Les Claypool et son matos

Citation : CLAYPOOL’S GEAR:

MAIN BASSES

• Carl Thompson 6 string fretless with EMG pickup. Nicknamed the Rainbow Bass, it is a 36" scale bass guitar. The body contains strips of walnut, curly maple, paduak, purple heart, ebony and cocobolo. The strings are threaded through the back of a rear extension (near the strap pin) and stretched over a one-piece, hand made wooden bridge anchored by Schaller tuning machines. The basic part of the neck is made of quartersawn hardrock maple. The serial number 2-5-91 (the day the bass was finished), was also Carl Thompson’s birthday.

• Carl Thompson 4 string fretted with black Kahler tremelo

Also:

• Carl Thompson 4 string fretted. Also maple but without the tremelo. Used as a back up.

• Carl Thompson 6 string fretted. Thompson claims it is the first fretless 6 string ever made. Carl added frets and sold it to Les.

• 2 Fender Jazz 4 strings. Red one and cream one.

• Kay acoustic upright which he bought for $300 in a pawn shop. Signed by Tom Waits and Screamin’ Jay Hawkins.

• Eko (fiddle bass) copy of Beatle Hofner bass. Reassembled in the early 90s from parts from around1965.

• Tune 6 string fretless which he used before acquiring the Carl Thompsons.

• Dan Maloney 4 string fretted bass banjo. Dan is an old high school buddy of Les.

• Dan Maloney electric standup. Actually made by Zeta Systems.

• Rickenbacker 4001 (white), a gift from Alex Lifeson of Rush.

• Five string Steinberger upright.

STRINGS;

Les prefers the sound of light gauge strings and has been known to use two A strings and two G strings tuned to E-A-D-G.

LIVE RIG:

• Gallien Kruger MB450E 1x12 Combo amp (speaker off)

• ADA MP-2 Guitar MIDI pre-amp

• Digital Music MIDI Ground Control foot pedal

• Mesa Boogie bass 400 plus power amp

• Mesa Boogie "Powerhouse" cabinet (2) custom covered with brown glitter tuck and roll.

• Furman PL plus power conditioner and light module

• Samson UR-5D Dual VHF synthesised diversity wireless receiver

• Lexicon guitar pre-amp

• Boss TU12 tuner

• Whirlwind A/B box.

Citation : Dan Maloney 4 string fretted bass banjo. Dan is an old high school buddy of Les.