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 Jeff Lords (Crimson Glory).
When you start bass playing and do you remember your first bass?
If we go back to the very beginning, my first „bass“ was my mom’s acoustic guitar with two highest strings removed, meaning, I took an interest in bass right from the start, vs guitar. I suppose I was in junior highschool at the time. I would listen to music and pick out the bass lines and use the acoustic guitar as a makeshift bass to play along. A few years later my dad bought me a dept store bass for either Christmas or my birthday. I’m sure it was inexpensive, but it was a bass nonetheless. I don’t even remember the brand name.
What are your influences and which bass players are your favs?
Very early on I was a fan of Rush and of course Geddy Lee. Other bass players that stood out at the time were Geezer Butler, Chris Squire, and John Paul Jones. Mars Cowling from the Pat Travers band was great, as well. Any bass player that incorporates melody into their bass lines, really.
How many basses do you own and what are your favorite models?
Currently four basses, an ’81 Brooklyn era Spector NS-2, a brand new USA Spector NS-2 that I picked up a few months ago, an Alembic Spoiler, and a „Longhorn“ custom made bass that I built using parts off an old Kramer bass with an aluminum neck. My favorite, the one I’ve used on every CG record to date including the upcoming new album, is the Brooklyn era Spector. The tone is unmatched.
What do you think makes the perfect bass and amp?
„Perfect“ is subjective, of course. A lot depends on the style of music, the bass parts, what other instruments are in the mix, and so forth. A bass that has a great direct tone is a good start. As for bass/amp/cabinet combinations, the possbilities are pretty much endless. I’m not sure it could be widdled down to just one combination. For live I usually ask for Ampeg SVT heads and 8 x 10 cabinets from the backline company. My home rig is an Eden Traveler 400 and either my Crate 1 x 15 or my Eden 4 x 10.
Which basses and amps were used on the new album or for recordings?
As mentioned above, so far I’ve used my ’81 Spector for all CG recordings. This CG album is no different, except that I’m using a Yorkville 2 x 10 combo amp in conjuction with going direct. I also record with the same bass in my other band, Gods of Centaurus. Let it be known that this band is nothing like CG, and this is by no accident. My philosophy is this: If I’m going to do something else on the side, then it should be something else, not something similar. The music in GOC is heavier, darker, and being the band’s main song writer and lyricist, I can say that the topics are meant to provoke thought and they cover a wide range of subjects. And since I like challenging myself, the bass lines are often times more complex than in CG. I utilize some techniques that I don’t use in CG.
When you only can choose one bass, which one will you take?
The answer is the bass that’s popped up the most during the interview; that is, the Brooklyn era Spector, which is my „work horse.“ Other Spector enthusiasts will likely attest to the basses that were made in that era as being among the best for tone and construction.
