That being said, it’s also a killer-sounding P-bass in its own right. His signature gallop and tone is recognized by practically everyone as soon as they hear it. They’re such a heavy gauge that they tend to bow the neck unless you have a really solid neck, like I have. I tend to get a hold of them and change them a bit, but I prefer writing just ambiently, acoustically, because you can take it wherever you want it to go. Sometimes he’ll say, “Oh, these are difficult words to sing.” I suppose I’m not a singer, but I go by the melody more, anyway. He is best known as the founder, leader and bassist of the highly influential New Wave of British Heavy Metal band Iron Maiden and is also the bassist of his solo band often referred to as British Lion. I don’t normally say things like that, but I truly believe in it. Steve Harris’ galloping grooves have come to define heavy metal bass playing. Status: Founder member and creator of Britain’s most loved heavy metal band, Iron Maiden. Tonally, the Steve Harris Precision sounds a bit bigger than the ’74, and has an open, almost “chorusy” vibe (with the stock Fender roundwounds). I’m pretty meticulous about getting the melodies and the words to the syllable, really, because I think the melodies are important. On the Steve Harris bass, the first 2/3 of roll-off on the passive tone control is very usable (I really liked it about ¼ down), but the last third gets a bit on the “mushy” side. Editor-in-Chief, Tom Bowlus, surprised his parents by riding home from grade school on his 10-speed with an upright bass. I think, if we have a live album, it’d be more representative of the way we are now. The production is tight and coherent, the songwriting terse and focused, and the performances simply electrifying. The fact this one is a Steve Harris signature model is just a bonus; the pinstriping & castle/hammers sticker simply make it more fun to look at than the typical bass. And the only way to really make that happen was to take it by the scruff of the neck and be in the band. So, that would be nice to do, in the future. Tony is very familiar with the British Lion sound, because he’s mixing it live. Obviously, Maiden can’t do that [play clubs]. This is very unusual, with most Precisions sporting either ash or alder bodies. The company introduced its first bass model with active electronics, the Precision Bass Special, in 1980, and Fender very soon abandoned the three-bolt neck-mounting system adopted in the early 1970s; returning to the classic four-bolt method for all of its bass guitars. The Fender Precision Bass (often shortened to "P-Bass") is a model of electric bass manufactured by Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.In its standard, post-1957 configuration, the Precision Bass is a solid body, four-stringed instrument equipped with a single split-coil humbucking pickup and a one-piece, 20-fret maple neck with rosewood or maple fingerboard. Millions of albums sold with the band and … On The Burning, the production is much tighter and the material more defined than on your British Lion debut. The ’74 does have this really great, solid midrange, but it is a killer vintage P-bass, and it’s still getting played a lot for good reason. Being a huge Steve Harris fan, and having logged many gigs on a P-bass of one kind or another, I have long hoped to review a Steve Harris signature bass. The unfortunate part is that I have to change strings every gig. At first I thought maybe it was a one-off, but they were able to reproduce [my sound on a consistent basis] — so, basically, we decided to market it. Then we toured, and I’ve just been loving it and enjoying playing clubs. Steve Harris was gracious enough to stop and “shoot the shit” for a couple of minutes while on tour in the UK supporting his solo project, British Lion. You use flatwound strings, and yet you’re known for a bright, trebly sound. Were there any adjustments going from playing stadiums with Maiden to clubs with British Lion? There are some pretty intricate bass lines on earlier records, like Powerslave and Piece of Mind, and nowadays I feel like there’s less intricacy and maybe more emphasis on groove, if that makes any sense. Do you play an idea on bass or sing it to them? I play bass chords as well, but I’ll usually whistle or hum the melody for the vocal, write the words out, and then I’ll show Bruce [Dickinson] what it’s to be sung like. Steve Harris – Iron Maiden Steve Harris has held down the bottom end for Iron Maiden, one