Japan after hearing him play. Hope he gets things sorted out on the B.E. covers.

[ato71]

@satchelpooch01, infact I actually think the guys here exaggerated a bit!

[ato71]

@BigglesPlejaren, I think you're a bit overestimating me... anyway, thanks for your apreciation!

[zaksnaporaz]

@BigglesPlejaren yes indeed. Can't believe Nile Rodgers hasn't replaced him after 2-3 gigs. He is really ruining all of the fantastic groove Bernard/Tony/Nile could craft. Not only overdoing the slap, but also with his smeary playing style ...pffff, I saw them a couple of weeks ago on stage and was trying to mind-erase the bass from what I was seeing/hearing, a sad exercise. But hey - again - thumbs up for this amazing ato71 and his sleek playing style !!! by the way, have a go with "happy man"

[ato71]

@zaksnaporaz, I think you're a bit overestimating me... anyway, thanks for your apreciation!

[zaksnaporaz]

@ato71 well your modesty honors you even more. Cheers !

[ato71]

@zaksnaporaz, I just scored a '77 Sting Ray (I don't actually know the year of Bernard's bass at Budokan but it surely was a Pre Ernie): that makes me feel like recording the second part of my humble tribute (the greatest dancer and I want your love or Diana's My Old Piano).

[zaksnaporaz]

@ato71 congratulations! I found a 81 L-2000 G&L some time ago, and must reconsider my initially low opinion of G&L basses: this one sounds really great in any of the pickup combinations - only thing, it could be confusing for the output level is very different in the various positions, so you have to tweak around to get the right input level to your amp. About Stingrays, how would you say a pre-Ernie model sounds in comparison to a recent one ? I have a yr 2006 and it does sound very good...

[ato71]

@zaksnaporaz, well, I've just sold my 2007 EB Sting Ray ;-)

You can feel they are family but the old '77 is warmer and sounds more "real": the EB is more "hi-fi" but its tone is colder, more artificial.

You know what? The old Sting Ray sounds more similar to the '79 Sabre in bridge only PU mode, like in this video (the evil neglected brother), than to its younger EB nephew. I didn't expect it!

[seeker242]

Man, that was great..you were step by step right with THE MAN B Edwards..thanks for showing us what you can do!

[TheCriticEye]

1:57 lost my mind : )

[opinionated99]

Can you do Chic "I Want Your Love" and Maxwell "Ascension"? U play awesome

[GarethFlatlands]

I can't stand most disco music but you've got to have respect for Edwards and Rodgers. Amazing musicians.

[starbreaker65]

dude i subscribed keep it coming. chech out the group dynasty for some killer baslines too leon silvers is good too

[timoonn]

Short scale bass :o

[ato71]

@timoonn, nope, narrow video :))

[timoonn]

@ato71 o'rly? :p

[JJTTVM]

Love your Music Man Sabre.

[chapapepe]

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!

[kafcin]

Can you do some Jamiroquai songs? Would be amazing .......

[ato71]

@kafcin, don't get angry at me but I confess they're not among my favorites

[kafcin]

@ato71 Can't get angry at you dude, You play brilliantly... :D .. hehe

[ato71]

@kafcin: : )

[piezoelettrico]

great! just great.

thanks so much for posting this.

[ato71]

@piezoelettrico: figurati! grazie a te per il complimento!!!

[piezoelettrico]

@Ato....... we're waiting the part 2.... :-)

grande bassista. grazie ancora

[megavega4]

So nice to see someone else with that laid back feel that Bernard had... it's obvious he was an influence on you.. as he was on me. Between the two of us, we've done a video showcasing two of his greatest lines.. in my opinion. Great job !!

[ato71]

@megavega4: my friend, your apreciation it's an honor for me! Other guys told me about that "feel": I'm almost starting to believe it!

You know what? I never set my mind on how to play his lines 'cause I think that, as a bass player, you feel them coming from somewhere deep inside... It's not a matter of study!

[rubenevangelista]

Excellent!!! so relaxed!!!!!

[normanhathaway]

best bernard sound i've heard

RELAXED for once

[ato71]

@normanhathaway, the merit goes to the bass!

[MomoTheBellyDancer]

@normanhathaway

"RELAXED for once"

Perhaps a bit TOO relaxed. It needs to be a bit more on the beat. This bass line seems so simple, but it's really very hard to get right. Edwards was a genius.

