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 Dan Dolby (Mastiff).
When you start bass playing and do you remember your first bass?
I started playing bass at the age of 13 and my first bass guitar was a cheap Encore Precision Bass copy.
What are your influences and which bass players are your favs?My personal influences are noise rock and post-punk. Favorite bassists would have to be Peter Hook, Bob Weston and Les Claypool. I’m a big fan of Jean-Jacques Burnel too.
How many basses do you own and what are your favorite models?
I have 3 basses. A Warwick, a BC Rich Greg Weeks Eagle and a Fender Aerodyne Special Precision Bass. My dream bass would be a Travis Bean TB2000 but the chances of being able to afford one of those is very slim!
What do you think makes the perfect bass and amp?
I prefer a passive bass personally and the simpler the better. As long as it has a growl and a clang I’m happy! Amp wise I prefer something that straight forward with plenty of headroom. My sound on the upcoming album and live comes from a Tronographic Rusty Box Pre-Amp Pedal so I prefer not to have anything that colours the sound from that too much.
Which basses and amps were used on the new album or for recordings?
Bass wise I used a Warwick Thumb and I actually recorded directly into the board and our producer applied emulators of a Traynor TS-50B and a Verellen Meatsmoke.
When you only can choose one bass, which one will you take?
It would have to be the BC Rich Greg Weeks Eagle. Such a rare and beautiful beast. I sold it and had immediate sellers’ remorse and spent the next 7 years trying to locate it and buy it back. I succeeded last year and now it’s never leaving my side again!
