SSP's photojournal: Stuart Zender

sshorepunk · #1 10-15-2007, 01:39 PM

First off, an introduction, I'm a bass player from Manchester, UK, I'm also a live band photographer! I get to shoot a lot of bands and sometimes get the chance to talk to the bassists about gear and stuff, as I do, I'll try and get some of that info onto TB with some quality shots.

Last Saturday, I had the chance to shoot Mark Ronson as he played to a sold out Academy 1 in Manchester, UK

If you ain't familiar with Mr Ronson, he's a producer / band leader who has produced a whole load of poeple such as Amy winehouse etc etc.
You may be more familiar with his choice of bass player, Stuart Zender!

I had the usual photographers shot at this gig, 3 songs and no flash, being a bass player, I always make sure I get some good shots of the bassist!

Stuart was playing a cool white P.bass through an Ampeg VB4 with a 4x10 cab and a smaller cab, maybe 1x15 (correct me if the detail is wrong) he had a small pedal board, couldn't see what was on it apart from a TU2 (not much help, I know!)

His playing was very laid back and relaxed, he looks to have fitted real well into the groove of this band, as he always seems to!

more info on Stuart Zender here

Below is the first of a few shots I'll put online over the next few days, this isn't the best one, best does give the best shot of his back line and white addidas'

Thanks

Tony

SteveC · #2 10-15-2007, 01:46 PM

Looks like a whole new rig for him. Didn't he play Stingrays and Aguilar in his Jamiriquoi days?

**j-raj** · #3 10-15-2007, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveC

Looks like a whole new rig for him. Didn't he play Stingrays and Aguilar in his Jamiriquoi days?

he also was a big Warwick user for a while too.

Billy Low · #4 10-15-2007, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j-raj

he also was a big Warwick user for a while too.

+1 on the Warwicks. Although I did see him play (on different occassions) A Fender P, and a Fender J before.

Lorenzini · #5 10-15-2007, 08:13 PM

He was biggest on the Warwick, as the first bass he recorded with was Warwick. Then he got that crazy striped/patterned J style Warwick.

Never saw him use a Stingray... got pics?

sshorepunk · #6 10-15-2007, 11:29 PM

The paint work on the crazy striped Warwick was a design taken from a cheif of the Iroquai Indiands (it's a name thing Jam - Iroquai)

More shots soon!

Tony

Funkzfly · #7 10-16-2007, 06:14 AM

Zender played Warwicks, (I remember him being quoted that he got some good deals with Warwick and so chose them based on the best offer and the sound), 3 of his famous Streamers were customised by Martin Sims (the 'Iroquai' bass with the 'tribal' pattern and red LEDs in the neck markings, ''The Chrome Ender', chromed with Green LEDs and the entirely white Streamer modeled on Larry Graham's Moon Bass, with blue LEDS).

He's also used P-Basses/Jazzes live and in the studio...'Stillness In Time' from Return Of The Space Cowboy was a P-Bass. He's also played Alembics and Stingrays, although I'm positive that he never used Stingrays at any time with Jamiroquai.

Amp wise, he's used Trace Elliott gear early on as well as Warwick amplification (which I suspect was just another good offer from Warwick). He's more recently used Ampeg.

sshorepunk · #8 10-16-2007, 08:35 AM

It's good to see him playing the sort of gear that fits with the style of music he playing with this band!

You wanna see another shot?

Tony

bassist15 · #9 10-16-2007, 01:56 PM

I sure want to see the shots you've taken.

**j-raj** · #10 10-16-2007, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassist15

I sure want to see the shots you've taken.

^what he said.

sshorepunk · #11 10-16-2007, 03:51 PM

Now we're gettin funky!

Superdave · #12 10-16-2007, 05:01 PM

SteveC: You're thinking about Paul Turner with the Stingrays and Aguilar rigs, he's Jamiroquai's current bassist although he's touring with Annie Lennox right now I think..

TaySte_2000 · #13 10-17-2007, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sshorepunk

Now we're gettin funky!

Me sees TU-2, Sansamp and an MXR Blowtorch

Mr. Pickles · #14 10-17-2007, 06:05 AM

Tony,
Do you have any shots of artists' pedalboards? We sure would love to see some posted over in the effects forum.
Thanks,
Mr. P

sshorepunk · #15 10-17-2007, 07:07 AM

I have some!

Let me explain, at a gig like this, you get 3 songs, you can't use flash, so you gotta work quick and think fast, this time I didn't pay to much attention to the pedal board, also I didn't know that these nice poeple at Talkbass were gonna let me run threads using my shots, otherwise I would have took a few PB shots!

The plan for the future is work the gig as I would normally do, but try and get some shots that are relevant to Talkbass, I'm also gonna try and talk to the bassist if I can arrange it with the management!

I have a few more articles lined up, some well known players and some not so well known, but I'll include links to websites, Myspace etc.

I'm just pleased that my shots can be put to some use after the bands, magazines etc have had their pick!

Thx

Tony

Mr. Pickles · #16 10-17-2007, 07:11 AM

Cool. We really appreciate it!

**j-raj** · #17 10-17-2007, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sshorepunk

I have a few more articles lined up, some well known players and some not so well known, but I'll include links to websites, Myspace etc.

that would be great, look forward to more threads like this.

Woodchuck · #18 10-17-2007, 07:34 AM

Stu first recorded with a Jazz, Alembic, and a Warwick 8 string. Afterwards, he went strictly Warwick. After he left Jami, he went full time into production, and he used MM's for that. On Omar's "Something Real", he's using a Stingray. He told me that now all he uses his his P Bass and a Jazz, and it has the perfect tone for him.

melt · #19 10-19-2007, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveC

Looks like a whole new rig for him. Didn't he play Stingrays and Aguilar in his Jamiriquoi days?

You're thinking of Paul Turner, their current bassist (although he plays other basses too).

When Stuart was in Jamiroquai he used mainly Warwick basses, although he had a Jazz and an Alembic Essence too. He used Trace Elliot amps, followed by Mesa Boogie IIRC.

I was at this show, and it was pretty good. First time I've actually seen Mr Z live, having missed him in Jamiroquai (I could never get tickets...) . I actually went specifically to see him as he's one of my favourite bassists, although he's fulfilling a more suportive role with Ronson. Wish I'd got to see him with Jamiroquai, the band has never been the same without him IMHO.

melt · #20 10-19-2007, 05:31 AM

Whoops, most of that info had already been supplied...that'll teach me to read the whole thread before I post!