[boongg]

Daxio14,

Get a copy of Chic's 1996 Budokkan live DVD. You can see what Bernard is doing on his Stingray.

[daxio14]

can you do a slow version of good times - since your version seems to be close to the real thing - trying to work it out but can't get the clean definition that BE did - maybe my action is too high or usual finger trouble

[frankinsanebass]

Excellent feel, I totally agree with boongg! I absolutely love BE's basslines and you have done a great job!

[ato71]

Thanks my friend!

Having seen what you can do with a bass, your words are very much apreciated!

[AtomicFuse1]

Now do everybody dance! :)

[boongg]

You are the only guy that I've seen on Youtube that plays the bass with the same "FEEL" as Edwards. Nile Rogers should get you.

[ato71]

Thanks man (though I think you're giving me too much credit!). Anyway, I think that Nile Rodgers, after Budokan 1996, doesn't want to recreate the same feel as with Bernard: it gives me the idea of a kinda "things are different now and will never be the same".

[gifu1960]

I could listen to this all day long. You're a great player.

[zaksnaporaz]

oh yes, you got that Bernard Edwards playing feel just right, way better than the replacement guy Chic had for the last years....

[bassfeile]

Great playing, fine bass. Where you lucky bastard's get all this sabre-basses.

I think, they make it only untill '79 .

Where do you get the sister sledge live track from ?

Thank you - Keep on Funk'in

[ato71]

Haha, I bought them from a person I know who deals in vintage basses (bambibau on italian ebay). The sabre came out in 1979 but it'hasn't been as lucky as the Sting Ray and the production finished in 1991 (mine are both '79).

The track come s from the "live at the budokan" CD.

Thanks for the apreciation.

[bassfeile]

I dont think so. The Sabre produktion has ended more early. MM goes to be Ernie Ball MM. But Ernie Ball does not get all of the Leo Fender Patents for his new produktion line in 1980.

[ato71]

I swear! You can check the musicman. org web page! Of course it had the EB from the 80s.

[bassfeile]

Hi , you're right . Untill 1991. O.K.  Thank's .I'ts just about the Fender History for myself. That's why I'm asking. Because I play a 1980's G&L L-1000 . It has nearly the same bridge like the one you've got here. The later "sabre" has got sometimes the bridge, as we know from the "StingRay" .

[mickeymoose76]

again, my friend, you are a talented Bass player!

[ato71]

again, brother, you are too kind: thanks for the apreciation!

[neonjunglejumper]

nice bass playong bro, is that stingray strung through the back & what year is it about a '77 ?

[ato71]

Thanks my friend! It's not a SRay, it's a '79 Sabre, the underestimated evil brother (but I love it the same).

[k60bassman]

You know!!!!!!

[daneby1]

is that a sabre?

[ato71]

Yep: it's a '79.

[daneby1]

man i have one found it a few years ago how can you find out the date it was made?

[ato71]

Well, you could check the date stamped in the body pocket or under the base of the neck. If you don't want to unscrew the neck, you could check the serial number engraved on the bridge and you get an idea about the "birth" date: there's a list on musicmanbass. org site.

[iconic558]

very, very good, great stuff

[maxixe]

sounds great, what strings are ya using??

[ato71]

I use Fodera or DR strings (either nickel or steel) according to how they "sound" on my different basses. In this case they were DR nickel (Lo rider 45-105 and not actually brand new).

[MamoDad]

Nice work ato, thanks for posting.

Bernard forever!

[mginsel]

This guy is the heir apparent to MarloweDK (r.ip.).

ato71 you are very gifted and dig your song selections. Peace.

[ato71]

You're too generous: I'm not worthy to just change the strings of the worst among his basses!

[mickeymoose76]

superb bassist, you should be on TV!!!

[ato71]

You're too generous: there are lots of bass players I am not worthy to just tune their instruments!

[mickeymoose76]

The quality you play with is easily as good as any professional, more famous musicians, its just my opinion!

[swetbabo]

Sweet!

[coopyfenderbeupus]

Natural funk feel. I love it!

[philbx1]

Bass fingers & brains, not often allotted to mere mortals. Nice set indeed!

[fenjazz4]

very nice job love the attention to groove