Yamaha Peter Hook Signature Bass

[BassVibes]

This is one of the minority of signature models where I *didn't* have to do that.... Having said that, I've always assumed that most of my favourite New Order tracks don't actually have any bass on them and are pure synth

For years before the inter web, I could never work out what was creating the sound on Blue Monday. I always assumed it was the guitar. Then I found out it was a 6 string bass, albeit sparsely arranged in the song.

His best work was with JD and the first NO album in my view and all of that was NOT done on a 1200S. But he did some great lines in NO on the 1200S, Perfect Kiss and Temptation being a couple that spring to mind.

If anyone wants to hear this new PH Sig recorded check out Aries by Gorillaz. That's the sound.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

Most New Order songs have Hooky's bass guitar on them, it might not always sound like a bass guitar, but there's a bass guitar somewhere in there.

I read this and went and googled True Faith, my favourite NO song, and found this:

"on 'True Faith' the low bass was programmed and all the stuff he did was melodic, further-up-the-neck parts; some really memorable playing in the solo section and great thematic parts on the intro and outro. I remember getting some criticism at the time for having Hooky a little submerged in the mixes, and listening to it now they were absolutely right. The bass is too low. But you know, I didn't have any experience mixing bass as a lead instrument, I didn't know quite how to handle it, and the result was vibey, but not quite right. You have to lean forward to hear everything he's playing, and while that's not an uncomfortable feeling, if I were doing the mix now I would definitely bring that fader up. Maybe he should have dug in his heels a bit more at the time."

 

[MDBass]

Exactly. I'm not doubting that he has his signature Yamaha bass Today. I'm questioning why Yamaha didn't even bother to have a meeting about it and model it after the bass that he made famous and that he played when he was influential. Still a cool bass. But it's just a red Yammy with his name on it. Not a significant tribute for such a notable influence. My opinion.

Now show me a pic of Hooky when he was shaping the music of the day (Joy Division, New Order). Was he playing a bass that even remotely looked like that? He is owed better in my opinion.

He collaborated with Yamaha directly on this: the bass is the way he wants it.

He’s quoted pretty extensively in the release.

 

[johnson79]

The pricing is really good for such a limited instrument. I like it!

 

[hypercarrots]

His best work was with JD and the first NO album in my view and all of that was NOT done on a 1200S. But he did some great lines in NO on the 1200S, Perfect Kiss and Temptation being a couple that spring to mind.

temptation was written before the bb1200s was made. i suspect he used the bb1200 on it.

 

[johnson79]

Eastwood has a reissue of his Shergold bass 6. They modeled it pretty much exactly from his personal bass.
2020 is the year of Covid and Peter Hook...

Eastwood Hooky Bass 6 PRO

 

[BassVibes]

temptation was written before the bb1200s was made. i suspect he used the bb1200 on it.

. Yep, you're correct sir!

 

[hellboy]

Closer and Movement were recorded with the BB1200, which sounds identical to the BB1200S in passive mode. (Apart from the songs he did on the 6-string of course)

Temptation and Perfect Kiss were 1200S, yes, along with Age of Consent, Bizarre Love Triangle, Love Vigilantes, Lonesome Tonight, Regret, Sunrise, etc.

The complaint that the sig bass doesn't look anything like his BB1200S is bizarre, given that lots of people didn't even realize he was playing his signature bass for the past couple years. Unless you're looking closely they look very similar. Apparently the new BB design is lighter, which is probably another point in its favor, but I haven't seen any weight measurements for the 734A.

I do wish they had gone with oval inlays and an ebony fretboard though.

 

[Sanshiro]

Closer and Movement were recorded with the BB1200, which sounds identical to the BB1200S in passive mode. (Apart from the songs he did on the 6-string of course)

Temptation and Perfect Kiss were 1200S, yes, along with Age of Consent, Bizarre Love Triangle, Love Vigilantes, Lonesome Tonight, Regret, Sunrise, etc.

The complaint that the sig bass doesn't look anything like his BB1200S is bizarre, given that lots of people didn't even realize he was playing his signature bass for the past couple years. Unless you're looking closely they look very similar. Apparently the new BB design is lighter, which is probably another point in its favor, but I haven't seen any weight measurements for the 734A.

I do wish they had gone with oval inlays and an ebony fretboard though.

Temptation came out in May of 1982, didn't it? Same year the BB1200S came out, I think it had to have been done with the BB1200.

I also would have liked it to have an ebony board and oval inlays, but it's okay as is. Now that I think about it, I think the BB734A body is probably best for Hooky anyway, since it looks (I haven't played a newer BB, just going from images) like they have slightly better access to the upper frets.

 

[hypercarrots]

Apparently the new BB design is lighter, which is probably another point in its favor, but I haven't seen any weight measurements for the 734A.

i recorded weights for 25 734a that were on sweetwater and other retailers with serial numbers from HNK - HOL and they range from 8lb 13oz to 9lb 10oz with a general downward trend in weights over that period.

