The B-52's – The B-52's
The music gear and equipment used by the artists, producers, engineers, and more involved in the making of the 1979 album The B-52's.
Music from The B-52's
Artists on The B-52's
Gear Used On The B-52's
Explore the instruments, equipment, software, and production tools used in the making of The B-52's – The B-52's (1979). Click more on each item to see exactly how it was used.
Kate Pierson
Roles:
Keyboards and Synthesizers used by Kate Pierson on The B-52's
Avg price: $834.71
Kate Pierson used a Farfisa Compact Deluxe in the original B-52's lineup. The organ is featured on many of the band’s hits, such as “Planet Claire” and “Rock Lobster.”
In 2015, she posted this photo of her organ on Facebook with the caption, “Original B52s Farfisa organ getting tuneup.” In the comments, she wrote, “This is the original we used in 'planet claire' and all songs on first record - the bass parts on this too.”
The same organ was on display at The Met starting in 2019. The display’s plaque read:
Combo Compact Deluxe, Farfisa (Italian)
Kate Pierson, ca. 1964–1968
The Farfisa company, originally a maker of accordions, began manufacturing transistor organs in Italy in the early 1960s before transitioning to synthesizers in the 1970s. Sam the Sham was one of the earliest rock organists to play a Farfisa; his group the Pharaohs recorded their hit “Wooly Bully” with one in 1965. This organ belongs to Kate Pierson of the B-52’s, who used it to record songs such as “Planet Claire” and “Rock Lobster.” The organ’s bright and warbly tone contributed to the band’s eccentric flair. Other notable bands who incorporated the Farfisa include Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and Sly and the Family Stone.
Avg price: $1,700.00
Kate Pierson's Korg Synthe-Bass was one of the keyboards that shaped the sound of the B-52's' early work. Kate's Synthe-Bass would sit on top of one of her combo organs, and she would use it to play basslines. Kate used the Synthe-Bass from 1978-1980, and it was played on the albums "The B-52's" and "Wild Planet". It can be seen throughout the linked video on top of Kate's Yamaha YC-30.
Sometime during the recording sessions for their 1982 EP "Mesopotamia", the B-52's acquired a Roland Jupiter-8 synthesizer. The Jupiter-8 became Kate's main keyboard, and thus the duties of the Synthe-Bass and organ were passed down to it. However, the B-52's did not stop using the Synthe-Bass.
During live performances from 1982-1985, the Synthe-Bass was moved to stage right and only used whenever bass parts needed to be doubled for whatever reason; it was used in this manner by Cindy Wilson on "Private Idaho" and Fred Schneider on "Give Me Back My Man".
The Synthe-Bass also appeared the music video for "Legal Tender" in 1983.
Guitars used by Ricky Wilson (B-52's) on The B-52's
Ricky Wilson was the first B-52's guitarist. You can see him play on his Blue Mosrite Ventures in the above video clip.
The Mosrite Ventures II could have also been a Mark V and is commonly referred to as such in some circles. Either way, it's the same design. Ricky actually had 3 of these guitars of known - a Sunburst One, a Black One, and a Blue one. The Blue one is his best known guitar as it appeared on the lyrics sheet for the first record, and was used in this video, as well as in concert in the early days of the band pre-first album and until Ricky passed on in 1985.
Photo of the Sunburst One - http://www.stereophile.com/images/imagecache/960-wide/photopost/data/508/293b52s-4-72dpi.jpg
Video of the Black One - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4QSYx4wVQg - up close and personal
Photo of Ricky's Main Blue Ventures II/Mark V guitar where it currently resides - http://31.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lko0wqFKlT1qfvhmzo1_500.jpg
The Plaque Beneath the Blue one on Exhibit - which I believe is at the Cleveland Rock N' Roll Hall Of Fame....
BLUE MOSRITE GUITAR
B52s guitarist Ricky Wilson played Rock Lobster, Dance This Mess Around and many other of the band's early classics on this guitar as the group toured extensively. This instrument was also featured on the lyric sheet of their 1979 debut album. Ricky's unorthodox approach to the guitar is evidenced by the missing strings. Ricky strung his guitars with either four or five extra thick strings instead of the usual six and he also devised a different tuning for almost every song the band created.
Collection of Linda J. Wilson
Typically, at the early shows, the Ventures II/Mark V was tuned to CFxxFF for Rock Lobster and Dance this Mess Around. It seems later on in his career Ricky switched the guitar to a 5-string setup, most likely DADxBB as that's the most used tuning that the B-52's used (Lava, Moon, Give Me Back My Man, Strobe Light, just to name a few). The main blue one is on exhibit in Athens Georgia these days and has heavy browning around the pickguard screws, what looks like a TV knob for the tone knob, and heavily crazed paintjob.