Carol Kaye

At the bottom of this page of Carol Kaye's official site, it states that she used a Fender Precision Bass.

Carol Kaye's official site states that she uses an Ibanez SRX 690.

And playing "El Concierto de Aranjuez" with the same bass: http://carolkaye.com/www/library/sounds/mp3/Adagio_of_Concierto_de_Aranjuez.mp3

Kaye can be seen playing a Fender Zone Bass in this photo.

"I’d been a Fender endorser since the late ’60s, but went to a Gibson Ripper bass when I stepped out to play live jazz again with Hampton Hawes in ’74. At first I was impressed with the Ripper’s easy neck and its sounds. Gibson took some publicity shots, and I was going to be their endorser, but they simply couldn’t get the bass to have the punchiness I liked. They also tried with the Grabber, but I kept changing my mind as to where to put the pickup, hence that bass came out with a sliding pickup. I finally just gave up and went back to Fender."

Taken from her website:

CAROL'S GEAR: Ibanez SRX700 Bass, Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Flats strings, GK MB150S-iii Amp, Ibanez RG321 with Seymour Duncan Humbucker Jazz Pickup Alnico Pro II, with Thom. George Benson Elec. Jazz Guitar Flat strings etc., TI Benson Flats Strings for Jazz playing.

She is also pictured with this very bass on the first page at the very top of her website

“Carol, you’re the greatest damn bass player in the world.” – Brian Wilson

FAQ 17

Q. What instrument/amp did you use in the 60s recording sessions and how often would you change strings?

A. I used the Fender Precision bass, with the Fender Super Reverb open-back 4-10" speakers amp for a long time. Then about 1966-67 or so, I started using the enclosed cabinet double-amped Versatone amp (3-4 amps carted around by my cartage company, Van Cartage). You always wiped your strings after each date, and I would carry a chamois for this purpose plus would wipe the strings off with jewelry cleaner once in awhile to keep the strings sounding live, being careful not to get any on the instrument.

"My teacher wanted me to have the best guitar, so he had me work for two years so I could get a Gibson Super 400."

"Later, I had to sell the Super 400 to pay a hospital bill when I had a baby, and I got an ES-175, and moved to Tucson."

Kaye can be seen towards the bottom of the article playing an Epiphone Emperor.

Listed under "CAROL'S GEAR": ...Ibanez RG321 with Seymour Duncan Humbucker Jazz Pickup Alnico Pro II

interview with Carole, playing 'La Bamba' chords and the bassline to Sonny and Cher's 'The Beat Goes on'