The Last Bass Outpost

Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: Chris P. on March 20, 2016, 08:44:25 AM

Title: Brian Ray, US Epiphone basses and Gibson's press department.
Post by: Chris P. on March 20, 2016, 08:44:25 AM: I recently interviewed Brian Ray of Paul McCartney's live band. He's a guitarist, taking over bass duties as Macca playes piano or guitar. He's a real nice guy.

After starting with a P (*) and some vintage Guilds M-85 he played two Gibson SG basses, then two Jack Casady's and currently a black Epiphone EB-3 (long scale) with a white guard and a white one with a black guard. It matches his black-ish Gibson SG signature. I asked him where they're made, because they aren't stock colours. He didn't really knew. I asked a friend at Gibson's, who just told me that Gibson has two prototype builders who do some 'custom' work, but it aren't the CS guys. They get in some Epiphone bodies and necks without lacquering and they finish them and ad Gibson hardware and electronics. Quite interesting.

(*) After Brian wanted to play a Höfner at his first who, Macca made clear Höfners where 'his thing' :)

And I had to share this:

I e-mailed Gibson's publicity department. The short version:

Me: Do you have high resolution pictures of Brian Ray?
Gibson: Don't you mean Brian May?
Me: No, Brian Ray who playes Epiphone basses, has his own Gibson Signature guitar and plays with McCartney.

Waiting on an answer now :mrgreen:
Title: Re: Brian Ray, US Epiphone basses and Gibson's press department.
Post by: Dave W on March 20, 2016, 02:44:49 PM: Quote from: Chris P. on March 20, 2016, 08:44:25 AM
....

And I had to share this:

I e-mailed Gibson's publicity department. The short version:

Me: Do you have high resolution pictures of Brian Ray?
Gibson: Don't you mean Brian May?
Me: No, Brian Ray who playes Epiphone basses, has his own Gibson Signature guitar and plays with McCartney.

Waiting on an answer now :mrgreen:

Why am I not surprised at this?

I hope you're not holding your breath waiting for that answer.
Title: Re: Brian Ray, US Epiphone basses and Gibson's press department.
Post by: Chris P. on March 21, 2016, 02:41:54 AM: I just cried for a while in a corner in fetal position.
Title: Re: Brian Ray, US Epiphone basses and Gibson's press department.
Post by: gearHed289 on March 21, 2016, 07:34:45 AM: Quote from: Chris P. on March 20, 2016, 08:44:25 AM
Me: Do you have high resolution pictures of Brian Ray?
Gibson: Don't you mean Brian May?
Me: No, Brian Ray who playes Epiphone basses, has his own Gibson Signature guitar and plays with McCartney.

Amazing. :rolleyes:
Title: Re: Brian Ray, US Epiphone basses and Gibson's press department.
Post by: uwe on March 21, 2016, 07:39:37 AM: Could have been worse, they might have asked whether Chris meant Lana Del Raey's brother!
Title: Re: Brian Ray, US Epiphone basses and Gibson's press department.
Post by: TBird1958 on March 21, 2016, 10:06:11 AM: If ever the day comes that I can't find my own ass with at least one hand will one of you kind gentlemen please just shoot me.
Title: Re: Brian Ray, US Epiphone basses and Gibson's press department.
Post by: Dave W on March 21, 2016, 03:46:38 PM: Quote from: uwe on March 21, 2016, 07:39:37 AM
Could have been worse, they might have asked whether Chris meant Lana Del Raey's brother!

Or her guitarist brother Teisco Del Rey.
Title: Re: Brian Ray, US Epiphone basses and Gibson's press department.
Post by: Highlander on March 21, 2016, 03:55:53 PM: We shop in Tesco's... is that close enough...? :mrgreen:

Quote from: TBird1958 on March 21, 2016, 10:06:11 AM
If ever the day comes that I can't find my own ass with at least one hand will one of you kind gentlemen please just shoot me...

May I ask you to consider a bidet first...? ;)
Title: Re: Brian Ray, US Epiphone basses and Gibson's press department.
Post by: TBird1958 on March 21, 2016, 04:22:17 PM: Quote from: Highlander on March 21, 2016, 03:55:53 PM
We shop in Tesco's... is that close enough...? :mrgreen:

May I ask you to consider a bidet first...? ;)

We don't have those here!
You and your fancy Scottish plumbing ;D
Title: Re: Brian Ray, US Epiphone basses and Gibson's press department.
Post by: Pilgrim on March 21, 2016, 08:42:02 PM: Quote from: TBird1958 on March 21, 2016, 10:06:11 AM

If ever the day comes that I can't find my own ass with at least one hand will one of you kind gentlemen please just shoot me.

No need, the fall off the platform shoes will probably finish you off! 8)
Title: Re: Brian Ray, US Epiphone basses and Gibson's press department.
Post by: uwe on March 22, 2016, 04:19:39 AM: "You and your fancy Scottish plumbing ..."

:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

I always thought they have moorlands for that type of business over there?
Title: Re: Brian Ray, US Epiphone basses and Gibson's press department.
Post by: TBird1958 on March 22, 2016, 06:52:28 AM: Quote from: uwe on March 22, 2016, 04:19:39 AM
"You and your fancy Scottish plumbing ..."

:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

I always thought they have moorlands for that type of business over there?

Talk about a short story...."Scottish Plumbing through the ages" ;D
Title: Re: Brian Ray, US Epiphone basses and Gibson's press department.
Post by: Granny Gremlin on March 22, 2016, 11:07:20 AM: Quote from: TBird1958 on March 21, 2016, 04:22:17 PM
We don't have those here!
You and your fancy Scottish plumbing ;D

You do in the nicer parts of town. ... as well as colon irrigation service providing establishments, though that's a different part of town altogether.
Title: Re: Brian Ray, US Epiphone basses and Gibson's press department.
Post by: Dave W on March 22, 2016, 02:40:46 PM: Only 12 posts from Gibson's press department to colon irrigation in Seattle. Impressive!
Title: Re: Brian Ray, US Epiphone basses and Gibson's press department.
Post by: Alanko on March 23, 2016, 05:57:04 AM: Quote from: TBird1958 on March 22, 2016, 06:52:28 AM
Talk about a short story...."Scottish Plumbing through the ages" ;D

10,000 BC - 1950 AD = Naw.

1951 AD - present day = Aye.
Title: Re: Brian Ray, US Epiphone basses and Gibson's press department.
Post by: Denis on March 24, 2016, 06:42:30 PM: I guess Gibson hasn't seen fit to follow up?
Title: Re: Brian Ray, US Epiphone basses and Gibson's press department.
Post by: uwe on March 24, 2016, 08:15:19 PM: Lana has trouble finding her brother.