Ron Carter Talks About His Signature Sound, Epifani Bass Amp, and Strings

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  • Опубликовано: 16 окт 2024
  • Legendary bassist Ron Carter (Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock) talks to fellow Epifani artist KJ (‪@TheOddysy‬) about his personal sound. Mr. Carter discusses his acoustic bass, Epifani amps and cabinets, La Bella strings, and how he conjures the unique tone that has graced thousands of recordings from Miles Davis' Miles Smiles to Low End Theory by A Tribe Called Quest.
    "I tell my students they have to be responsible for the sound they get," the masters tells KJ. "Whatever sound identifies them, they have to learn how to make it." To find the sound that identifies him, Ron Carter started by talking to a double-bass repairman. There Carter learned about the inner workings of an upright bass-the sound post, bass bar, seams, strings, and everything else that goes along with them.
    The next journey set the great bassist on the road to the perfect set of strings. Having tried everything, Ron settles on La Bella 1700/1710 strings which combine a nylon exterior with a steel core. He's been using them ever since (about 25 years).
    It was a lot harder to find the right bass amp, Carter recalls. "This is the best I've ever played," says Carter of his Epifani UL 901 bass amplifier and DIST2 dual-impedance bass speaker cabinet. "Epifani makes the bass sound like it's supposed to. It doesn't color the sound, it doesn't make it sound like someone is playing the bass."
    Carter uses a mix of 10-inch and 12-inch speaker cabs depending on the size of the room he's playing. And he's taken to mounting the cabinet on a pole to get it away from his socks and closer to his ear. After all, there's no sense in having a great sound if the amp is trapped behind the body of the bass.
    Both Mr. Carter and KJ have been Epifani Artists for decades. Like the master, KJ runs his Fodera basses through Piccolo and UL 901 amps, but prefers a 2x10 cab to create his ideal sound.
    The interview was shot on location and Ron Carter's NYC apartment. Audio/Video was handled by Shapeshifter Lab, owned and operated by Matt Garrison, a world-class bassist in his own right.
    For more visit epifani.com

Комментарии • 52

  • @francistucker9709
    @francistucker9709 2 года назад +8

    Mr Carter is always just so totally interesting to just sit and listen to him explain stuff. His interviews are always as exciting as his performances and his Q&As. The man brings so much character in everything that he does.

  • @Bassic778
    @Bassic778 Год назад +2

    Fantastic insights and pearls of wisdom from one of the most influential, if not the most influential upright bassists in history!

  • @drecool6976
    @drecool6976 4 года назад +20

    A Living Legend still playing great and leaving a legacy.

  • @velvetjones6856
    @velvetjones6856 4 года назад +60

    How the heck does someone give a thumbs down to Ron Carter?

    • @mst5g826
      @mst5g826 4 года назад +6

      They are probably unhappy in life. Maybe if they bought your books, they could make money from home doing what they love.

    • @ajdsr56
      @ajdsr56 4 года назад +7

      A no talent moron

    • @nemo227
      @nemo227 3 года назад +1

      There may be a dozen reasons. We all hear things differently. My old Ron Carter LP album sounds different than the later Ron Carter bass. Well, this video tells us how he changed his sound. Personally, I prefer the older, more resonant sound (but I still gave this video a thumbs up). Technology has also changed what an audience hears. In my day we rarely played with amplification (I never played an amplified bass) and audiences heard a different sound. Even my old bass sounds more resonant with 3 strings than with 4, but while I prefer the resonance of 3 strings I chose the convenience of 4 strings.

    • @PhillipAlcock
      @PhillipAlcock 3 года назад +1

      Ignorance - you have to feel sorry for them

    • @TorrieSeager
      @TorrieSeager 3 года назад +1

      I know its unbelievable.

  • @keithsy75
    @keithsy75 4 года назад +15

    This man's always a gentleman in all ways.

    • @willb3698
      @willb3698 3 года назад

      Absolutely - First thing I felt too. And what a lovely relief that is. Could listen to him talk for hours.

  • @user-ig7nq7pc7k
    @user-ig7nq7pc7k 4 года назад +5

    Fantastic. I've seen him a number of times and attended a workshop he did with... hold your breath... Joe Henderson. He is a lovely gentleman. Miles must have been happy to have such a solid guy and a solid bottom to the sound!

  • @wademiyataki9221
    @wademiyataki9221 4 года назад +8

    One of the greats! Live long, Mr. Carter.

  • @dalerieger5927
    @dalerieger5927 4 года назад +5

    I never tire of hearing his Blues Farm album. Brilliant!

  • @klapsigaarenbasgitaar1931
    @klapsigaarenbasgitaar1931 2 года назад +1

    I'm such an admirer of his work with Miles Davis. I still hope to be able to see him live once..

  • @hankgarza4975
    @hankgarza4975 3 месяца назад

    What a great man, and a great musician! God bless Ron Carter!

  • @Kosmo999
    @Kosmo999 3 года назад

    Bro EVEN if you want to judge or hate on the presenter the more i watch him the more I appreciate him. Really cool guy and humble af. Totally kind of person i want to watch and hear interview frickin legends keep it up brother

  • @JayFrederick
    @JayFrederick 4 года назад +8

    "Nick who, man? Who's named "Nick" anymore these days? It's always "Pat" or "Jerry".... lol! Love it.

  • @rudyzulkarnaen1633
    @rudyzulkarnaen1633 4 года назад +15

    I remember taking a photo with Ron Carter, and he was way taller than me. I'm 173cm. That guy made Mr Carter looks really small.

