While playing in The Jimi Hendrix experience, Noel Redding typically did turn up his bass extra-loud just to be heard better…
…and we’re glad he did, because he had an amazing bass tone.
While watching the video below, you will hear his “blare” loud-and-proud, even while playing slowly. You’ll also notice he favored playing up near the fretboard which added to his “warmer” style sound.
A lot of attention is given to Hendrix, but without Redding’s bass, it just wouldn’t have been the same.
Noel is playing a Jazz Bass, and yes, we obviously have plenty of 4-string J-Bass pickups to choose from to chase that vintage tone.
I’ve commented before about Redding. It’s interesting how being at the right place at the right time has made Redding so famous; he didn’t play bass & didn’t even audition for the role of Hendrix’s bass player! Originally applying for the role of guitarist (for the Animals was it?), manager Chas Chandler grabbed him for the experience of playing with/for Hendrix! Of course playing a Fender Jazz helped him a lot.
Also, tall order competing with Hendrix for volume (I’m jealous, as even with a recently-acquired 450W Behringer amplifier virtually cranked up with 2 cabinets – guitarists are still asking me to turn up!!).
What does “playing up near the fretboard” mean?
Picking close to the neck as opposed to near the bridge. BTW if my tone sounded like that I would think my speakers were toast.
He picked the strings further from the bridge than many players. The nearer the bridge you pick, the tighter and more toppy the acoustic sound of the string will be.