Andy Hummel

Andy Hummel used a Fender Precision Bass with a maple fretboard throughout his time with Big Star.

"A little after we returned to Memphis I traded my Gibson in for a new, sunburst Fender Precision Bass (I believe they call them P-basses these days) with a maple fretboard. This must have been late 1970 or so. Chris and I were obsessed with the sound John Entwhistle got out of his bass and heard him say the words “Rotosound Strings” on one of the songs on “Who Sellout”. We figured he must be talking about guitar strings and, sure enough, I went out and found some. Of course Rotosounds were all round wound in those days – may still be – and no one I had ever heard of used them except Entwhistle. I put them on the Fender, turned the treble way up, and that was the sound. This became my primary bass throughout the Big Star years, and other folks’ at Ardent too for that matter. " - Andy Hummel, 2007

Andy Hummel is pictured here performing with a Höfner 500/1 bass guitar.

...there was always a Hofner at the studio – may still be. Hofners are great. There’s no other sound like it. They have that short scale which is very easy to play and they are very light. We used it some before and during the 1st LP. Later Terry Manning or somebody put round wound strings on it and ruined it I think. Hofners need flat wound strings." - Andy Hummel, 2007

Andy Hummel is pictured here performing with a Gibson Thunderbird IV bass guitar. It is believed to date from the mid-1960s and finished in either Frost Blue or Polaris White. The bass had its neck repaired after being smashed by Chris Bell.

Andy Hummel used a Fender Dual Showman to record at least some of the bass parts on Radio City by Big Star.

"For “O My Soul” and “She’s A Mover”, we put that old Dual Showman out in the middle of the studio, turned it up until it distorted mightily, and recorded it through a Neumann set several feet away. All as opposed to running the bass direct. It’s my old Precision Bass for sure."-Andy Hummel, 2007

In this photo, Andy can be seen playing a Rickebacker 4005 sunburst at an outdoor gig in 1972 during Big Star's only tour with its original four-piece lineup.