Mel Is definetly a bad boy, & his tone is excellent. But tone does not come from ones hands. Technique comes from the hands but, a great tone is much more than just the hands. If tone just came from the hands, all bass players, would save whole lot of money, buy buying a $100 samick bass & a $50 crate amp. The bass he is playing, is a pre-Gibson Tobias, probaly runs about $2500 -3000 used . A horrible sounding bass no matter who is playing it, the tone will still be horrible.
I disagree. While obviously nicer equipment is going to sound marginally better, good technique and a nice touch can make a pretty crappy bass sound alright.
Well that's not true bro, and I can prove it get one bass and 2 players 1) a good one with great technique 2) a bad one with horrible technique with a cheap bass and see won't it sound totally different! So tone does come from you the player good or bad and the othe 20% is the bass and amp. I know guys with GREAT basses fom jazzes to Fodera with bad technique and the basses sounds like $5 dollars and I know a pro with a Peavey Dyna bass thats killing because he know sound and has great techniq
@basses6 Naw bro, hate to bus your bubble, but the hands can only bring out the sounds the bass has. The sound has to already be there. Good technique is important. Those cats you know with bad technique, can learn the correct way, to bring out the tones that Fodera or Jazz bass,has to offer. Good tone is a combination of many things, the hands are just part of the good tone formula. If that bass has bad tone, no player can make it sound good. The technique might be good but the tone will stink.
@noinwe I have to agree with "basses6" on this one. It's the same thing with guitar. I can make any guitar sound good, not because of gear, but because of my technique. The instrument has little to do with it. I've sat in with Mel's band before and played HIS bass, with HIS stage sound, and I couldn't come close to making it sound as good as him.
@misteredwino How arrogant you are to believe, you can make any guitar sound good, impossible. No can do that, not even the best. Now what they do might sound good, but if an instrument sounds bad, the tone will still be bad. Don't ever think you are that good, cause noone is. Thats why they sell basses & guitars & amps for thousands of $'s, because they are searching for that perfect tone. Cause if it was just the hands, they all could get away with a Sqiuer.
I LOVE the TOBIAS! Recording Engineers LOVE the TOBIAS - Songwriters LOVE the Tobias. Musicians LOVE the Tobias. NOTHING "growls" like it and I have yet to hear anything come close to sounding similar. Mel's origianl Tobias is DEFINITELY unique sounding. It helped me win a 1993 Regional Heartland Emmy Award for music composition . . . Nuff Said.
Mel Brown on bass!Well composed and performed solo over a classic tune with cool changes! Won't be overlooked for too long! and the EWI player is great too!
Yeah, well I'm sure the biggest difference would be that Mel has played with Gladys Knight, Marc Anthony, Wylin Tisdale, and George Benson to name a few.....Idriss who? lol
Yo, Mel. I'm reading your book, from Zero to Sideman! Fantastic playing. Love the sound of your Tobias. Hope you still have it.
afeschyn 1 year ago
Where is this video taken from?
Hilmers1 1 year ago
probably yeah! Where is this video taken from? instructional video?
Hilmers1 1 year ago
im friends with mel. he jammed with us on friday
drum6banger 1 year ago
This bass solo wowed me when I thought I had seen everything... Freaking unbelievable...
allexcosta 1 year ago
Damn...
That Bass solo
y34r 2 years ago
might be the most precise and musical slap bass solo ive heard
funkbeastbasslover 2 years ago 17
it is my duuu!
6bass41r 2 years ago
just wow
6bass41r 3 years ago 2
yesssss musical CRACK ......
lojprod 3 years ago 3
making sweet love to the bass, he is
pyrofiliac 3 years ago 3
Absolutely love Mel's playing. The tone is phenomenal and only comes from gifted hands no matter what bass you play. 1000 starrs
subsonicbassist 3 years ago 10
Mel Is definetly a bad boy, & his tone is excellent. But tone does not come from ones hands. Technique comes from the hands but, a great tone is much more than just the hands. If tone just came from the hands, all bass players, would save whole lot of money, buy buying a $100 samick bass & a $50 crate amp. The bass he is playing, is a pre-Gibson Tobias, probaly runs about $2500 -3000 used . A horrible sounding bass no matter who is playing it, the tone will still be horrible.
noinwe 3 years ago 3
I disagree. While obviously nicer equipment is going to sound marginally better, good technique and a nice touch can make a pretty crappy bass sound alright.
