• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Fender Jean Jacques Burnell model Stranglers

#21
A fantastic bassist from a fantastic band but, in their heyday, they weren’t all that popular in the US and they were playing a style of music that wasn’t about to sell tons of Fender basses.

The world of signature instruments isn’t a meritocracy; big companies choose artists who they think will move the most product.
 
#22
Lo-E said:
A fantastic bassist from a fantastic band but, in their heyday, they weren’t all that popular in the US and they were playing a style of music that wasn’t about to sell tons of Fender basses.

The world of signature instruments isn’t a meritocracy; big companies choose artists who they think will move the most product.
Click to expand...
That sums it up completely, he and they have been favorites of mine for decades. The fact that he moved on to other brands, Steinberger as well, might have been a disincentive for Fender.
It’s a bit bittersweet that he is now the last man standing in the band, of the original four. I saw them in 1981, and ended up chatting with Dave Greenfield for a while at a party afterwards. Then I caught the current iteration at a festival last year…
IMG_9649.jpeg


Over a decade ago, I saw Hugh on a co-tour with Glen Matlock(who was playing guitar), sharing a rhythm section of Blondie’s Clem Burke and a bass player named Paul Fish for each of their sets.
 
Last edited:
  • Love
  • Like
Reactions: Lo-E and murphy
#23
Michedelic said:
That sums it up completely, he and they have been favorites of mine for decades. The fact that he moved on to other brands, Steinberger as well, might have been a disincentive for Fender.
It’s a bit bittersweet that he is now the last man standing in the band, of the original four. I saw them in 1981, and ended up chatting with Dave Greenfield for a while at a party afterwards. Then I caught the current iteration at a festival last year…
View attachment 7114942

Over a decade ago, I saw Hugh on a co-tour with Glen Matlock(who was playing guitar), sharing a rhythm section of Blondie’s Clem Burke and a bass player named Paul Fish for each of their sets.
Click to expand...
I always love seeing Hugh Cornwell perform with his band....doing all our favourite Stranglers songs....Better than seeing the current Stranglers....though seeing JJ is always worth it

BTW Geddy Lee played Rickenbacker when I first heard of them....Then Steinberger when their videos appeared in the late 80s....weird keyboard pop..

But twenty years later he gets a Fender Jazz tribute bass....I never saw him playing a Jazz... :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
 
#24
murphy said:
BTW Geddy Lee played Rickenbacker when I first heard of them....Then Steinberger when their videos appeared in the late 80s....weird keyboard pop..

But twenty years later he gets a Fender Jazz tribute bass....I never saw him playing a Jazz... :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Click to expand...
He recorded extensively with a Jazz starting around ‘78 or 9 but didn’t start using them live until a little later.

But, going back to what I was saying before, a big company like Fender wants a household name to sign with and there really aren’t that many bassists who are/were household names. Certainly not JJ. Ever.

Also, unless I’m mistaken, Fender really didn’t do much in the way of signature models until the 1990s. They had endorsements but not signature models prior to that. In the 1990s The Stranglers were less popular than they had been a decade prior but Geddy Lee was still winning Bass Player Magazine’s readers’ polls. It seems like a pretty obvious choice on Fender’s part.
 
  • Like
Reactions: murphy
#25
murphy said:
I always love seeing Hugh Cornwell perform with his band....doing all our favourite Stranglers songs....Better than seeing the current Stranglers....though seeing JJ is always worth it

BTW Geddy Lee played Rickenbacker when I first heard of them....Then Steinberger when their videos appeared in the late 80s....weird keyboard pop..

But twenty years later he gets a Fender Jazz tribute bass....I never saw him playing a Jazz... :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Click to expand...
Rush were mainstream, Stranglers not so much.
 
  • Like
Reactions: murphy
#28
Michedelic said:
As it was for so many bands in the day, even before. As a fan, I felt part of a secret society, which was fine with me.
Click to expand...
Well, that does explain a lot for me.
In Toronto The Stranglers sell out every show and often do more than one night....Not huge venues, but clubs.
So, in Canada , I thought they are more part of the cultural background....But, not really.
Secret Society...Yes...I see
Hugh Cornwell is always packed out too....medium venues...and punk bars

Everyone knows Golden Brown. Strange little girl and Skin Deep...but that is probably it
 
  • Like
Reactions: slagbass
#29
murphy said:
Well, that does explain a lot for me.
In Toronto The Stranglers sell out every show and often do more than one night....Not huge venues, but clubs.
So, in Canada , I thought they are more part of the cultural background....But, not really.
Secret Society...Yes...I see
Hugh Cornwell is always packed out too....medium venues...and punk bars

Everyone knows Golden Brown. Strange little girl and Skin Deep...but that is probably it.
Click to expand...
Just to see if I get any reaction, if I’m trying out basses in any store, I’ll play the “Peaches” riff; simple but effective, and badass. Because of the closer connection, I can see how Canada can be more in tune with British trends, and also be more aware that there’s the rest of the world out there.

As for my “secret society” tag, what I meant was, there’s always been underdog, under the radar bands to be fans of, and then you find a few other people who are kindred spirits to share that appreciation with. Then, in general, that whole time period and scene; while I was old enough to be a consumer of the Woodstock era, it wasn’t my party, and by the mid-70’s, I so detested the bulk of stuff I heard on rock radio that as an alternative, I got into fusion and deep, obscure prog, but that all got dead end and boring eventually. When the Ramones emerged, there was a bit of shock of the new, but they reminded that there was still rock’n’roll, and it was ‘my time’ finally anyway. I proceeded from there, newer bands came along with newer ideas, and I found my own scene of people, however underground it was at the time
 
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: ajkula66, murphy and Murch
#30
Michedelic said:
Just to see if I get any reaction, if I’m trying out basses in any store, I’ll play the “Peaches” riff; simple but effective, and badass.
Click to expand...
The last gig we played, I cranked the treble on my ancient GK400RB during sound check and went at it with my '77P with a pick. Our rhythm guitar player said "OMG, that sounds just like Peaches!". One of the highest compliments I've ever been given.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Michedelic
#31
slagbass said:
The last gig we played, I cranked the treble on my ancient GK400RB during sound check and went at it with my '77P with a pick. Our rhythm guitar player said "OMG, that sounds just like Peaches!". One of the highest compliments I've ever been given.
Click to expand...
Yeah, baby! Did you add it to your set eventually? I’d love to be in a situation to play that, “No More Heroes” or “Get A Grip On Yourself”, but I’m currently in the formative stages of an all-guitar situation. But we may work up The Move’s “I Can Hear The Grass Grow”, a similar sound, but a decade earlier.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ajkula66 and slagbass
#34
Michedelic said:
Well, if you do, it sounds like you have the enthusiasm to do JJ proud, but I hope you have a killer keyboardist that can do all those arpeggios😁.
Click to expand...
My Stranglers jam band....and Wire etc., is just me singing and playing bass with my drummer.
Gone through a few guitarists , but not found the right fit.
Sort of feels like I will not find my Hugh Cornwell and Dave Greenfield, but I have a blast jamming songs from the first 3 albums..plus a few later songs
 
#35
murphy said:
My Stranglers jam band....and Wire etc., is just me singing and playing bass with my drummer.
Gone through a few guitarists , but not found the right fit.
Sort of feels like I will not find my Hugh Cornwell and Dave Greenfield, but I have a blast jamming songs from the first 3 albums..plus a few later songs
Click to expand...
You could always find a neophyte guitarist and indoctrinate them😁.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: murphy

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back