This article series is about the tools of popular guitarists or bassists.. What are their favorite guitars or basses and how is it related to them? This time with Ralph Ulrich (Moor).
When you start bass playing and do you remember your first bass?
I started taking bass lessons at our local music school when I was 15 years old. Back then, in my hometown, most of the people in my bubble were playing an instrument, starting bands and having a lot of fun with it. We had a very cool community with a lot of local bands and almost every weekend there was a show going on where everybody met, also new bands were startet, when people met regularly, got to know each other and became friends. It was pretty much a bit of a “Seattle around 1990” feeling. Unfortunately none of the bands got that famous as the ones from Seattle, haha! My first bass, which I own to this day and probably will never get rid of, is an Ibanez SRX 500 with a honey sunburst paintwork. It is an active bass with two mighty humbucker pick-ups that create a really cool and crunchy sound.
What are your influences and which bass players are your favs?
My first big love in listening to music was punk rock, still to this day one of my most favorite genres. Later I got more into metal. There aren’t any special people I’d call my idols or something like this, maybe for a short time when I was playing for a few years, Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, but I guess mostly because he seems to be a pretty cool guy. I always considered bass as a rhythm instrument, so please don’t expect big solos or anything like that from me, haha.
How many basses do you own and what are your favorite models?
There are a couple. Besides my old Ibanez, I do own a Sandberg Electra, which I mostly use in my other band Kavrila, a SUNN Mustang Bass and a Ibanez Iceman. And there is a bass that is quite a bit special, the one I am playing at MOOR right now. It’s a Squier Jaguar bass, which I bought from the initial bass player in MOOR Christian a few years back, as we have been friends for years. As you might know, Christian sadly lost his battle to cancer last year, ans besides the music he created on Heavy Heart, for me his legacy also lives on through this bass.
What do you think makes the perfect bass and amp?
Honestly a question I can’t really answer, there are so many amazing different basses and amps to choose from, maybe i will find an amazing combination the next time i visit a guitar shop. And since I’m a person who likes to try many new things, I can’t commit myself. Always stay curious and always explore!
Which basses and amps were used on the new album or for recordings?
On the record Christian played a Squier Precision bass from the 80s, manufactured in Japan, the amps that have been used were an Orange OB1-500 and a Sunn Beta Lead. Boxes 8×10 Ampeg and a 1×18 by Peavey.
When you only can choose one bass, which one will you take?
At the moment I am on the hunt for a Gibson EB-13, so this would be the one I would choose at the moment. If anyone reading this wants to get rid of it, hit me up!