    • @gustamyo
      @gustamyo 4 года назад +2

      This is the first thing that I looked for :)

    • @jodi183
      @jodi183 4 года назад +1

      Ron is tall! He stood next to me at the bar after one of his concerts--he was checking the highlights of the World Series game that had been aired previously that evening (I found out he's a Tigers fan). It was 2012. Anyway, I'm short, but he towered over me. My guess he's about 6'3". This guy, KJ, might be wearing boots with a slight heal, like Chelsea boots. Either way, he's also really tall.

    • @_Majoras
      @_Majoras 3 года назад +1

      i was gonna say the other guy must be a giant 🤣 always thought ron was tall but he looks like a midget here

    • @1Live2Love3Thrive
      @1Live2Love3Thrive 3 года назад +1

      @@jodi183 Wth is that interviewer guy like 6'6? he does make ron look short.

  • @cattleprods911
    @cattleprods911 2 года назад

    Wow, the legend, thanks for uploading!

  • @robbes7rh
    @robbes7rh 4 года назад +1

    Great interview with this jazz legend. I hope I look and feel and as vibrant as he does when I’m 83. I think this goes to show if you obtain the optimal sound from your own instrument, you too may be imbued with longevity and good health. Dig that pristine, smooth, dark finish on that bass - and he travels and gigs a lot which offers many opportunities for bumps and scratches, etc.

  • @williamross2579
    @williamross2579 4 года назад +7

    My favourite Upright Bass player... and I’m a pure Electric Bassist

    • @IkanGelamaKuning
      @IkanGelamaKuning 4 года назад +2

      My favourite upright bass player, yet Im a tenor sax player.

    • @willb3698
      @willb3698 3 года назад

      He plays it in the the way I would expect an electric player plays. I've always felt that.

  • @robreck6082
    @robreck6082 3 года назад

    'I've always felt that, contrary to normal amp placement..... I mean, unless I have ears at my ankles..." That brought a lot of things about amp placement immediately into focus for me. Seems so simple but so good.

  • @willb3698
    @willb3698 3 года назад +1

    What a lovely Erudite and considerate Bass Player. I really like Ron for his individuality, his quest for 'the Sound" and his unprepossessing nature. What Talent. too. I have wanted to play two other strings in my life, 1: Guts (doing that) and Ron's preferred tape-wounds. I use the bow to much though. But also I would not ever want that sound he has - I would feel an imposter! It's his!

  • @markfretless
    @markfretless 4 года назад +3

    This is wonderful. Thank you( both of you )!😁

  • @sgass
    @sgass 4 года назад +12

    Ron Carter is 82 years old in this video.

  • @skepticsinister
    @skepticsinister 3 года назад +1

    Bass hero! Love you Ron Carter. Global saint 👍🏽

  • @wids
    @wids 4 года назад +3

    Nice interview man

  • @pedroalbelo9928
    @pedroalbelo9928 2 года назад

    Wonderful musician. Great stories.

  • @danroberts5339
    @danroberts5339 4 года назад +3

    Ron. Have you heard of Phil Jones. He makes a speaker called an ear box that does exactly what you describe for live sound.

  • @tmaddrummer
    @tmaddrummer 2 года назад

    Thanks and Blessings!

  • @thiagoparaiso21
    @thiagoparaiso21 3 года назад

    Ron is a legend.

  • @Neobop3
    @Neobop3 2 года назад

    Hi Mr Carter ... wondering what pickups you are using ...????

  • @generalpatzer6893
    @generalpatzer6893 4 года назад +7

    the most recorded jazz bassist in history

  • @williamjc7195
    @williamjc7195 4 года назад

    I love the tone on 'blues farm'.

  • @spacealienjesus709
    @spacealienjesus709 4 года назад +1

    Living legend..

  • @Pierre50mm
    @Pierre50mm 3 года назад

    As an amateur, I have a laminated DB from Eastern Europe. I changed the very good Spirocore strings for La Bella 7710 white strings (last version). Compared to Spirocore, I'd say I have a bit less projection, but better accoustic, round sound.

  • @Gk2003m
    @Gk2003m 2 месяца назад

    5:05: this is the rationale for a “full stack” in any setting. Unlike heavy rock, here it’s not about high volume. It’s about hearing yourself. Get your amp’s speaker up by your ears! Btw, in rock this can help you play at a lower overall volume.

  • @danield2000
    @danield2000 4 года назад +2

    What pick up is he using?

    • @whitorblius
      @whitorblius 4 года назад

      Looks like he's got both a David Gage Realist and a Realist LifeLine

  • @teo1837
    @teo1837 2 года назад

    What the exact bass called though

  • @stevesharief7
    @stevesharief7 4 года назад

    He doesn't play on Milestones...about 7 years before he joined Miles Davis, wanna say "ESP" was his first with Miles, 1965

  • @fromchomleystreet
    @fromchomleystreet 4 года назад +1

    So hard to find a Nick these days amongst all the Tads and Jerrys. Hmmm. Ron does not move in the same circles I do, clearly.

  • @TheShpmusic
    @TheShpmusic 4 года назад

    Awesome job guy's. That bass will sound massively massive if you run it through an Ampeg svt pro..🤝

  • @traustimar
    @traustimar 4 года назад

    45% You 45% Amp 10% Magic

  • @joepalooka2145
    @joepalooka2145 Год назад

    I don't care how famous Ron Carter is --- I don't like the sound of his strings. There is no way nylon/steel bass strings for jazz bass sounds anywhere near as rich, deep, resonant, full and warm as classic gut strings that all the greatest jazz bass players have used since Day One.