Thundercat’s custom double-neck bass guitar made in L.A. features 6 …
Thundercat, also known as Stephen Bruner, is not just a bass player; he embodies a unique approach to life that extends beyond music. He rose to fame after playing bass for artists like Snoop Dogg, Erykah Badu, and Suicidal Tendencies in his early career. However, his big break came with his appearance on Flying Lotus’ album Cosmogramma in 2010.
Since then, Thundercat has released four solo albums, including Golden Age of Apocalypse, Apocalypse, Drunk, and It Is What It Is. He shared his evolution as an artist with Bass Player, where he mentioned that songwriting has now taken precedence in his music. His contribution to Kamasi Washington’s The Epic and his Grammy-winning collaboration with Kendrick Lamar have brought him even more widespread recognition.
Thundercat’s bass tone is undeniably monumental, characterized by his quest for the perfect sound. This quest culminated in the creation of a custom-made Ibanez double-neck bass guitar in 2015. Crafted by the Ibanez Custom Shop in Los Angeles, this unique instrument features a 6-string neck on top and an 8-string neck on the bottom. With its Pink Floyd-esque tone and remarkable resonance, the bass guitar provides Thundercat with the vintage P-Bass sound he desires, while also delivering a distinct and funky quality.
The double-neck bass boasts a meticulous construction, with both necks made of five-piece maple and bubinga, maple fingerboards, and a body comprising a spalted maple top, ash middle, and mahogany back wings. Equipped with an Ibanez EQ preamp and a combination of Aguilar 6P-60 P-Bass pickups on the 6-string and Seymour Duncan NYC humbuckers on the 8-string, this instrument offers Thundercat a versatile range of tonal options. Strung with a mix of La Bella RX and SN nickel strings, the bass guitar’s unique design and construction contribute to its one-of-a-kind sound.
Despite its distinctive characteristics, Thundercat’s double-neck bass guitar has become a staple in his performances, even at major venues like the Hollywood Bowl, where he showcased its remarkable sound during a show with Michael McDonald. Thundercat expressed initial hesitation towards its open and resonant tone, but he eventually embraced its uniqueness during the performance. He emphasized his love for the instrument, noting that its unconventional sound adds a layer of depth to his music that he appreciates.
In addition to his double-neck bass, Thundercat also plays a customized Ibanez Artcore 6-string bass as his primary instrument. Created by Ibanez’s L.A. Custom Shop in 2012, this bass features a neck-through construction with a maple top and back, a five-piece maple and jatoba neck, a rosewood fingerboard, and custom EMG-HZ pickups. The bass is equipped with a Graph Tech Ghost Modular MIDI pickup system, providing Thundercat with a range of tonal possibilities. The controls on this bass include master volume, tone, piezo volume, MIDI volume, a 3-way Les Paul-style switch, and a dark/mids switch, enhancing Thundercat’s ability to experiment with different sounds during his performances.
Thundercat’s dedication to refining his sound and pushing the boundaries of traditional bass playing has solidified his reputation as a groundbreaking artist in the music industry. With his unique instruments and innovative approach to music, Thundercat continues to captivate audiences worldwide and remains a prominent figure in the bass community.