Which basses did Jack Casady use on which recordings?

[fronobulax]

Answer is not obviously on any Casady or Airplane sites that I could find. I'm only interested in the canonical period which is 1966-1969. I figure it is of some interest to LTG because the Casady/Starfire link is iconic for the brand but, when asked, I could not say for sure what albums featured that combination.

I'm throwing out what I think, but I expect corrections.

Jefferson Airplane Takes Off (1966) - Fender Precision
Surrealistic Pillow (1967) - Fender Precision
After Bathing at Baxter's (1967) - Guild Starfire
Crown of Creation (1968) - Guild Starfire
Bless Its Pointed Little (1969) - Guild Starfire
Volunteers (1969) - Guild Starfire

At some point a Guild Starfire was modified by individuals who ultimately founded/become Alembic. The first mods seem to have occurred in 1969 which predates the founding of Alembic as a company. I know there were two proto-Alembic Starfires (one was stolen) before Alembic 72-01 circa 1972. If the above information and the 1969 date for mods are both correct does that mean Baxter's and Crown used unmodified Starfires?

For extra credit - Marty Balin is credited with bass on "Fat Angel" on Pointed. What bass did he play? Jack's?

 

[Yggdrasil]

Answer is not obviously on any Casady or Airplane sites that I could find. I'm only interested in the canonical period which is 1966-1969. I figure it is of some interest to LTG because the Casady/Starfire link is iconic for the brand but, when asked, I could not say for sure what albums featured that combination.

I'm throwing out what I think, but I expect corrections.

Jefferson Airplane Takes Off (1966) - Fender Precision
Surrealistic Pillow (1967) - Fender Precision
After Bathing at Baxter's (1967) - Guild Starfire
Crown of Creation (1968) - Guild Starfire
Bless Its Pointed Little (1969) - Guild Starfire
Volunteers (1969) - Guild Starfire

At some point a Guild Starfire was modified by individuals who ultimately founded/become Alembic. The first mods seem to have occurred in 1969 which predates the founding of Alembic as a company. I know there were two proto-Alembic Starfires (one was stolen) before Alembic 72-01 circa 1972. If the above information and the 1969 date for mods are both correct does that mean Baxter's and Crown used unmodified Starfires?

For extra credit - Marty Balin is credited with bass on "Fat Angel" on Pointed. What bass did he play? Jack's?

I think this is a bit more accurate (but hopefully Dan Schwartz will be along to set it all straight!):

Jefferson Airplane Takes Off (1966) - Fender Jazz
Surrealistic Pillow (1967) - Fender Jazz
After Bathing at Baxter's (1967) - Mostly Fender Jazz with maybe a bit of Guild Starfire towards the end of the sessions. Also saw the embryonic journey of the Versatone.

 

[mellowgerman]

Pretty sure Yggdrasil more or less hit the nail(s) on the head(s) with his post.
Although, Jack's jazz was modified with a Precision pickup in the far neck position... so you were both sort of right

As for the Starfire at the end of the Baxter's sessions, I do believe I remember reading that somewhere, however, somebody (may have been MGod) stated the contrary.

 

[fronobulax]

Thanks. I was remembering the Ed Sullivan clip of White Rabbit with the puppet hanging over the fretboard. I remembered the Fender headstock and the sunburst and picked a Precision. 50 - 50 chance :lol:

I remembered something about Baxter's being transitional but wasn't sure of the details.

I think we all agree that Crown was a Starfire. Was it stock, or is the 1969 date for the proto-Alembic mods wrong or are there other mods that are not as well known?

 

[Happy Face]

Pretty sure Yggdrasil more or less hit the nail(s) on the head(s) with his post.
Although, Jack's jazz was modified with a Precision pickup in the far neck position... so you were both sort of right

Very Solomonic there, Mellow One!!

 

[mikko]

This video clip from Woodstock shows the brown Starfire quite well: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ljxpyH4dnA
Photo on http://www.hammoneng.com/ shows different kind of modifications and bass is probably the one with sunburst color.

