Donald ‘Duck’ Dunn's Perfect P-Bass - Serial

[@wer1386]

I live in Florida and do HVAC for a living. I work at a Brian Johnson’s (ac/dc) house quite regularly and one day I noticed a 1960’s Sherwood green metallic jazz bass propped up in his living room. This is my dream bass and I asked Brian about it. He asked me if I know who Duck Dunn is and I told him absolutely I do. He then took it out and showed me that Duck signed it and gifted it to him personally!!! Brian then said, “have a f**kin pluck mate!” He gave me the Duck bass and I played some lines w my hands shaking the whole time bc I was playing an actual Duck Dunn bass in front of Brian Johnson!!! It was one of the most special, surreal moments I’ve ever had in my life. Truly honored to be able to play such a magical piece of bass/music history. I’ll be telling my kids about this one until they are sick of hearing it!!!

[@valemadreelusername]

Absolutely amazing!! I'm jealous, but in a good way!! I love Sherwood Green basses! Did you get any pictures?

[@wer1386]

I did, it’s an absolute beauty

[@darvinclement3250]

Absolutely awesome story, thanks for posting it!

[@SirManDudeGuy1]

Now that is luck! Awesome story!

[@hawkearentertainment8742]

It is a sweet bass!!! I’ve held it too:)

[@MattCaffell]

out of all the long time served Bassists, Duck is the first I really recognised, and I count him up there with Leland Sklar, Carol Kaye & James Jamerson

[@hubertsumlin9697]

Sklar is several tiers below the other names mentioned. Jesus.

[@MattCaffell]

@@hubertsumlin9697 @hubert sumlin I'm sorry you feel that way, He must have done something right to have played the most recorded bass of all time. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZ2qlJ-nhrdqmNk

[@MattCaffell]

@@robertdownes793 how'd ya guess

[@darwinsaye]

@@hubertsumlin9697 Where do you get that rubbish idea? Sklar’s been on over 2000 recordings over 50 years, with the biggest names in the music business.

[@hubertsumlin9697]

@@darwinsaye I know who he is. In my opinion, the recordings he's on and his playing on them is palpably inferior to the work of the other three players mentioned. 3 out of 4 ain't bad. But it's like saying the greatest ballers ever are Wilt, Russell, Jordan and Kurt Rambis.

[@05645ci]

I get the chills anytime I even hear the names of Duck Dunn and Steve Cropper; those guys along with Booker T and Al Jackson are American Music Royalty......long live the MG's!

[@staxmantim]

Amen!!!!

[@staxmantim]

Amen!!!!

[@staxmantim]

Amen!!!!

[@staxmantim]

Amen!!!!

[@staxmantim]

Amen!!!!

[@BigElectricCat]

As a pipe smoker I love that they have a pipe sitting on top of the amp. Duck looked so cool with his pipe clenched in his mouth in the BB movie.

[@nathanwahl9224]

Me too. I occasonally play bass at outdoor gigs with one going. Just a tiny little token tribute, I know where a bunch of my licks came from!

[@ChazJazzNY]

Duck Dunn was a great bass player. Had a great son too. Thanks so much for the history of his basses.

[@nathanwahl9224]

It's nice to see that carried on.

[@danschneider9921]

I grew up in the era where young aspiring bass players worshiped Flea, Les Claypool etc, while I wanted to be a Geezer or Duck Dunn player. I fell in love with the true bottom end. Fast forward almost 30 years and yeah, while I learned slap...I have been told by some local bands and singers who I get to work with "man, sometimes we just want a guy to lay down a thick punchy basd line". And I always thank Duck in my head for guiding me there

[@simonrussell4986]

Man, that "She Caught the Katy" bass line!

[@PhillipAlcock]

Yes! One day I’ll get through it without getting something wrong…

[@nathanwahl9224]

You'd think it's so simple. Well, until you try, lol @@PhillipAlcock

[@JuanCarruyo]

Really touching last moment at the end from his son. You can tell he's emotional and I got emotional too. It's a very loving keepsake. An extraordinary act of love. It was the last bass he played so he keeps it like it was at his dad's last moments. You can tell he misses him, too.

[@musiccreationn]

So good his son supports Donald’s legacy and shows he really admired his pa

[@hawkearentertainment8742]

Thanks again SBL, Tom McKnight-Videographer and Nick Rosaci-Soul Fingers Book Author. The Lakland bass is actually USA not Skyline series although those were made also. Glad to be involved and Thanks All! - Jeff Dunn

[@roberthart4160]

Yep. I have a Skyline Duck Dunn. Same color too. Amazing bass. It'll still be with me when I die.

