Carol Kaye

Carol Kaye's official site states that she uses an Ibanez SRX 700.

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.

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

"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."

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

Carol Kaye is seen playing the Music Man Stingray bass in a photo hosted by Music-man, and she also uses this bass for performances such as "El Concierto de Aranjuez."

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

In the Ernie Ball Music Man article "Happy Birthday Carol Kaye" by Casey Ball, it is noted that legendary bassist Carol Kaye uses the 1970s Music Man HD-130 Stack amplifier.

"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."

"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."

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

In a YouTube video by Ley Vaughn titled "CAROL KAYE," Carol Kaye can be seen playing an Ibanez RT150 BK while demonstrating the chords to "La Bamba" and the bassline to Sonny and Cher's "The Beat Goes On."

Carol Kaye is depicted playing a B.C. Rich Mockingbird in a post.

On the official Thomastik website:

“It’s safe to assume, having done over 10.000 record dates, movie scores, and TV-film shows in the 1960s and 1970s as 1st call recording electric bassist in Hollywood (Musicians Union Local 47), I had specific sound needs: this not only meant 'cleanest sounds', but also instant response, and long-lasting great strings that could take the beating of recording/playing hard on 10-16 hours a day as that’s the amount of recording work there was back then.

When I returned to the Music Recording Business in the late 1990s, I needed better strings than ever, and Thomastik-Infeld strings were brand new back then. I was pleasantly surprised, no, absolutely astounded is the word! I could record on your new JAZZ FLAT WOUND strings instantly (no break-in period) and what great, powerful, yet sensitive bass sounds I got out of them: in-tune musical from start to finish with power plus, and a feeling like silk to play on as well as right sounds I can trust for recording and live playing in all styles of music!

We all need great sounds and the strings are a big part of that. THANK YOU For Such Great Strings!

I could easily get such fab sounds with my Permanent Flatwound 60s Sounds Power-Strings for years! I mean it, the words I said, Thomastik-Infeld strings are every bass player’s dream strings.

PS: I also love your GEORGE BENSON flat wound strings for real Jazz! The Finest!”

Also on her official website:

“The Rolls Royce of all strings for that vital 1960s powerful sound with great feel.”

Carol Kaye uses the Gallien-Krueger MB150S-112III 150W MicroBass Combo Amp, as confirmed by her official website.

In this photo, Kaye’s guitar is clearly a Fender instrument with a rosewood fretboard and an offset body, and Jazzmaster pickups are clearly visible. It also lacks the distinctive switches of a Jaguar, as can be seen in a second photo from the same photoshoot in which she is seated next to Bill Pitman. That photo can be viewed here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FenderAmplifiers/posts/10166892156627538/