 

[mgod]

The change from the Fender to Guild happened during Baxter but its not known exactly when. They were a very long run of sessions. It should be obvious and it isn't, which tells you something about the musician vs. the instrument.

I'm pretty certain by Crown the SF is modded. Jack wouldn't remember, and when I did the research in 93 I didn't ask exact dates and no one volunteered them. But it was all 68.

Owsley once insisted to me in very certain terms that Jack never played a hollow bass in the 60s.

 

[fronobulax]

The change from the Fender to Guild happened during Baxter but its not known exactly when. They were a very long run of sessions. It should be obvious and it isn't, which tells you something about the musician vs. the instrument.

I'm pretty certain by Crown the SF is modded. Jack wouldn't remember, and when I did the research in 93 I didn't ask exact dates and no one volunteered them. But it was all 68.

Owsley once insisted to me in very certain terms that Jack never played a hollow bass in the 60s.

Thank you. Sounds to me like Susan Wickersham is off when she says 1969. No big deal. I have been accused of remembering things that did not happen.

Feel free to share your '93 research :wink:

 

[twocorgis]

The change from the Fender to Guild happened during Baxter but its not known exactly when. They were a very long run of sessions. It should be obvious and it isn't, which tells you something about the musician vs. the instrument.

I'm pretty certain by Crown the SF is modded. Jack wouldn't remember, and when I did the research in 93 I didn't ask exact dates and no one volunteered them. But it was all 68.

Owsley once insisted to me in very certain terms that Jack never played a hollow bass in the 60s.

Thank you. Sounds to me like Susan Wickersham is off when she says 1969. No big deal. I have been accused of remembering things that did not happen.

Feel free to share your '93 research :wink:

Great info all. I'd love to hear some more of Mgod's '93 research as well.

 

[Hangman]

Good evening all.

I'm pretty certain by Crown the SF is modded. Jack wouldn't remember, and when I did the research in 93 I didn't ask exact dates and no one volunteered them. But it was all 68.

I think we can narrow it down to pre-May. He had the Alembicized Starfire for the Ladyland recordings and that was done May 2, 1968, in New York.
"Lather", "Share a little Joke", "Ice Cream Phoenix", and "Greasy Heart" were all recorded before that date, the earliest being February 18.

The change from the Fender to Guild happened during Baxter but its not known exactly when. They were a very long run of sessions. It should be obvious and it isn't, which tells you something about the musician vs. the instrument.

Yes, from mid June '67, to Oct. '67. It's hard to tell, you can't mistake Jack's sound, regardless of the bass.

I think he didn't have the modded Starfire for the end of ABAB, but only the stock model. I have seen only one picture of him from that session and he's holding a stock SF. And that recording was done in LA, not San Francisco.
According to tour date information, the band went to the East Coast for shows starting in late April '68. They played the Fillmore East on May 3-4, which is why Jack was present for the Hendrix recordings.

So, maybe we can entertain the idea that between Oct. 67 and early '68, the Guild was modified? Obviously this not a weekend project, what with the (failed) LED lights in the neck, electronics, and the fancy enlay, so Ron W., et al. would have needed a bit time to do that.

 

[mgod]

A lot of that work would have required the bass to be gone for a good long while. Circuit, cutting, refinish, headstock inlay.

Susan is right about the sunburst SF, that's August/September 69. But her description is completely off. Phil's Starfire did eventually get lo-Z pickups. His Gibson didn't and neither of Jack's Guilds did.

 

[flyguitars]

We've just completed an interview with Jack for my website flyguitars.com - although it isn't posted yet - still proof reading. But Jack does go into a little detail about which basses he plays on which albums. Peoples memories are not great around that time, and the interview wasn't too slavish with precise dates, but the interview is purely about basses and bass playing. Shall I post a link? There might be something of interest.

 

[fronobulax]

We've just completed an interview with Jack for my website flyguitars.com - although it isn't posted yet - still proof reading. But Jack does go into a little detail about which basses he plays on which albums. Peoples memories are not great around that time, and the interview wasn't too slavish with precise dates, but the interview is purely about basses and bass playing. Shall I post a link? There might be something of interest.