[@HamiltonvilleFarm]

Why is this comment not pinned. Lol

[@douglasboyd8475]

Duck is my hero....I have goose bumps watching this. Man.....Man man man man!

[@roguecheddar]

After Mr Dunn passed, the next Halloween party I played with some buddies of mine, I put on a bushy haired wig, big sun glasses, and a smoking pipe, then proceeded beat the living shit out of 'Soul Man' on my bass. Everyone got a kick out of it and we all had a good time. I just hope I did his bass lines justice in his honor. He was a gifted chill dude.

[@NickRosaci]

Jeff and I had a blast! Thank you!

[@charleshale8504]

Make sure to check out Nick's book!

[@valemadreelusername]

Soul Fingers: The Music and Life of Legendary Bassist Donald "Duck " Dunn is officially on my wishlist!!! Thank you sooooo much for the recommendation!!

[@MrFingers127]

Regarding "the mystery 1959 P-bass with the rosewood fretboard". James Alexander used a regular 65-67 P-bass (sunburst, tortoise pickguard, transitional logo) on the last shows with Redding in 1967, so it's probably that bass that went down with the plane. On the footage of "WattStax" (1972), where the Bar-Kays with Alexander played, Alexander is playing a 1959 P-bass with gold anodized pickguard and rosewood fretboard. Perhaps Donald did let Alexander borrow that bass after Alexander's 65-67 went missing, given he now had the maple-necked '59 P-bass?

[@elambassist]

Can this be like 9 more hours long. :)

[@roberthart4160]

Yes please!!

[@cmingus26]

Duck Dunn was such a great player! Thanks Ian and SBL for this. More on his playing and his basslines would be very appreciated.

[@blakebranchbass]

Love it! Duck Dunn was my first bass hero! I love how up front his bass is in the mix of The Blues Brothers movie!

[@davidosborn146]

Jeff, thanks for the great stories. I was at my dads house when Duck called him and told him about his upcoming trip to Japan and they talked quite a while.. They became friends during the Lakland years, his name is Joe Osborn. He was deeply saddened to hear about your dad's passing. I too keep the last bass dad used in the bag, I never play it. Again, thank you.

[@musamusashi]

Joe Osborne is a great player in his own right. Love his Lakland signature bass.

[@hawkearentertainment8742]

Thank you David!!!

[@nathanwahl9224]

Your father was among those legends. He played things differently than most might have, but always in a good way. When I listen to a bunch of recordings he played on, I really start to appreciate how good he was! I might have even stolen a hook or three from him! lol You have a right to be proud of him!

[@staxmantim]

Thanks for this. No bass player ever moved me they way Mr. Dunn did. He was also a very good friend of my family’s, and I have never heard a bad word about him. Good on you too Jeff, for being good people & representing your Pops!

[@loskeekees6]

Love seeings sons of musicians and love when they show the appreciation of there father before them

[@robertkerr9738]

One of the two most influential bass players in my life. Truly a legend.

[@davidcudlip6587]

He was a working man's bass player. Laid out a groove for others to build on. Got er done.

[@chrisggoodwin777]

I love quoting Duck with, "we had a band powerful enough to turn goat piss into gasoline!" 😂😂

[@bassbuffricky]

😂😂😂😂

[@missingremote4388]

I've been listening to their record all week. I skip to and, start at track nbr 6. And let it play out to the end. But I wake up with ' Keep on growin', song in my head. Awesome jam session.

[@chrisggoodwin777]

@@missingremote4388 absolutely! I watch the movie every couple of months or so, including bonus features and interviews

[@missingremote4388]

@@chrisggoodwin777 the scene on the overpass/freeway where Elwood slams on the brakes and skids the car towards the edge, was shot here. In Milwaukee. With part of Summer Fest and our city's skyline in the movie

[@chrisggoodwin777]

@@missingremote4388 that's awesome! I love that sort of movie trivia. If I remember, Major League was shot in Milwaukee as well as my hometown of Tucson

[@bustabass9025]

Duck was to Stax what Jamerson was to Motown. He like Jamerson, took the fledgling bass guitar, and at the time gave it a very distinctive voice in the sound of Sweet Soul music. In the studio or on the road, the unmistakable pulse of his low-end pitches, in snyc with Al's kick and rhythms, made the sound of Memphis Soul another artery in the music that was the heart and soul of our lives! Rest in peace Brother Duck. ✝️

[@thomasfioriglio]

The was great! I'm a big fan of Duck Dunn and very cool to see his original bass collection. Thanks Ian!

