John Cooper

In this video, at 0:51 we can see John with his Traben Phoenix 5 string bass

This is pic of him using the new Stingray 5 HH in Burnt Apple finish with roasted maple fretboard

John Cooper has been using Michael Kelly 5 String Bass Guitars, testing several prototypes during live performances. Although these bass guitars are not yet publicly released, Cooper's Instagram reveals he currently has three in his collection.

In this photo you can see John Cooper using a 5 string Spector bass to record with.

in this image you can see john playin his traben array attack 5 string

John Cooper at the 7:40 timing of the video starts to talk about amplifiers and how he loves Ampeg Svt and states that he thinks they are the best amplifiers ever made for bass guitar.

During the late 90s early 2000s John Cooper used a GMP 5 String bass that can be seen in the video, now it has been retired from touring but it is used constantly for recording new albums.

@mesaengineering mentioned that John Cooper use Mesa Boogie Subway D800

@mesaengineering mentioned John Cooper use Mesa Boogie PowerHouse PH1000

For a short time during 2014 John cooper used a Paul Reed Smith Gary Grainger 5 string bass which can be seen in a few videos of Winterfest 2014.

John Cooper has used GHS strings Bass Boomers for years.

During the beginning of Skillet in 1996/97 John Cooper played Ibanez basses inculding a six string Soundgear bass and a BTB series six string version. The different basses can be seen starting with the soundgear at the 0:14 point of the video, the BTB at the 0:27 point and the headstock of the Soundgear bass at the 3:40 point.

On this video at 4:00, John Cooper use Martin Acoustic Guitar.

John cooper uses two tech 21 sansamp rbi bass pre amps in his live rig. One is for clean and the other is for dirty tones

As of December 2023, John is using two PRS grainger 5 string Basses on stage, one being in the “yellow tiger” finish and the other one (his newest one) being a custom built solid black version of the Bass. John started regularly using the tiger yellow bass In 2021 and was his main bass during the winter jam 2022 tour. The bass currently also appears to have had the stock pickups replaced with a set of active pickups (possibly EMG’s).

During the tour for "Hey You I Love Your Soul" around 1998-1999, John Cooper is seen using an Epiphone Non Reverse Thunderbird V. This photo, taken during that tour, is the only known image of him with this specific bass before he transitioned to GMP basses.(https://images.equipboard.com/uploads/source/image/148643/Untitled2019_20240601031023.png)

There are quite a handful of moments John Cooper has the Ibanez SR506 from 1995 or 1994 (the two years look the same) from 1996-1998. For instance, in this video about on interview from Cooper, audio recorded in 1996, there were some clips that were showing the bass (hard to tell what color it is specifically) https://youtu.be/l22kWXE5EUc?si=S-R345T642hzpFoC

Another instance is in an image, taking place in 1998. You can clearly see the color and the bass model.

https://theskilletsizzlephotos.tripod.com/imagelib/sitebuilder/misc/show_image.html?linkedwidth=actual&linkpath=https://theskilletsizzlephotos.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/old_skillet7.jpg&target=tlx_new

Edit: the SPECIFIC model is the Ibanez SR506TT that Cooper uses

According to the article "RockView Rig Rundown with Skillet" by RockView Live, John Cooper uses the Mesa/Boogie Flux-Drive.

According to the article "RockView Rig Rundown with Skillet" by RockView Live, John Cooper is documented using two Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressors.

According to the article "RockView Rig Rundown with Skillet" by RockView Live, John Cooper uses the Radial JDI.

In an Instagram post by skilletarchive, documenting Skillet's first performance at Club 704b in Memphis, Tennessee, a Peavey 1810 amp can be seen used by John Cooper in the first image. The post highlights the historic nature of this 1995 performance and is credited to photos taken by @sheyabey13.

In a 1998 image, John Cooper is seen playing the Ibanez SR506TT model.