Basses
FlyGuitars Why did you choose to work with Geordie Johnson?
Andy Hess Warren had already been friends with Geordie and was a big fan of his and respected him tremendously. He knew that Geordie was in to producing and so he called him and Geordie was very excited to be part of it. We went down to Austen, Texas and recorded down there in a studio that Geordie works in a lot cause that's where he lives with his family. It was really a great experience working with him, it was very challenging and he brought in some great basses, I played a Gibson EB-OL on some of the session.
FlyGuitars I've always identified you as using Fender basses?
Andy Hess I'm mostly a Fender guy I'll be honest with you but Geordie bought in a nice Hofner Beatle bass that I played on a couple of tracks and I played Geordie's EB-O as well as the EB-OL that I had bought down in Austen in a guitar shop. I mixed it up on this record and I do also have a Thunderbird at home but I haven't really been using it except on Deja Voodoo on a couple of tracks; Bad Man Walking and on Mister Man.
FlyGuitars What did you like about the different basses having been used to using your Fenders?
Andy Hess It was just a different tone, Gibson make great basses too. It just happened to be that I was always a Fender person and I fell in love with the Precision but it was also great to use a Hofner on a couple of songs. They all sound different they all bring a different tone.
FlyGuitars I think that adds to the album having the different tones on each track. When you were using the EB-O and the EB-OL how did you record the bass track in the studio?
Andy Hess It was definitely a weird concoction that Geordie came up with. He'd mic the cabs and then we also went direct through this weird effect and he definitely mixed it up a little bit. We also used various Fender amps including guitar amps, it wasn't the standard set up. There's a couple of tunes where later we went back to New Jersey and I had to do a couple of extra tracks and I went through an Ampeg B15 which is what I usually do. On the road I use the Ampeg SVT with the 8x10 cabinet. I'm an endorser of Ampeg and I love their amps, they're great, they just work for me.
FlyGuitars I think they work for a lot of people, they are well made amps and you get a great sound through them as well. From memory seeing you play in London, you tend to favour playing with your fingers rather than a pick?
Andy Hess Yes definitely I suppose it's just cause I'm used to it and that's how I learned. It just feels good to me and I have control over the stuff I play that way. On occasion I might play with a pick but pretty rarely. Sometimes I'll play with my thumb and I'll mute the strings near the bridge with my palm to get like a dubby thing going but mostly it's my two fingers, the standard. I love the warmth, I'm more into a warm round bubbly sound as opposed to clanky
FlyGuitars Warren's credited for writing the songs on High & Mighty but how do the band approach putting the songs together?
Andy Hess I didn't know any of the songs until I got to Texas. We kind of learned them, we rehearsed a couple of days and became familiar with them and we all worked together on the grooves and the arrangement, and how the song's supposed to feel. Warren presented us the songs, It's not like we knew them all that well before we went in to the studio which is good too. In a lot of ways you kind of get first impressions and often first impressions are very valuable. Although there's something to be said too for really knowing the music but that's just how we did it.
Image mule.net
FlyGuitars Brian (Farmer, left), the bands guitar tech seems to be a busy man and he's always there for you guys. Bearing in mind his workload, do you tend to use just the Fender basses on tour or are you taking out other basses?
Andy Hess He's the greatest in the world. He takes care of my basses and he sets them up beautifully for me and he's a good man to have on the team. I use the Fender and I've been using the Gibson EB-OL that I brought in Texas a lot but mostly I have to say I play my Fender P basses. I do have a Fender Telecaster bass in the arsenal.
FlyGuitars People tend to sit on one side of the fence or the other they'll be a Fender player or a Gibson player so it's interesting to speak to somebody who likes Fenders but who also likes picking up Gibsons.
Andy Hess I love my Fenders, I'm never going to not play my Fender basses. I think the Fender Precision bass is one of the greatest basses, that's just a classic. That's what I'm used to and I love them but I've definitely got to really love my EB-O too. It works for certain songs perfectly.
