Did Bunny Brunel leave Carvin for ESP?

[Jeff Scott]

For those uninitiated in BBdom:



If you need to , you can skip to his solo at 5:10.

 

[lowfreqgeek]

(don't forget he's the "BB" in Yamaha's BB series, too)

Wow, I did not know that.

Bunny Brunel might have had a hand in testing the Yamaha BB series, along with the likes of Abe Laboriel, Nathan East, Lee Sklar, and a bunch of other session guys, but as I've understood it, John Carruthers developed the "Big Body" series basses for Yamaha, with input from all those early testers. It was not Bunny's design, or named for Bunny Brunel.

I noticed a while back that Kyle Eastwood plays what look VERY much like the "Bunny Brunel" designed instruments, but with a completely different headstock. I couldn't find any info on them. Kyle studied with and was influenced by Bunny, so I assumed they were custom-built in Europe or Asia with some design influence from Bunny.

Interesting.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Kinda ironic since Carvin still has a double B initial endorser (Brian Bromberg).

Where's the irony in this?

 

[Mystic Michael]

Doesn't look much different from his Carvin bass, but I guess that's understandable. Neat bass, though.

Well, Brian Bromberg owns the patent trademark to his own design, and has simply licensed it to one manufacturer after another during the past 20+ years or so, with only minor tweaks & refinements from each iteration to the next. Maybe Bunny has had a similar deal with Carvin...and now with ESP.

MM

 

[Jeff Scott]

Trademark.

 

[Mystic Michael]

Ya know, as influential as the guy has been in the instrument world (don't forget he's the "BB" in Yamaha's BB series, too), I don't think I've ever actually heard Bunny Brunel's music.

I attended a concert of Chick Corea's Elektric Band in 1980, with Bunny on bass. Bunny was very young, still pretty new in the band, and seemed to still be finding his place amongst them.

Bunny was on fire that night. Chick picked up on it right away, and just let him run with the ball, pretty much allowing Bunny to solo as long as he wanted, as often as he wanted, on nearly every tune. The audience was eating it up; kept egging him on to play more and more.

I'd never heard of Bunny Brunel before that night. He sure was on my radar screen after that.

MM

 

[Blackbird]

It looks like Carvin's doing a good job of running off their loyal, long-time endorsers and signature artists...

To be fair, 20 years is probably one of the longest product endorsement runs ever and Carvin has introduced many other models (and dropped a few) since.

Gaah, and I just sold a BB75 too. damn.

 

[Stick_Player]

Bunny Who? Really now, is this name really going to sell more than 3 basses?

I get the "Adam Calyton" name on a product, but really now, Bugs Bunny?

Link Removed

 

[Blackbird]

Bunny Who? Really now, is this name really going to sell more than 3 basses?

I get the "Adam Clayton" name on a product, but really now, Bugs Bunny?

You should do some homework. Brunel could arguably be described as the French equivalent of Stanley Clarke...

 

[Stick_Player]

You should do some homework. Brunel could arguably be described as the French equivalent of Stanley Clarke...

I know who the guy is.

So... you and me make 2.

We need one more, for 3. 'cept I'm not interested in that Carvin, err... ESP bass - yuk! I might tool around with Bunny's EUB, though.

 

[Joebone]

Ya know, as influential as the guy has been in the instrument world (don't forget he's the "BB" in Yamaha's BB series, too), I don't think I've ever actually heard Bunny Brunel's music.

.

NOT TRUE…"BB" stands for "Broad Bass." Very early models actually say "Broad Bass" on the headstock. I've also heard the "Broad Bass" bit from John Carruthers, who was among the design consultants for those very fine basses. And if you ever played one, you'd get it, as the body is quite broad across indeed!

 

[Stick_Player]

... (don't forget he's the "BB" in Yamaha's BB series, too)...

 

[Stick_Player]

And if you ever played one (Yamaha BB Series), you'd get it, as the body is quite broad across indeed!

The hidden gems of Electric Basses.

 

[gjbassist]

I was never a fan of the Carvin Bunny model. That skinny upper horn looks like it would break off just by looking at it too hard!

 

[orange joe]

I did not see that one comming.I also did not know he was Yamahas BB.WOW.Its a tough call between ESP and Carvin though.I has a Surveyor that i regret selling to this day but at the same time I dont know if i could survive without an LB70

 

[lowfreqgeek]

I did not see that one comming.I also did not know he was Yamahas BB.WOW.Its a tough call between ESP and Carvin though.I has a Surveyor that i regret selling to this day but at the same time I dont know if i could survive without an LB70

He was NOT the BB in Yamaha's BB series.

Just clearing that up...

 

[lowfreqgeek]

NOT TRUE…"BB" stands for "Broad Bass." Very early models actually say "Broad Bass" on the headstock. I've also heard the "Broad Bass" bit from John Carruthers, who was among the design consultants for those very fine basses. And if you ever played one, you'd get it, as the body is quite broad across indeed!

That was it - Broad Bass. I was thinking "Big Body", but that was from the John Carruthers story... Same idea.

 

[Joebone]

That was it - Broad Bass. I was thinking "Big Body", but that was from the John Carruthers story... Same idea.

Yep - maybe they should have been called "Big Booty…" These are great, great basses. I mostly play 5-string, but never will give up my BB2000 and BB2000F (fretless).

 

[Stick_Player]

Tip: I you ever find a MIJ 1984/85 Yamaha BB5000 - the OLD ones that are passive - GET IT! They sound better, feel better, play better, than any of the aforementioned Bass-shaped Paddles. The "P" pickup sound is better than a Fender P. The "J" pickup sound is better than a Fender J.

If you don't buy it, I probably will.

 

[20db pad]

Tip: I you ever find a MIJ 1984/85 Yamaha BB5000 - the OLD ones that are passive - GET IT! They sound better, feel better, play better, than any of the aforementioned Bass-shaped Paddles. The "P" pickup sound is better than a Fender P. The "J" pickup sound is better than a Fender J.

Agreed - those things were amazing. I saw Nathan East with one of those in the late 80's, had to have one just like his, and you know the rest of the story. They had very narrow string spacing - I guess that's called "Matt Garrison spacing" nowadays.