of the biggest band in history, since their inception and he is also the principal songwriter. I work it all out. My preference is for a medium-height action, but this bass will take a much lower setup, if that’s your piece of cake. The fun continued when I got home and was able to review this Steve Harris Precision Bass. Harris performing with British Lion, 2019. This bass differs from your average P-bass in several regards. But it has to be driven by those guys, because if I start writing a song, I’d probably end up wanting to do it in Maiden, so it’s best to start with their ideas. Advertisement And to honor him and to really hear his technique, you must watch the video […] We had a great time at the show, and I thought Maiden sounded better than ever. 6 (Lauren, Kerry, Stanley, George, Maisie, Faye)Harris; About Stephen Percy Harris. Steve Harris got his first bass when he was seventeen. Fender Steve Harris Signature Precision deals. Purchasing any player’s signature bass is no guarantee of being able to sound like said signature artist, and the Steve Harris Precision Bass is no exception. They normally don’t do anything for me, but on this bass, it just feels perfect. In 2009, Fender issued a signature Steve Harris Precision bass, featuring a blue-sparkle finish, mirrored scratchplate, Seymour Duncan SPB1 pickups and a Badass II bridge. sounded better than ever. But more important than that, Steve Harris is an absolute beast of a bass player. And while these songs’ melodic structure and musical arrangements are a world away from his home base in Iron Maiden, the songcraft on The Burning provides a surprisingly complementary foil for the galloping groove-meister’s unique style. We actually always recorded somewhat live in the studio, trying to recreate what we do live, which is not an easy thing to do. Are you writing a lot of the songs for British Lion, or is it collaborative? Steve Harris’ galloping grooves have come to define heavy metal bass playing. Personally, I find that any bass under 13 lbs is tolerable for me on a gig, and I had no problem gigging hard with the Steve Harris Precision. Steve grew up in the East End of London, his father was a truck driver, and his mother raised Steve and his three sisters, as well as having various part time jobs. They are especially good in a busy mix, and that’s pretty much what Steve Harris has to contend with on a regular basis in Iron Maiden. Definitely. Stay up-to-date with all our recent articles, podcasts and more. Hear Him On: The Burning, British Lion [2020, Explorer1 Music], Bass 1971 Fender Precision (white w/West Ham crest, Badass bridge, Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounder pickups), Rig Alectron preamp, C-Audio SR707 power amps, Marshall 4x12" speaker cabinets with Electro-Voice EVM12L speakers, Strings Rotosound SH77 Steve Harris Signature set (.050, .075, .095, .110), Accessories Tech21 Steve Harris Signature SH1 preamp/DI, Steve Harris Takes British Lion By The Scruff Of The Neck and Into 'The Burning'. The ’74 P is no lightweight (at 10.4 lbs), but the Steve Harris bass is definitely the heavier of the two (over a pound heavier, at 11.7 lbs). I was like, “This can’t be real” [laughs]. The next functional feature of note is the Seymour Duncan® Steve Harris SPB-4 pickup. Age, Biography and Wiki. During his early teens, he learned to play bass guitar, he had a stint with Gypsy's Kiss and Smiler. These two basses were surprisingly similar in tone from top to bottom, but they each had a rather different feel/vibe, with the Steve Harris Precision being bigger, louder and more open. Between Maiden and British Lion, it seems that you are recording live in the studio more frequently lately. The Burning quickly put to rest any misconceptions about the validity of the band and the musical direction they intend to forge. And also, British Lion keeps me fit and in trim for Maiden. On The Burning you are producing with Tony Newton engineering. If you don’t already love Steve’s work, then drop this magazine and go listen to some Iron Maiden, pronto! So, I’m able to play massive places with Maiden and clubs with British Lion. It is. Many players have attempted to copy Steve’s unique approach to the bass and his … I think it works well in the end result. It’s just down to the songs. Click here to read the Technical Reviews article. The truth is that if you even remotely appreciate what a P-bass brings to the table, then you should check out the Steve Harris