PHIL COLLINS - SOMETHING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO HEAVEN - HOW I GOT THAT BASS TONE

📸 - Melbourne, September 30, 2018

G’day Legends! I’m stoked to be delivering this video.

I’m pretty stoked with an awesome start to this project. It’s been such an insanely difficult, yet very rewarding process. This cover, and the bass tone, are both definitely one for the books. This was actually my first ever full-length talking video, and I’m happy with the result.

For both a musician and an audio engineer, gear selection, and how it’s used, are critical factors in the final sound. Although not hugely evident to the average listener, this plays a massive part in what you hear. It really “makes or breaks” what gets translated to your ears.

Starting with my 2010 Warwick Thumb Bass, I’ve used Ernie Ball strings in the standard gauge of 45/130. We ran that through my Avalon U5 and A-Designs REDDI. Both tube and solid-state brilliance. The outro tapping has the magical EarthQuaker Devices ‘Afterneath’ pedal, which, by chance, I purchased from a Melbourne guitar store when Juan Alderete (The Mars Volta) was demoing them at a clinic.

I'm pretty lucky to have had the opportunity to work with some great audio and mastering engineers around Australia.

Not only have they helped me understand the process of production, but they have helped show me how to obtain a good sound. This, along with my own knowledge of instruments, is the reason I am able to do this. Some musicians, like myself, really enjoy both ends of the spectrum: the writing and creative process, and the final processing of the audio itself.

Working with Daniel Nolan on the video was a treat, and Dylan Mitrovich has worked wonders with the overall mix.

You can view the video here.

I really hope you enjoy it.

Onwards and upwards,

Kade