Steve Harris Bass Rig – “Know Your Bass Player”
Steve Harris Bass Rig – Know Your Bass Player
The first episode of “Know Your Bass Player” we discuss the Steve Harris bass from Iron Maiden. Steve Harris is renowned for being the mover and shaker of all things Iron Maiden. One of the starting members of the band, he’s been with the group since the inception in 1975.
Steve takes on almost all of the creative roles and not only the bands bass player. He is the song writer, backing vocalist, studio keys player, audio producer and video director to name just a few.
The contribution of Iron Maidens’ New Wave of British Heavy Metal brings not only music to define a genre but techniques used by many bass players all over the world today. Techniques such as the Heavy Metal Gallop, Hammer ons, Pull offs and even harmonics which have largely influenced his sound. Steve has a timbre which allows his lines to be heard at loud volumes.
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Steve Harris bass guitars
Prior to 1975
- Shaftesbury Telecaster Bass
From 1975 to 1982
- 1959 Fender Precision
- 1972 Fender Precision
From 1982
- Ibanez Roadster 824K (Black with maple neck)
From 1983 to 1984
From 1986 to 1999
- 1972 Fender Precision with different paint jobs. Royal Blue, Glittered Blue, Cherry Red, Checker and White. All had a chrome plated mirror scratch plate.
- 1959 Fender Precision in similiar colours as above
1999 to Present
- Steve Harris Fender Precision* Custom. White with Maroon-Blue-Maroon pin striping and West Ham F.C crest. SPB1 Seymour Duncan Pickups and a maple neck.
Amplifiers
Power amplifiers C-Audio SR 707
Pre-amplifier Trace Elliot Series 6 Head with GP12X preamps (250w)
Cabinets Up to 8 Marshal 4×12″ cabinets* fitted with EVM-12L speakers.
Other amplifiers seen over Steve’s career;
- Hiwatt 100 bass head
- Electron HiWatt clone preamp
- Hiwatt Model 109 preamp
- Orange four stroke* (500watts)
Strings
- Rotosound Jazzsound Standard* (45,65,85,105)
- Rotosound SH77 Heavy Gauge (50, 75, 95, 110)
Effects
- MXR Phaser* (Used on “Blood on the Worlds Hands” intro)
- Aphex Aural Exciter 106A (On Brave New World and Final Frontier Onwards)
Misc
- DBX 160 rack mounted compressor*
- Korg tuners DT-10
- BadAss II bridges
- Sony E100 SRP 31 band equaliser
Signature SansAmp Pedal the Steve Harris SH1
The custom made pedal made by the legendary Tech 21 NYC have created a signature tone in a box for Steves tone. Steve primarily uses this with British Lions.
Steve Harris Techniques
Heavy Metal Gallop A rhythm of three notes played (one 8th note and two 16th notes) played in a fashion similar to a horses gallop. This rhythm is found throughout the Metal world.
Minor Scale and Minor Pentatonic scale These shapes whilst subtly different are the foundation of almost every Iron Maiden song chord progression, solo or fill.
Hammer ons and Pulloffs To fret a new note without plucking it. This uses the momentum of the original note to transfer the sound. A pulloff is the opposite, where you lift off a vibrating note.
More from Know Your Bass Player
The Know Your Bass Player series covers all the popular bassists out there. Analysing their secret sauce, stories, techniques and gear. Watch the whole series by clicking on the thumbnails below or visit the YouTube Channel WhichBass learn from the experiences of these masterful players and apply it to your own style.
Out now is our second video debut Flea Know Your Bass Player.
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