Leo Lyons

1962 Fender Jazz bass - It's become something of a trademark after playing this bass in the Movie of the Woodstock Festival. Over the years I've owned and sold two other Jazz basses but I've kept this one. I traded for it with Ian Hunter in 1962 in exchange for my 1961 Fender Precision plus a small amount of cash - fifteen pounds to be exact. Ian has suggested over the years that he gives back the money in exchange for a commission on the shows I've played with that bass!

Basses two and three are Warwick Star Basses, a five and four string. They provide another texture of sound on the road and in the studio. When I began playing bass way back in 1959 I dreamt of owning a Framus Star bass but never managed to get one. Now Warwick/Framus make them again.

Bass number four is an upright bass made by the 'Chadwick Folding Bass Company' Nashville. It's an ingenious invention by Charlie Chadwick one of my Music City friends who's also a great bass player. The neck of the bass folds into the body for transportation. It sounds amazing, is fun to play, and I can even check the bass as extra baggage on flights.

I've just started using Warwick amps and cabinets. I have an LW1000 head powering WCA 112 LW CE and WCA 408 LW CE cabinets. I'm amazed at how full and powerful such a light and compact rig sounds. Maybe it's the sound I've been looking for.

I've just started using Warwick amps and cabinets. I have an LW1000 head powering WCA 112 LW CE and WCA 408 LW CE cabinets. I'm amazed at how full and powerful such a light and compact rig sounds. Maybe it's the sound I've been looking for.

I've just started using Warwick amps and cabinets. I have an LW1000 head powering WCA 112 LW CE and WCA 408 LW CE cabinets. I'm amazed at how full and powerful such a light and compact rig sounds. Maybe it's the sound I've been looking for.

According to Leo Lyons' official website, he states, "I mostly use a clean sound splitting my signal between my Warwick LW1000 amp and an Avalon U5 DI box."

1955 Fender P Bass - Found for me by Billy Gibbons in a pawnshop in Houston Acoustic

Also mentioned on http://leolyons.org/gear.htm as "Rikkenbacker Stereo"

I remember playing it on 'I'd Love To Change The World' and 'Working On The Road'.

I bought this amp in 1967 from an old friend Walt Bonney who was the bass player with The Fentones. He'd inherited the amp from The Shadows. I've had the electronics restored recently and it still sounds great in the studio. I used this amp on the early TYA records.

Hard on the fingers but a good on the tone! I used to hit the strings so hard I'd break them regularly - strings that is. My fingers just blistered and bled. These days I can hear myself a little better and don't very often break strings or get blisters.

Warwick Streamer Stage Two Pro. With EMG active pickups - Hans P. Wilfer the owner of Warwick turned me onto these basses when we met at an 'Out In The Green Festival' in Germany around twelve years ago.

Leo Lyons confirmed that he uses a Wal Mk I Bass, stating, "I bought this active bass from Pete and Wal at Electric Wood. Some of you may recall me playing it in the mid-eighties on the TYA Marquee Anniversary video." This information is supported by his official website, authored by Kate Moore.

Leo Lyons uses the Lakland Skyline 44-01 bass, as confirmed on his official website: "My Lakland Skyline - 2003".

As confirmed in an interview with Vintage Guitar® magazine, where he stated, "My strings are roundwound Bass Centre Elites." Additionally, his official website (http://leolyons.org/gear.htm) mentions, "Elites 45 to 105 gauge. The strings sound great and hold the tone for ages. They're an English company too."

I used a Kemper amplifier modeling my three favorite rigs – a Gallien-Krueger 1000RB, a Genz Benz GBE 1200, and a Warwick LWA 1000.