Beautiful solo though! Crap man!
mus1580 2 years ago
Well that's not true bro, and I can prove it get one bass and 2 players 1) a good one with great technique 2) a bad one with horrible technique with a cheap bass and see won't it sound totally different! So tone does come from you the player good or bad and the othe 20% is the bass and amp. I know guys with GREAT basses fom jazzes to Fodera with bad technique and the basses sounds like $5 dollars and I know a pro with a Peavey Dyna bass thats killing because he know sound and has great techniq
basses6 2 years ago 2
@basses6 Naw bro, hate to bus your bubble, but the hands can only bring out the sounds the bass has. The sound has to already be there. Good technique is important. Those cats you know with bad technique, can learn the correct way, to bring out the tones that Fodera or Jazz bass,has to offer. Good tone is a combination of many things, the hands are just part of the good tone formula. If that bass has bad tone, no player can make it sound good. The technique might be good but the tone will stink.
noinwe 1 year ago
@noinwe I have to agree with "basses6" on this one. It's the same thing with guitar. I can make any guitar sound good, not because of gear, but because of my technique. The instrument has little to do with it. I've sat in with Mel's band before and played HIS bass, with HIS stage sound, and I couldn't come close to making it sound as good as him.
misteredwino 1 year ago
@misteredwino How arrogant you are to believe, you can make any guitar sound good, impossible. No can do that, not even the best. Now what they do might sound good, but if an instrument sounds bad, the tone will still be bad. Don't ever think you are that good, cause noone is. Thats why they sell basses & guitars & amps for thousands of $'s, because they are searching for that perfect tone. Cause if it was just the hands, they all could get away with a Sqiuer.
noinwe 1 year ago
@noinwe
totally agree
there wouldn't be 4000 dollar basses if a 100 squire starter pack would sound just as good.
aaron1200123 1 year ago
I LOVE the TOBIAS! Recording Engineers LOVE the TOBIAS - Songwriters LOVE the Tobias. Musicians LOVE the Tobias. NOTHING "growls" like it and I have yet to hear anything come close to sounding similar. Mel's origianl Tobias is DEFINITELY unique sounding. It helped me win a 1993 Regional Heartland Emmy Award for music composition . . . Nuff Said.
dyanna1060 2 years ago
@dyanna1060 Yeah but mel always uses a lakeland when he performs live.
misteredwino 1 year ago
Man...I dont even have the words. *goin to practice*
toofpick151 3 years ago 2
Comment removed
FlowJazz 3 years ago
i was just with him on thursday eating.
JOLEVONONDRUMS 3 years ago 2
wow!! great skill, love the bass tone also x
cfk2007ad 3 years ago
Simply PHENOMENAL!!!!!!! Mel is, perhaps, one of the most gifted, talented, and skillful jazz bassists ALIVE. I'd rank him in the top 100!
mikchipkeys 3 years ago 4
Is it even possible to be that good?
subsonicbassist 3 years ago 3
it was all CG (LOL) he was gliding all over that fret board.. like he invented it, very good
gmichaelzz 3 years ago 4
Excellent, great bassist.
kennsmith 3 years ago
Hey Mel...love whatcha doin. Keep em comin!
ventedge 3 years ago
This brotha is amazing.
noinwe 3 years ago 3
Mel Brown on bass!Well composed and performed solo over a classic tune with cool changes! Won't be overlooked for too long! and the EWI player is great too!
Squares1960 3 years ago
Very very Coool! The bassist reminds me of my friend, Idriss Badarou.
Excellent video...
CooolJazzz 3 years ago
Yeah, well I'm sure the biggest difference would be that Mel has played with Gladys Knight, Marc Anthony, Wylin Tisdale, and George Benson to name a few.....Idriss who? lol
misteredwino 3 years ago