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bass synth from “sledgehammer” by peter gabriel | ToneDB

sledgehammer

peter gabriel

bass synth

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Tone Profile

A punchy, percussive, and slightly gritty analog synth bass with a distinct attack, forming a key layer in the song's iconic funky and powerful bassline.

Signal Chain

Instrument: Sequential Prophet-5

Amp: Direct Input (DI) into SSL SL4000E mixing console

Processing: SSL E-Series channel EQ, Urei 1176 Peak Limiter (or console compression)

Other: This synth bass was layered with Tony Levin's fretless MusicMan StingRay (DI'd, with Boss OC-2, played with 'Funk Fingers') and a Fairlight CMI (playing a sampled kick drum in unison) to create the iconic composite bassline.

Recording Notes

  • The iconic "Sledgehammer" bassline is a meticulously crafted composite sound, primarily recorded at Ashcombe Park Studio and The Townhouse.
  • Tony Levin played a fretless MusicMan StingRay bass, often with "Funk Fingers" (drumstick tips attached to his fingers for a percussive attack), processed with a Boss OC-2 octave pedal.
  • A synth bass, primarily from a Sequential Prophet-5, was layered to provide tonal weight and character. A Yamaha DX7 might have also been used for some synth textures on the album.
  • A Fairlight CMI was reportedly used by keyboardist David Sancious to play a sampled kick drum in unison with parts of the bassline, adding to its percussive impact.
  • All bass elements were likely recorded Direct Input (DI) into an SSL console (e.g., SL4000E).
  • Heavy compression (e.g., Urei 1176) was used on the bass guitar and potentially on the synth elements to ensure tightness and punch.

Recreation Tips

  • For the synth layer, use a Prophet-5 emulation (or similar analog-style synth). Start with one or two sawtooth and/or square wave oscillators.
  • Employ a fast attack and short-to-medium decay on the filter envelope (VCF Env) to create a plucky, percussive sound. Adjust filter cutoff and resonance to taste.
  • A slight pitch envelope with a very fast attack and decay, modulating the oscillator pitch, can enhance the "thwack" or attack portion of the sound.
  • To emulate the full bassline, layer this synth with a fretless bass guitar track. On the bass guitar, use an octave pedal (like a Boss OC-2/OC-5) with the direct signal and one octave down mixed prominently.
  • Consider adding a tightly gated kick drum sample playing in unison with key notes of the bassline for extra percussive punch, mimicking the Fairlight CMI technique.
  • Apply compression to both the synth and bass guitar tracks individually, and potentially to a combined bass bus, to glue them together and control dynamics.
  • A subtle chorus effect can be added to the synth or the overall bass bus for 80s character, though use sparingly to maintain punch.

Sources