 

[SunByrne]

Call me fool or ignorant, I had to google who the hell Peter Hook is.

No, that doesn't make you a fool or ignorant.

That was not the music, I ever listened to.

And that's exactly why. Everybody listens to different things.

He might be hero or legend to someone else.

Absolutely a legend in my book, but that's because this is the music that I grew up on. As the interviewer in one of the videos put it when Hooky played a few licks high on the fretboard with the chorus on, "that's the sound of an era."

Wasn't everybody's era, obviously, but for some of us, Joy Division and/or New Order were huge deals.

But, I cannot name one single song played by him or his band(s).

So? I'm pretty sure that you look up to bass players that other people here have never heard of. People are into different things.

For example, I can name exactly zero country music bass players because I don't care for and therefore don't listen to country music. (Admittedly, some exceptions—I'm certainly OK with Johnny Cash, but no way could I name anyone who played bass for him.) Americana, in general, does nothing for me, so I'm ignorant about the people who make it.

It's totally normal in music that different people have different backgrounds, different taste, and therefore different influences.

 

[hellboy]

Temptation was written on the 1200, but the 1200 was stolen in late 1981 while they were in New York and the single was recorded in January 1982 I believe, which means it would have been recorded on the 1200S. And of course the 1987 recording on Substance was the 1200S.

 

[SunByrne]

i recorded weights for 25 734a that were on sweetwater and other retailers with serial numbers from HNK - HOL and they range from 8lb 13oz to 9lb 10oz with a general downward trend in weights over that period.

Over what time period was this? I'm the lucky owner of a 9lb 10oz one from Sweetwater, so my bass might have been in your survey. It's still under 10lb so it's not that bad.

 

[SunByrne]

Temptation was written on the 1200, but the 1200 was stolen in late 1981 while they were in New York and the single was recorded in January 1982 I believe, which means it would have been recorded on the 1200S. And of course the 1987 recording on Substance was the 1200S.

It was actually a BB600 that was stolen in New York. Hooky talks about it pretty extensively in the PMT interview.

 

[hellboy]

i recorded weights for 25 734a that were on sweetwater and other retailers with serial numbers from HNK - HOL and they range from 8lb 13oz to 9lb 10oz with a general downward trend in weights over that period.

Cool, thanks! That's less difference than I was expecting. Though I see you had a 1982 BB1200S that was 11 lbs!

 

[Sanshiro]

Temptation was written on the 1200, but the 1200 was stolen in late 1981 while they were in New York and the single was recorded in January 1982 I believe, which means it would have been recorded on the 1200S. And of course the 1987 recording on Substance was the 1200S.

Wasn't the stolen gear incident in late 1980? Or were there two separate stolen gear incidents?

This is from the first US visit, September of 1980. Hooky can be seen playing a Fender P here, which is definitely not his bass of choice.

 

[Sanshiro]

It was actually a BB600 that was stolen in New York. Hooky talks about it pretty extensively in the PMT interview.

There's no such thing as a BB600 though, and the BB1200 can be seen in the LWTUA music video, so he definitely owned one prior to coming to America. I think it's just a case of mistaken identity on his part. It's possible that when he talks about the BB600 he means the BB800, which does exist and was the budget model of the BB1200.

 

[hypercarrots]

Temptation came out in May of 1982, didn't it? Same year the BB1200S came out, I think it had to have been done with the BB1200.

I also would have liked it to have an ebony board and oval inlays, but it's okay as is. Now that I think about it, I think the BB734A body is probably best for Hooky anyway, since it looks (I haven't played a newer BB, just going from images) like they have slightly better access to the upper frets.

at the very beginning of this video from april 16, 1984 you can see the bb1200 still with them live

this video from july 7, 1984 is the oldest reference i can find of him using the bb1200s

also interesting to note, in the musik convoy video he's using a gibson eb2 with yamaha pickups. probably passive too since there aren't enough knobs. i'm guessing it has bb1200 pickups in it. it looks like the eccleshalls but it isn't. count the frets. look at the control arrangement.

 

[SunByrne]

There's no such thing as a BB600 though, and the BB1200 can be seen in the LWTUA music video, so he definitely owned one prior to coming to America. I think it's just a case of mistaken identity on his part. It's possible that when he talks about the BB600 he means the BB800, which does exist and was the budget model of the BB1200.

I did not realize there was no BB600--you're probably right, Hooky was probably talking about the 1200.

 

[hypercarrots]

Temptation was written on the 1200, but the 1200 was stolen in late 1981 while they were in New York and the single was recorded in January 1982 I believe, which means it would have been recorded on the 1200S. And of course the 1987 recording on Substance was the 1200S.

they had more than one bb1200. the one in the love will tear us apart video had the pickguard installed. that may have been the one stolen. somewhere down the line one had a bridge pickup installed. the one sold at auction last year had a bridge pickup. probably the same one. the one in the movement book doesn't have the bridge pickup installed but wear marks match the one sold at auction.