Precision Bass. Precision bass' come in many different forms but with a Steve Harris Custom Pickup and flatwound strings this bass is in a different world. In 2012, Harris released British Lion [UME], his first-ever solo album, which was really more of a side-project than solo endeavor. Tony does our live-out-front sound for British Lion, so he knows the band really well. Sometimes we go, “Wow, that word is really difficult to sing.” What can you do [laughs]? We recorded live as a band. The maple fingerboard lends to a tone that is closer to the latter wood combination, but the maple body does seem to add some depth and heft, beyond what an ash body has to offer, but still offering the tight response. . Kudos, Fender! Thus began a life-long love of all things bass… After writing reviews in 18 issues of Guitar World’s Bass Guitar Magazine, Tom founded Bass Gear Magazine in 2007. Photo by John McMurtrie. Hopefully you get it as close as you can. I’ve never really been one for demos. Interestingly, the ’74 seemed to have a wider range of really good, usable tones when rolling off the tone control. . Do you see any evolution in your bass playing over the last 40 years or so? All the rest is later stuff. Steve Harris Precision Bass®: For more than three decades, Steve Harris's galloping fleet-fingered basslines have turbocharged U.K. metal titans Iron Maiden and have made him the most influential metal bassist alive. Grahame [Leslie] evolved one of the songs, writing-wise, which was an older idea [“Last Chance”], and another song, “Land of the Perfect People,” was [written by] Richard himself, and that goes back awhile as well. Ultimately, I chose it over the G&L LB-100, SB-1, Fender American Standard, AND the new Music Man Cutlass Bass. British Lion Is a record that allowed Steve Harris to explore what he considers “more mainstream rock,” along the lines of The Who and UFO. But this is a Steve Harris Precision Bass, and it deserves to be played with the Steve Harris Signature flatwound Rotosound strings. It’s much more how I would like to do things. It's been a vital part of music ever since. They’re collaborative, but they’re basically driven by Richard Taylor and David Hawkins. View Similar Amazon US. Like many players, I have gone through a “J-bass phase,” an “active bass phase,” a “double humbucker phase,” and more. If there is one thing Tom loves more than playing all kinds of cool bass gear, it’s telling people about cool bass gear! Steve Harris's galloping fleet-fingered basslines have turbocharged U.K. metal titans Iron Maiden for decades and have made him the most influential metal bassist alive. Posted by Tom Bowlus | Jun 8, 2017 | Full Reviews, Gear | 0 |. Among other things, this made the body (and bass) heavier than the ash or alder-bodied P-basses, but Steve loved the tone. There is no getting around that this is a heavier than average bass. This is coming from someone who is not generally a fan of white basses. We had a great time at the show, and I thought. Of course, Fender makes their own strings, and not surprisingly, this bass ships with a set of Fender 7250M nickel-plated steel roundwounds installed. Ernie Ball Music Man 2021 Collection Now Available. His first bass was a copy of a Fender Precision Bass that cost him £40 when he was 17 years old. Steve Harris’s fleet-fingered bass lines are the driving force behind Iron Maiden’s relentless gallop — the iconic rhythm that’s been appropriated by an endless number of the band’s heavy metal contemporaries. I have been wanting to check out the Seymour Duncan SPB-4 pickup for some time. Steve Harris's galloping fleet-fingered bass-lines have turbocharged U.K. metal titans Iron Maiden for decades and have made him the most influential metal bassist alive. Shop for Vinyl, CDs and more from Steve Harris at the Discogs Marketplace. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, I can confirm that the looks of this signature Precision match those of Steve’s very own P-bass (which has been refinished several times), as I recently took my son to his first concert –, , of course, in Detroit. That might happen with roundwounds as well, but having said that, the flatwounds also stop all the screeching when you’re playing quieter, slower stuff. However, I do feel like the fit and finish on this particular bass is a bit higher than I have come to expect from a MIM Fender. I like playing massive places, and I like playing clubs. The bass of a metal legend. Sometimes when I’m writing I might take a melody that I think is a part for a guitar and change it to be a vocal melody, or it might be both. I’ve always approached songs, whether Maiden or British Lion — it’s whatever the song needs, or doesn’t need, in some cases. Another bass which I felt would be a good comparison is my Lakland Skyline 44-64 Custom (which is an ash-bodied P-bass with a rosewood board on a maple, J-style, neck and a Lakland pickup). That being said, while I am not normally a fan of gloss finishes on necks, the finish on the Steve Harris signature does not get sticky or tacky, like some can. Millions of albums sold with the band and thousands of concerts made in many decades. Harris has had his bass modified to include a mirrored scratchplate, Badass bridges and Seymour Duncan custom SPB1 pickups and uses his own signature set of RotoSound strings. The West Ham United crest is the icing on the cake. The remainder of the differences are mostly esthetic, namely, the unique finish and pickguard. His bass has had a lot of finishes over the […] I’ve even been using it as a DI, as well, when Maiden tours. That’s how that first album came about. Canonical Iron Maiden songs like “Run to the Hills,” “The Trooper,” and “Aces High” feature his fleet, two-fingered right-hand technique and unconventional trebly tone, a combination that immediately identifies Harris and helped elevate him to the upper echelon of rock bass. I think sometimes you can overplay as well as you could possibly underplay, but to me, the dynamics of the song are what’s most important to me. It’s a bit of a contradiction. Amazon. You can use a bigger strap, too! This latest Made-in-Mexico iteration of the Steve Harris Precision Bass® was introduced at the 2015 Winter NAMM Show, and I was immediately drawn to its striking looks. The next functional feature of note is the Seymour Duncan® Steve Harris SPB-4 pickup. Apart from being a songwriter, he is also a famous musician who is a bassist, backing vocalist and also keyboardist. crest was a pleasant surprise. Later, on “Lightning,” we get a taste of Harris’ familiar pedal tones, reminding us of the legendary bassist undergirding the music. My initial comparisons (and all of my gigs) were done with the Fender NPS strings installed, and I felt that they worked very well on this bass. The ’74 is more focused and tighter-sounding, and not as big/full in the lows. He does a great job singing ’em, so. Do you think that’s the result of touring for a few years? You’re just trying to capture the essence of a live performance, and it’s very difficult. When you’re listed as the sole writer on a song, clearly the music and the lyrics are yours, but are you also writing the vocal melodies and guitar harmonies? Steve is famously known for playing Rotosound® flatwound strings, and in fact, has his own signature set. If you love Steve Harris and love Iron Maiden, then this bass is likely already on your radar screen. I can’t believe it. The action is quite nice, as well. Before he joined a band, Harris aspired to be a football player and asked to train for West Ham United. Steve Harris's galloping fleet-fingered basslines have turbocharged U.K. metal titans Iron Maiden for decades and have made him the most influential metal bassist alive. I think it has changed, and I think you’re right, you’ve noticed that it has changed a bit, not quite consciously—unconsciously, really. I think it’s just down to the song. However, for the true Steve Harris fan, Fender includes a set of the Rotosound Steve Harris Signature flatwounds in the (included) gig bag. Steve grew up in the East End of London, his father was a truck driver, and his mother raised Steve and his three sisters, as well as having various part time jobs. We take a look at the new Tech 21 Steve Harris SH1 Signature pedal. That maybe had something to do with the bass fitting in and playing more—to fill the space up. Steve has always had one of the most recognizable bass tones in the industry, and the fact that he achieves this tone playing a P-bass with flats, fingerstyle, is quite frankly, mind-blowing. Swapping out the Fender NPS rounds for the Rotosound flats, the first thing I noticed was that the increased tension from the .050 to .110 gauge Rotos (compared to .045 to .105 on the Fenders) definitely has an impact on the action (which is easily adjusted for). And if the melody is that strong, the vocal delivery needs to be to that melody. I love the flatwounds. But we toured a lot on that