Thanks to Andy Hess and Graham Fieldhouse for the interview, Jim Walsh of Big Hassle Publicity, Hard Head Management and Brian Shupe of 3800K Photography for providing the images
Further reading: Warren Haynes on Allen Woody | Other FlyGuitars interviews
Andy Hess website | Gov't Mule website
Gibson bass guitars for sale
1993 Gibson LP-3 Les Paul Standard 5-String Bass | Extremely Rare 5-String | Fla
Salt Lake City, Utah, 841**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$3499
Up for sale is an extremely rare 1993 Gibson LP-3 Les Paul Standard 5-String Bass in a gorgeous Heritage Cherry Sunburst finish, complete with its original hard-shell case. This particular bass is a true standout??not only is it one of the rare 5-string versions of the Les Paul Standard bass, but it also features a highly figured, flamey top ... more
Gibson SG Short Scale Bass 120th Anniversary Sunburst w Original Case and VIDEO
San Diego, California, 921**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$1295
Here's a 2014 Gibson SG 120th Anniversary 4 string bass guitar in a factory original Sunburst finish.
It is in good condition with lots of playwear - see pics and video
She hhas no breaks or repairs and is all original
She has a fresh set up with Ernie Ball 45 / 105's and actually plays quite beautifully.
She's 7 4 lbs on the scale
Here's the specs - please correct us if we've missed anything
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1968 Gibson EB-2D Bass a very original example ready to enjoy for 58 more years.
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1963 Gibson EB-0 Cherry Vintage Short Scale SG Bass, 100% Original w / Case
Seattle, Washington, 981**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
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1967 Gibson EB-2 Vintage Sunburst Semi-Hollow 4 String Right-Handed Bass Guitar
Winnsboro, Louisiana, 712**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
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1968 Gibson EB2 Bass Cherry w / OHSC
Towson, Maryland, 212**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$2100
1968 Gibson EB-2 Bass in Cherry with original hardshell case??a vintage semi-hollow thumper with unmistakable Gibson character. The double-cut hollow body design delivers a deep, woody low end with a warm, blooming response, while the neck-position humbucker provides that classic ??mudbucker?? fullness that sits perfectly in the mix and a bridge humbucker with a little more bite. Its short-scale feel makes it ... more
1976 Gibson The Ripper Fretless L9-S Vintage Bass Ebony w / Case, Hangtag
Seattle, Washington, 981**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
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Georgetown, Ohio, 451**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$1600
Sounds and plays so good! Has all the vintage tone and good mojo. Straight neck. Fully functional. Someone has refinished the headstock while leaving the logo. Some cosmetic flaws from its age. This is a classic thumping bass that can take your playing to the next level
Don't miss your chance to own!
Items only come with case or accessories if pictured or listed in the listing
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Gibson EB-O Electric Bass Guitar 1972 Walnut Kalamazoo Short Scale Humbucker
New Brunswick, New Jersey, 089**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
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Hollywood, Florida, 330**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
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Saint Petersburg, Florida, 337**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
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1966-68 GIBSON CARE+SETUP GUIDE GUITAR & BASS 20 PAGES GREAT ILLUSTRATIONS RARE
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? For Sale: Legendary 1969 Gibson EB-1 Bass ?? A Piece of Rock History! ?
Danbury, Connecticut, 068**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$4500
? For Sale: Legendary 1969 Gibson EB-1 Bass ?? A Piece of Rock History! ?
Own a true piece of music history!
This 1969 Gibson EB-1 Bass is in excellent condition and comes with an incredible pedigree.
This iconic instrument was played by some of the most legendary bassists in rock history:
John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin
Jack Bruce of Cream
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The main studio basses played by Andy Hess: shortscale Gibson EB0, Fender Telecaster bass, Precision, Hofner Violin bass, another Precision, and finally a longscale EB, the Gibson EB0L




















