Clean Tone
Scarlet Begonias (Live at Barton Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 5/8/77)
Grateful Dead
BassRock / Psychedelic Rock / Jam Band1970s
Original Gear
BassAlembic custom “Mission Control” (serial 74‑00008)
AmpUnknown (no specific amp model found for 5/8/77)
Pickupsactive electronics (quadraphonic-style custom Alembic)
Amp Settings
gain0
bass6.5
mid5
treble5.5
presence4.5
compression3
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Phil Lesh used his custom Alembic “Mission Control” bass during the May 8, 1977 Cornell show ([guitarworld.com](https://www.guitarworld.com/features/how-grateful-dead-bassist-phil-leshs-alembic-mission-control-pioneered-the-concept-of-the-boutique-bass?utm_source=openai)).
Tone Character(4)
warmbouncyprominent glissando slideshigh-register staccato pulses
Difficulty
Phil’s playing on this version of “Scarlet Begonias” features intermediate to advanced techniques including sliding glissandi, syncopated melodic lines, and use of the upper register, making it more challenging than basic bass parts.
Sources
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Create Free AccountBassRock / Psychedelic Rock / Jam Band1970s
Original Gear
BassAlembic custom “Mission Control” (serial 74‑00008)
AmpUnknown (no specific amp model found for 5/8/77)
Pickupsactive electronics (quadraphonic-style custom Alembic)
Amp Settings
gain0
bass6.5
mid5
treble5.5
presence4.5
compression3
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Phil Lesh used his custom Alembic “Mission Control” bass during the May 8, 1977 Cornell show ([guitarworld.com](https://www.guitarworld.com/features/how-grateful-dead-bassist-phil-leshs-alembic-mission-control-pioneered-the-concept-of-the-boutique-bass?utm_source=openai)).
Tone Character(4)
warmbouncyprominent glissando slideshigh-register staccato pulses
Difficulty
Phil’s playing on this version of “Scarlet Begonias” features intermediate to advanced techniques including sliding glissandi, syncopated melodic lines, and use of the upper register, making it more challenging than basic bass parts.
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