first album, and it’s evolved into what it is now. Photo by John McMurtrie. The songs in British Lion are shorter, which isn’t a bad thing. No price information. Explore releases from Steve Harris at Discogs. The overall feel, balance and neck shape are remarkably similar to my (ash/maple) ’74 Precision (my “go-to” P-bass). It’s not always necessarily in his comfort zone, but he’s all right with it. And that’s why I’d still like to get a live album out of some of that first-album material. Harris, though unmistakable in tone and attack, is not the songwriting engine in British Lion: He leaves the bulk of those duties to singer Richard Taylor and guitarist David Hawkins (British Lion also includes guitarist Grahame Leslie and drummer Simon Dawson), which results in songs that are more classic rock than phantom of the opera. One of the best bass players of rock and roll history, the founder and leader of Iron Maiden, Steve Harris is already a legend. I actually love it [laughs]. An early song, like “Phantom of the Opera,” started off as a riff, and then I put the vocal to it, but I just do it by feel — whatever feels right. As Maiden’s founding member and chief songwriter, he also wrote the book on the power metal sub-genre of heavy metal. But the record was a bit disjointed, musically speaking and production-wise. It’s been an absolute godsend, because it means that we’re able to tour in other parts of the world where E-V speaker cabs are not easy to rent — in some far-flung places of the earth where it’s difficult to transport any gear, I can use the Tech 21 unit. Along with Dave Murray, they are the only members of the band that have appeared on all of the band's albums. … Obviously some of the songs, weirdly enough, have become more technically minded, more prog, and yet the bass playing has been maybe slightly less complex, but that’s because there’s more time changes going on and I didn’t feel the need to do stuff like that. It’s an amazing piece of gear. The most important and influential bass guitarist in the 66-year history of the Fender Precision he played, South Carolina-born, Detroit-raised James Jamerson wrote the bible on bass line construction and development, feel, syncopation, tone, touch, and phrasing, while raising the artistry of improvised bass playing in popular music to zenith levels. I just prefer to go naturally with what’s going on at the time, and I don’t like things set in stone. Maiden’s stuff, particularly over the last few years, has been more prog-based, sothere wasn’t much point in going that direction with British Lion. It reproduced my E-V [Electro-Voice] speaker sound. Started Iron Maiden in 1975, but didn't release any album until 1980, after numerous line-up changes. This bass definitely has an authoritative tone, but the maple body undoubtedly has something to do with that. Rounding out the feature set, we have a Fender High-Mass bridge, ‘70’s style Schaller tuning machines, and flat-top, knurled chrome control knobs. The Burning is a lot more of a reflection of what we’re like live. Though I am primarily a fingerstyle player, I just loved the way these strings and this bass responded with a pick. After all, Maiden was his band, wasn’t it? Overall clarity is excellent – in a P-bass kinda way, of course – and the fingerstyle articulation is appropriately superb. One of the best bass players of rock and roll history, the found and leader of Iron Maiden, Steve Harris already a legend. As I have mentioned in the past, I am definitely a fan of Fender’s nickel-plated steel (NPS) roundwounds. Think about competing not only with three – three! While the bass was more “big, loud and open” with the roundwounds, it was definitely more focused (especially in the mids) with the flats. Seriously, folks…. I can confirm that the looks of this signature Precision match those of Steve’s very own P-bass (which has been refinished several times), as I recently took my son to his first concert – Iron Maiden, of course, in Detroit. I play whatever is needed for the songs, or not needed. Some of the stuff was done straight after touring, so it was all fresh. Technical Evaluation – Sonic Nuance Tuner + DI (TDI) Mk2 Pedal. We caught up with Harris, who was candid, affable, and as usual, a bit self-deprecating. Well, you could ask Steve, or just watch him run around on stage for hours on end. I am privileged to be able to gig out with a number of amazing-looking basses, and I can honestly say that this Steve Harris Precision