[@blairswanson44]

Fender used to make a flat wound that was much thunkier in sound but were discontinued around the turn of the century. They were even more tension which IMO helped with the quicker note decay, typical of what Bob Babbitt (& others) accomplished with the sponge under the strings at the bridge. That '59 w/ anodized PG in the video sounds similar.

[@andrewpappas9311]

Duck was definitely one of the great session players of the 60s and with the Blues Brothers in the early 80s so it was awesome seeing his son talk about his iconic basses, I’d love to see one of these on Les Claypool, Geddy Lee, Jason Newsted, Flea, Tom Hamilton from Aerosmith or maybe Shavo Odadjian from System of a Down

[@valemadreelusername]

Duck is one of my all-time heroes! Such style and groove!! I just got my 40th Anniversary Vintage Edition Squier P-Bass yesterday and it's clearly inspired in his signature red and gold bass (and the Fender Vintera series, obviously). It's a gorgeous instrument and I'm so happy this video came out today, because I was actually planning on researching his bass collection to find the story behind the signature P-bass. Thanks so much Ian!! I will now proceed to geek out on my new bass and attempt to channel my hero.

[@8981USMC]

Duck the the reason I got interested in the bass. My bass hero for sure.

[@fabbro9999]

Love it. I met Duck Dunn and the Colonel Steve Cropper in 93, they were the nicest and the coolest dudes. 😎👍🏼 P.S. Duck's line on Albert King's "I Love Lucy" is in a tie with Jamerson's "I Was Made To Love Her" part as my fav soul bass line ever.

[@ridingroy]

Carol Kaye played bass on "I was made To Love Her". To quote her, hers were the bass parts "with balls".

[@you_tubeslonelyheartsclubband]

My personal favorites from Duck Dunn are Otis Redding's Respect and his cover of Satisfaction from the Monterey Pop Festival.

[@you_tubeslonelyheartsclubband]

@@ridingroy I don't think she played that. That bassline is distinctively Jamerson. Plus she doesn't need credit for that, SHE WAS PART OF *THE WRECKING CREW.*

[@ridingroy]

@@you_tubeslonelyheartsclubband There is a transcription of her bass part in one of Carol's books that I enjoy playing.

[@gwynforhood]

I met Duck a couple of times when i was playing with Eddie Floyd. What an absolutely great guy and brill bass man. RiP.

[@mngroove]

I have the Lakland Skyline version of the candy apple red Duck Dunn - it is really a terrific bass and that's without even saying "for the price", which you can find for generally under $1000. I have flats on it and the original Lakland pickups and the sound is unbelievable in terms of producing that classic rich p-bass tone from early to mid-60s. And of course it has the jazz neck, but there is a little depth to the Lakland neck that makes it feel different than a standard Fender jazz and also plays great with low action. It is a real joy to play and like they mentioned, it does feel very light.

[@DuffTV]

I really enjoyed that. Ducks son was so humble and rightly proud of his dad. Thanks for the video

[@Energy_from.the_Sun]

I bet this episode made Dunn smile. Thanks SBL

[@OswaldBatesIIIEsq]

0:02 That bass was one of the basses that I wanted a lot. The other was the candy apple red jazz bass that Jermaine Jackson used to play. Once the guy at the store told me how much they were, it was a little heartbreaking.

[@josephalaguna]

Just pure joy watching this video.

[@RobMods]

Super super episode. I've always really been a P bass kinda guy, and that is largely due to Duck Dunn's beautiful tone and lines.

[@diemuino]

Melting pot bassline is one of my all time favourites

[@dwaynecarroll6098]

Instantly plays my fav. Dunn line!

[@roberthart4160]

Man!! Great video and tribute to the man. The first Lakland I purchased was a second hand Skyline Duck Dunn... I absolutely fell in love with it. It's amazing in every way. Same CAR too. It'll never leave me.

