What was John paul Jones playing?

[Mike19]

I just saw Them Crooked Vultures on Austin City Limits.

JPJ was playing some weird stuff:

> something that looked like a 10 string bass

> another thing that looked like it had 6 bass strings alternating with 6 guitar strings (he was playing chords on it) with a fretboard that light up like a X-Mass tree.

> some outrageous thing that looked like a 14 string nuclear powered flying purple people eater. He was sliding on it like it was a steel guitar. What in the world was that thing?

 

[Dr. Cheese]

All of his stuff is made by a shop called Manson in the UK. I saw him use a 12 string that had 3 strings per course, a four string Manson, and that ten string Bass Melobar (standing "lap" steel.)

 

[The Lurker]

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Check that out. It doesn't have the Purple People Eater, though-- that's new within the last year or so, but the other instruments are what he'd used on Zooma and Thunderthief back to about 2000.

Also, the 12-string basses are 6x2, not 4x3... like a 6-string (BEADGC) with octaves. The 10-string is EADGC, usually.

 

[PhR]

He also plays the bass mandolin with the Vultures. Tuned in fifths (with octave strings), the lowest strings are gG IIRC.
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[Rickenmacker]

Yeah. Hugh Manson (the company's his) makes all sorts of stuff for JPJ. He custom builds all of Matt Bellamy's guitars too.

 

[Hoover]

What was John paul Jones playing?

More interesting music than his bandmates.

 

[Rush-2112]

> some outrageous thing that looked like a 14 string nuclear powered flying purple people eater. He was sliding on it like it was a steel guitar. What in the world was that thing?

This one?

Click on it and zoom...definitely says Manson on the headstock. But I haven't the slightest clue which model

 

[KPJ]

All of his stuff is made by a shop called Manson in the UK. I saw him use a 12 string that had 3 strings per course, a four string Manson, and that ten string Bass Melobar (standing "lap" steel.)

Actually, his 12 string is a double octave six string bass tuned B to C. This is from an interview from Ultimate Guitar (link afterward):

What were some of the basses you played?

They’re all made by Hugh Manson; Manson guitars. Uhh, yeah the four-string bass is normal but it’s a Manson; 10-string bass on “Gunman” which is like a five-string bass with double strings, octave strings like a 12-string guitar type of idea. From low E to high C. The bass on “Daffodils” is a 12-string from low B to high C; a bass mandolin on “Elephants” which is tuned in fifths like a mandolin – G to E again with sort of 12-string type octave strings. The 10- and 12-string basses are in stereo so the neck pickup goes to the bass rig and the bridge pickup goes to a Bad Cat guitar rig. So it gives a very wide sound. What else am I using? I use a Yamaha bass; one of Josh’s many obscure Japanese guitars that he has.

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[lug]

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[Mike19]

This one?

Click on it and zoom...definitely says Manson on the headstock. But I haven't the slightest clue which model

The thing with the light in it looks like something from a 1950s sci fi movie. Is this a "touch pad" as described in the following quote from Wikipedia on Ralph Bellamy of Muse:

For the 2006 album Black Holes and Revelations, he bought a new guitar, the "Black Kaoss Manson". The guitar features two Bare Knuckle Humbuckers, a Fernandes Sustainer System on the neck and a touch pad which connects to a Korg Kaoss Pad.

 

[Mrdak]

That PBS show is so damn good. He's 64, and smokin' like a 21 yr. old player.

 

[throbgod13]

a couple of those Manson basses look like Tune basses.. at least the body shape reminds me of a Tune..

 

[lizardking837]

Ralph Bellamy of Muse:

actually it's Matt Bellamy.

But anyway, JPJ's still got it, and TCV has some really good songs

case in point

 

[bassbully]

Our multi strings guru Doc plays what i think is called a Malobarr that is custom made on a Mosrite guitar body. It looks allot like what JPJ was playing. These things are super cool and Doc wails on this thing. Sorry for the small pic.

 

[Ewo]

Bass Player's got JPJ/Crooked Vultures as the cover story.

Got some stuff about his instruments.

 

[Mike19]

Bass Player's got JPJ/Crooked Vultures as the cover story.

Got some stuff about his instruments.

I think its Bass Player's sister zine Guitar Player that has the article.

 

[Bassman203]

There's pictures on the Manson site here.
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[The Birdman]

I think its Bass Player's sister zine Guitar Player that has the article.

BOTH have articles on TCV. They are on the cover on the newest Bass Player as well.

Roger

 

[Demonator]

Im highly interested in this band... and basses.

 

[espositod]

I just drove up to Charlotte to see these guys last week, and I gotta tell ya: they are GREAT! The ACL show was ok, but seeing them in person was awesome. JPJ owned it all night, no matter what he was playing. And those guys all independently are such great musicians...the sound was so intense and complete. Definitely recommend!