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
Gibson EST 1964 / 1969 EB-0 Electric Bass
Chesapeake, Virginia, 233**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$2000
EST. 1964 / 1969, FEATURING RARE FIND, SLOTTED HEADSTOCK
COMES WITH ORIGINAL CASE! INSIDE OF CASE COND. IS FINE, HOWEVER THE EXTERNAL SHAPE OF THE CASE IS POOR. LOTS OF TEARS AND ATTEMPTED FIXES
THE GIBSON ITSELF IS IN FAIR SHAPE, SOME DINGS AND WEAR FROM USE. ITEM IS AS PICTURED ABOVE. MESSAGE WITH ANY QUESTIONS!
* FEDEX SHIPPING ONLY *NO SHIPPING OUTSIDE LOWER 48 STATES *
... more
1981 Gibson Victory Standard Bass Silver
Westland, Michigan, 481**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$1600
1972 Gibson EB-3 Mahogany Bass Guitar
Kokomo, Indiana, 469**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$1400
Vintage 1979 Gibson The Grabber Bass
Dickinson, Texas, 775**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$2120
1972 Gibson SB-450 Electric Bass Cherry - Very Good Condition
Memphis, Tennessee, 381**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$1450
1972 Gibson SB-450 Bass - Cherry in Very Good Condition. The neck is straight and the action is low. The frets are in good shape. Electronics function perfectly. Normal play wear associated with a 50 + year old instrument (see photos). Serial # 771306. Comes with original Gibson chipboard case
Make: Gibson
Model: SB-450
Year: 1972
Scale length: 34 5 "
Weight: 7lbs 1oz
Nut Width: 1 66 "
Neck Width at 12th fret: 2 10 "
Neck Thickness at 1st fret: .86 "
Neck ... more
Gibson Gene Simmons Signature G2 Thunderbird Electric Bass Guitar USA
Georgetown, Ohio, 451**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$1710
This is a fantastic made in USA bass! Sounds and plays so good! Straight neck. Fully functional. Slight cosmetic blemishes, nothing major. This can take your joy of playing to new heights and also is a very collectible item, being a Gene Simmons USA Bass! Comes with case!
Don't miss your chance to own!
Items only come with case or accessories if pictured or listed in the listing
Items only come with accessories / parts pictured and ... more
1970 or 1971 Gibson EB-0 Electric Bass Guitar With Epiphone Case
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 731**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$1700
GIBSON VICTORY STANDARD BASS GUITAR - RARE
Saint Petersburg, Florida, 337**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$1550
... more
1976 Gibson EB-3 Mahogany Bass Guitar W / Ohsc Veritone
Spring Hill, Florida, 346**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$1850
Tuners have been changed. Everything else is 100% original. Sounds great. Will ship FedEx ground fully insured with tracking shipping to the lower 48 states only. No Alaska Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam or PO boxes international shipping provided by eBay Global
... more
Gibson Ripper Fretless L9-FS BASS. 1976 EXCELLENT.
Prato, 591**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
€2500
1969 Gibson EB-0 Bass WALNUT with slotted headstock
Carbondale, Illinois, 629**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$1390
Add Me to Your Favorite Sellers
Olivia's Vintage would like to present this 1969 Gibson EB-0 bass in its original Walnut finish. It has a great playing neck with good frets. All of the electronics have been replaced as the pickup is an aftermarket sidewinder pickup. The pickup cavity was modified to house this pickup. The truss rod cover has been replaced and a shim has been placed underneath the nut. The pictured hardshell case is included. This slotted headstock EB-0 looks good with ... more
Vintage Collector's Epiphone by Gibson Power Bass 1982
Cheney, Washington, 990**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$425
This thing has been hitting hard for over 40 years. Has a few minor cosmetic flaws as ... more
Gibson 1993 Les Paul Bass Lpb-2
Douglas, Georgia, 315**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$1300
Vintage 1981 Gibson Victory Artist Bass Guitar, Black
Hampton, New Hampshire, 038**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$1800
The Victory Artist has two Series VIIIB humbuckers, three-ply maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fretboard, and passive / active electronics with one volume and one tone knob, bass and treble controls, a pickup selector switch, a series / parallel switch, and a three-position passive / active switch
Does not include case.... more
Custom Gibson SG Bass w / Case
Simi Valley, California, 930**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$2000
Fully customized 1997 Gibson SG Bass
I found this in the bin about ready to be tossed. Stripped down, no fretboard, no electronics, nothing. The solid mahogany ??husk" of a bass was then Finished in emerald green stain, with Gold hardware and Black / White / Black - Pick Guard, Heel-plate and Control Covers
Hipshot Bridge
Custom-wound pups - (30 3k @ Neck, Hot-wound 12 7k TV Jones Thunder'Tron at Bridge).
Stacked U S.A. CTS Vol / Tone Controls w / ... more
Gibson EB-2 Bass Guitar
Anderson, Indiana, 460**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$4790
... more
1972 Gibson SB-350 Cherry Vintage Short Scale SG Bass w / Case
Seattle, Washington, 981**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$2200
1963 Gibson EB-0 Cherry Vintage Short Scale SG Bass, 100% Original w / Case
Seattle, Washington, 981**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$3600
Featuring solid Honduran mahogany construction and a rosewood fretboard, this EB-0 weighs 7lbs 13oz. The famous ??Mudbucker?? pickup ... more
VINTAGE 1981 Sunburst Gibson Victory Artist Series 4 String Bass Guitar w / Case
Interlochen, Michigan, 496**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$1620
Up for sale is a rare vintage 1981 Gibson Victory Artist Series bass guitar in a beautiful sunburst finish. This model was part of Gibson??s early ??80s ??Victory?? line, designed for versatility and modern tone
Year / Model: 1981 Gibson Victory Artist Series (4-string)
Finish: Classic Sunburst
Pickups: Professionally upgraded with custom EMG pickups (not original) ... more
2024 Gibson Rex Brown Signature Thunderbird Ebony 4 String Bass Guitar With Case
Lewiston, Maine, 042**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$1826
Stock # J78010770-NK / 10 13XZ
A New Signature Bass Model From Rex Brown
Multi-instrumentalist Rex Brown is well-known for his work with legendary metal bands Pantera and Down, and his hard-rocking solo album, Smoke on This?? His new Gibson Rex Brown Signature ... more

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




