[@C.Brown5150]

Really appreciate you sharing this with us ❤️. It's wonderful to see and hear a few of Duck's Ax's.. And to see the very last one he ever played was an amazing honor.. Thank you.. 🙏

[@kane6529]

I’m shocked His son doesn’t play? He’s incredibly passionate about his dads basses 🤩

[@b.rodclark7349]

my '70s childhood of Precision Bass players consists of James Jamerson Sr., Donald Duck Dunn and Louis Johnson with an honorable mentioned tie between Chuck Rainey and Willie Weeks. I grew up on every Stax bass line Dunn's played since 1965 and his rhythmic foundation was so solid that it would get away from you one moment and take you with it the next; sometimes kill two birds with one stone by doing both in the same moment... nice video!

[@DUMKOOPF]

This is so cool!!! Jeff and My dad played in a heavy metal band in Memphis a long time ago.

[@paulcochrane1028]

A great 9 minutes lads. Saw Duck play live with Eric Clapton in the 80s (Money and Cigarettes Tour) and loved the Blues Bros....brilliant!

[@rcb_matt]

Such a good video... I think I have watched it twice.

[@peterandrews1117]

I love Duck's playing and I have a Fender Duck Dunn signature in Candy Apple Red, and a Lakland Skyline 44-64 in Candy Apple Red with a matching headstock. Both gorgeous basses , I just need some La Bella flats now .

[@Ben_Mdws]

Lovely video - his son seems a very cool guy.

[@dirkpehrke9909]

I bought 0135 during the golden era of Ebay in 2001 for 350,-. It was offered as a Donald Duck Fender bass. A nice japanese Fender with the same pickups as the US made vintage 62 Precision, although modelled after a late 50s P-Bass. Still have it. Dunn is shown with this bass in part II of the Blues Brothers film.

[@DirtyHairHaloCrowe]

Awesome! One of the greats. And a bassplayer that all bassplayers should be familiar with. Thanks for sharing that.

[@bassimprovjams3772]

These need to be longer!! And I’m presuming those strings are the same strings that Duck had on when he was using them? With they would have talked about the age of the strings

[@JSA501stNormandy]

he is easily one of my biggest influences such a great great player

[@raymonegarnes5809]

Incredible, thank you for sharing this!!

[@davidmachin1970]

Hi Ian, i just started learning D3 bass lines and youtube threw this up for a watch. Fantastic.

[@vincebowling1778]

Lakland basses are built and finished very well. I had a USA made Bob Glaub signature with the PJ pickups that was super nice.

[@williamjc7195]

'green onions' = on my top 10 favorites list.

[@mannwish6681]

The voice sounded like you dubbed that..we love you as you put your lessons with your voice.. please don't mind..🤘🏽

[@M.to.the.L]

Nice that the Lakland got some play! I have that one myself and love the ease of play and how light it is.

[@drbassface]

Awesome Nick!

[@theclansman6663]

Love these bass tales! I'd love to see a tale with Steve Harris and his bass one day.

[@MrStrangeSensation]

More of this kind of content! Love this stuff

[@ba55bar]

That demo bass obviously came from Ray's Music Exchange

[@davechipling169]

I owned a duck Dunn p bass it was brilliant 🤩

[@luvbasses5487]

By late ‘57 and when the newly designed split coil/high A-pole pickup was introduced, this was a revelation of sorts. The split design rendered the bass now hum-free! Thank you Leo! In addition, these pickups were wound pretty hot. Most every pre-CBS ‘57-‘64 black bobbin pickup I’ve ever got my hands on usually all threw a signal in the mid to high 11’s. That’s the secret to the sound and tone of these pre CBS tone monsters. At the dawn of ‘59 the raised A poles were now gone and all magnets were flush, which I think appealed to many players. The reason behind the high A poles was supposedly for “even string response.” I and I think many others feel quite the opposite about this. They get in the way and the strings would often hit the raised poles and clip out. The A string is always louder than the others too! In the early 2010’s Fender R&D dept. started examining and dissecting pre CBS Precision’s and Jazz Basses. The result was the new American Vintage line of guitars and basses. Their pickups were re-voiced, wound to same resistance as old specimens and wax potted. Even the same type of formvar wiring was used. Fender created the best reissues in the history of the company I feel. The ‘63 Pure Vintage Precision pickup reads 12.0k right outta the box! This is the key to that pre CBS sound. I drop them into my Custom Shop basses! You just can’t beat ‘em. Grab a few sets while they’re still being sold as an aftermarket item! Excellent video here! Thank you for posting it!