Yes. Link please. And tell us about your Guilds. And Welcome.

 

[mellowgerman]

We've just completed an interview with Jack for my website flyguitars.com - although it isn't posted yet - still proof reading. But Jack does go into a little detail about which basses he plays on which albums. Peoples memories are not great around that time, and the interview wasn't too slavish with precise dates, but the interview is purely about basses and bass playing. Shall I post a link? There might be something of interest.

welcome welcome! please post the link!!! I think it's safe to say we're all hungry jack-casady-facts addicts :mrgreen:

 

[gomente]

Hi,all.
I read the interview on flyguitars I want to say thank you to flyguitars for uploading it.
It was the great document,I thought.
BTW, What bass did Jack use in "Burgers" ?
I think that was one of the greatest album of his works.
Jack and Jorma did a lot of experiments in that album.
The arrangement was symphonic. their interplay was thrilling.
Jack did some overdubs in that album.
And I think he used both SF and Alembic#1 for Burgers.
For example,"True Religion" was SF,"Highway Song" was Alembic.
This album was released in 1972. 1972 was just the year Jack changed his main bass.

let me hear your opinion.
Thanks

 

[mellowgerman]

BTW, What bass did Jack use in "Burgers" ?
I think that was one of the greatest album of his works.
Jack and Jorma did a lot of experiments in that album.
The arrangement was symphonic. their interplay was thrilling.
Jack did some overdubs in that album.
And I think he used both SF and Alembic#1 for Burgers.
For example,"True Religion" was SF,"Highway Song" was Alembic.
This album was released in 1972. 1972 was just the year Jack changed his main bass.

let me hear your opinion.
Thanks

I think this would have been such a great album if it weren't for papa john's fiddle.... i never much cared for his playing in the airplane/tuna context. To me it just takes away from the rest of the song. Not that he wasn't a great musician in his own right.

 

[twocorgis]

BTW, What bass did Jack use in "Burgers" ?
I think that was one of the greatest album of his works.
Jack and Jorma did a lot of experiments in that album.
The arrangement was symphonic. their interplay was thrilling.
Jack did some overdubs in that album.
And I think he used both SF and Alembic#1 for Burgers.
For example,"True Religion" was SF,"Highway Song" was Alembic.
This album was released in 1972. 1972 was just the year Jack changed his main bass.

let me hear your opinion.
Thanks

I think this would have been such a great album if it weren't for papa john's fiddle.... i never much cared for his playing in the airplane/tuna context. To me it just takes away from the rest of the song. Not that he wasn't a great musician in his own right.

Ah, but Papa John was good enough on "Feel So Good" on Thirty Seconds Over Winterland to make up for any and all transgressions. 8)

 

[Yggdrasil]

I think this would have been such a great album if it weren't for papa john's fiddle.... i never much cared for his playing in the airplane/tuna context. To me it just takes away from the rest of the song. Not that he wasn't a great musician in his own right.

I don't think Jack used Alembic #1 on Burgers, but what do I know!?
Maybe Dan knows.

Burgers is a classic HT album - my overall favourite, but I reluctantly have to disagree with mello - I love Papa John's contributions - added a dark edginess to the Kantner/Slick Sunfighter & Tollbooth, as well as later Airplane. And his interplay with Jorma on instrumental tracks like Wild Turkey & Sunny Day Strut was mindbending.

 

[gomente]

Thanks.
I think the bass sound on "True Religion" and "Keep On Truckin'" are SF.
But "Highway Song" is not the sound of hollow bodied bass.
Sounded like solid bodied,pre-amplified,and round wound strings with picks.
So I thought that was Alembic.
The sounds of this album has been discussed not so often.
Jack said that Burgers was one of his favorite.
This is the first studio recording album as Hot Tuna.
I think Jorma and Jack had a lot of ideas to try on this.

 

[mgod]

Jack's Alembic is hollow.