has received more unsolicited comments of admiration than anything else I have gigged with recently. Career . He has a little bit of a moment sometimes, or we’ll have a little bit of a laugh about it. He is also the main song writer of the formation, and plays keyboard too. Steve Harris's galloping fleet-fingered basslines have turbocharged U.K. metal titans Iron Maiden for decades and have made him the most influential metal bassist alive. Started Iron Maiden in 1975, but didn't release any album until 1980, after numerous line-up changes. Ibanez SRMD200 Mezzo & AFR4FMP Affirma Bass Guitar... Jam Origin MIDI Guitar 2 and MIDI Bass Real-Time Audio-... Fender Mustang® Bass – “The Little Horse That Kic... Bass Lab – Fender® American Ultra Jazz Bass® V, Wayne Jones Audio WJ 2×10 and WJ 1×10 Bass Cabs, BASS LAB – DNA Guitar Company Accelerator Bass, Sadowsky Masterbuilt 24-Fret Single Cut Models. I think it has changed a bit over the years. Yeah. But sooner or later, I always come back to a passive Precision for actual gig work, and they never disappoints The more meaty, mid-focused tone of a P-bass just sits so well in a mix, and lets the electric bass stand out, without overpowering. Among other things, this made the body (and bass) heavier than the ash or alder-bodied P-basses, but Steve loved the tone. a self-taught bass player. The overall output from the flats is predictably less than what the NPS rounds have on tap. Of course, Steve was a professional footballer in his younger days, and he was asked to train with West Ham United, so the crest is not entirely unexpected, but this esthetic presentation is unique from what we have seen before on Steve Harris signature models. The first unique feature of note is the maple body. Whether you like Metal or not, Steve Harris is one of the greats on bass that has contributed his music with Iron Maiden and British Lion to the multitude of fans all over the world. It’s dictated by that. The Gloss White finish is entrancingly beautiful. Also, there was a period of time, especially before the first album came out, when we only had one guitar player. Do you approach bass in British Lion differently than in Iron Maiden? This bass is very articulate, with excellent dynamics, and it carries a good bit of weight and heft in the lows to lower midrange. I have to admit, these are some great-sounding flatwounds! How do convey those ideas to others? He is the founder and the main songwriter of the famous band, Iron Maiden. When I toured in Canada in November with Coney Hatch, Andy Curran’s Ampeg rig is as far removed from my sound as possible, and I played the Tech 21 through it and it came out so close to my sound, I was amazed. Even back in the analog days, we were doing that. It’s not for everyone, I suppose. Now that is a busy mix! Stephen Percy Harris is a multi-talented and versatile musician who goes by the name “Steve Harris.” He is of British nationality. Did you record The Burning live, in the studio, or did you overdub tracks? I had a bit of a miracle on the tech side of things with British Lion, because Tech 21 made this gadget [Steve Harris Signature SH1 preamp/DI] for me, since I can’t take my gear everywhere. Obviously with the first album, we hadn’t really played together. – audacious guitar players, but a madman like Nicko McBrain on drums! I just felt that the songs that were worked on before, back in the ’90s, had to see the light of day. The Precision bass was the first of its' kind. I’d love to be able to write and record the way Maiden do, but we don’t have time to do that. Canonical Iron Maiden songs like “Run to the Hills,” “The Trooper,” and “Aces High” feature his fleet, two-fingered right-hand technique and unconventional trebly tone, a combination that immediately identifies Harris and helped elevate him to the upper echelon of rock bass. Of course, he uses a big, comfy looking (and color-coordinated) strap, but guess what? . Yes, Steve’s hands have more to do with this than anything else, and yes, he routinely plays very fresh strings. I do the vocal melodies and all that stuff. In fact, you can find clips from the very early days of Maiden with Harris playing the same bass. The pin-striping and mirror chrome pickguard just work so well with the Gloss White. Steve Percy Harris was born on the power metal sub-genre of heavy metal bass playing to the.... And we go from there of touring for a bright, trebly sound mirror. 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