[@dwaynecarroll6098]

Huge influence!

[@josephalaguna]

Thanks Ian!

[@shipsahoy1793]

This video shocked me.. I have a cheap playable Fender P bass, but never really thought anything special about it, until one day when I put LaBella flatwounds on it, and then, there it was..😉

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

You also got the Creedence bass tone you hear on "Sweet Hitch-hiker"

[@flanneljoe7473]

Just awesome. Thanks

[@OverlandandOutdoorPursuits]

Wow, he passed away in Japan and so did Bernard Edwards, another legendary bass player.

[@anthonycook4297]

Love it 🙌🏽‼️

[@franklindanielayalalimaco8335]

Great vídeo. Thanks!

[@RumblinMan]

Awesome awesome video.

[@HardManAndres]

Awesome video! That Lakland bass...

[@darvinclement3250]

Thanks for making this video! That candy apple Laklund IS sweet!

[@jerryjones8513]

When they are showing you the Lakland, at the back is the Gibson that I`m pretty sure Cliff Williams of AC/DC gave Duck as a present. It`s the one that was used on the Back in Black video`s.

[@NickRosaci]

Good eye! That's indeed the bass.

[@bterwill]

What a great video

[@maxthebored2614]

I know this has nothing to do with the video but I love the Montana hat at the end

[@joconnorwi]

Tech 21 VT Bass in that rack babayyyyy!!!

[@MrMicalo]

Wow, you made my day

[@joseesquivel4020]

Really enjoyed this vid 👍

[@jediprestes]

Donald duck dunn é um herói!!

[@Bass.Player]

I only played "V" shaped necks in the 80's, I loved them, but I don't see them anymore. American Schecter made them back then and I put them on my Jazz basses.

[@alangeorgebarstow]

I would love to have heard Duck playing on a Warwick 'Thumb' bass.

[@To.Si.Ma.]

That black one sounds just like it was played in the movie yesterday. Fat and mellow.

[@andrewjones9417]

I believe the Lakland was the Second USA (not skyline) DD built. If I remember right the first one was made mistakingly with a Full P width neck (still CAR with blocks) So lakland gave it to bob glaub

[@jjones7837]

EPIC.

[@harvey1954]

That b and w clip is from the Norway tour of 1967, not 1962 as the film says.

[@thetoddkeith]

What is that pretty little thing over your right shoulder?

[@felixgrimm408]

Soooo... When are you going to talk about that Vuorensaku Bass in the bäck??! 😅😅😅 (also: I LOVE DONALD DUCK DUNN

[@jamesosborne6004]

I see you are rocking a Montana hat! As a life long Montanan I gotta say "Nice hat bud".

[@IanMartinAllison]

Born and raised in Kalispell

[@surfocaster]

GREAT video, there was one typo though, Duck's Lakland was a USA model, not a Skyline (yes, they did make a Skyline version too).

[@JamilLeslie]

I have a request… “Ready” Freddie Washington! Please! Lol

[@indragupta4521]

I’m new to this stuff, so is that the sound of late 50’s Pbass? The one with silvery pickguard

[@CarSimping]

6 STRING P BASS lol imagine

[@myvidworld1]

Loved seeing all these basses that your dad owned and played, the Lakland could have easily been left out !

[@jdl2180]

The lakland was the coolest looking bass.

[@alexscott57]

Barry Oakleys son next? Need a closer look at the tractor bass :)

[@JoseGonzalez-sf1hj]

I LIKE THE OLD FENDER MALE SOUND IN AN AMPEG TUBE AMP B 15 AND THE FLAT OR TAPE WOUND STRINGS. THE STEEPENWOLF SOUND THREE DOG NIGHT SOUND NEIL YOUNG AND CRAZY HORSE. YES!

[@elwaupo1]

I had one of the Donald “Duck” Dunn basses. Beautiful but it always sounded like cardboard. I changed the pickups, electronics, bridge, strings, you name it, still sounded like cardboard but it was a beautiful bass. Sold it on EBay

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

The plan for Creedence in 1971 was to invite Duck Dunn to play bass as Booker T. & MGs were on hiatus.

[@soursnatch7108]

Rock On!!!

[@davidcudlip6587]

Miss Duck. Great no nonsense bass player. Not that nonsense is a bad thing. But he was special.

[@pookachu64]

Damm your jazz bass is very cool