Create classic 1980s live bass
We talk elsewhere about the rise of synth and sampled bass, but let’s think about how to make realistic bass guitar sounds. Coming out of punk and post-punk, there were so many great rock players around, like Jean-Jacques Burnel (Stranglers), Tina Weymouth (Talking Heads), Bruce Foxton (The Jam), and Colin Moulding (XTC). In other genres there were slap monsters such as Louis Johnson (The Brothers Johnson), Mark King (Level 42), Nick Beggs (Kajagoogoo), and then, of course, the fretless came into its own, with players such as Mick Karn (Japan) and Pino Palladino (Paul Young). These players weren’t submerged in the mix, they were up front and identifiable. Put down a fretless bass track, a bit of DX7 piano, maybe some Simmons electronic drums, throw in some sax – that’s the 80s for a lot of people! It’s an important point for the would-be 1980s throwback artist: choosing the right approach to bass, real or programmed, and nailing the style, places your song firmly in the appropriate part of the decade.