Oteil Burbridge

According to Maxon's website, Burbridge uses the Maxon OD808 overdrive pedal.

"For years I thought, “One day I want to get a J-bass that was made the same year I was born”. Then one day in LA I ran across one. Tobacco Sunburst was always my favorite finish on old Fenders so that was a plus for me from the start. I remember grabbing it by the neck just below the headstock as it sat on it’s stand. I was blown away by the feel of it before I ever took it off the stand. It was more slender than my seventies Jazz bass. Vintage basses are usually more primitive sounding in ways but also more classic sounding, and this one is no exception. So many of my favorite bassists from Jaco to Verdine White used them. On a side note, anyone that knows me well knows that I name all my basses. This one is named “Sister Odell” after a character in one of Steve Harvey’s comedy routines. She was an old church lady that cursed quite liberally."

"I originally wanted to get a ’64 P-bass to match my ’64 J-bass but a compatriot of mine told me about this one and said he thought I should at least try it. I was knocked out by the feel of it. Although this tone was previously not what I was looking for I had recently gotten into Aston “Family Mon” Barrett and was trying to get that sound. Ironically he used a Jazz bass but it seemed like my hands could get the sound better with a P-bass. I use this bass with Flatwound strings, they have a much more mellow sound. If you love classic Motown then whether you realize it or not, you love the P-bass. James Jamerson made this sound ubiquitous to Motown and American music in general. This bass was named by one of my favorite drummers, Marcus Williams. I told him I needed a name for it and that most of my basses were named after old black church ladies, preferably over 200 pounds. He immediately shouted out the name “Petunia”. Who could argue with that?"

In this picture you can see Oteil's green Quantum 6 bass guitar.

"I was blessed to have Fodera make me two of these handmade beauties. I have never had instruments that were totally hand made before. Sometimes I want to leave them at home under a glass case to make sure nothing bad happens to them. But it’s too hard to resist playing them. When I need to push past the boundaries of classic bass this is what I use.

These instruments have to be played to understand how amazing they are. The great Anthony Jackson was the first person I ever heard play a 6 string bass. He’s played on so many studio sessions I can almost guarantee you’ve heard him whether you realize it or not. Special thanks to Vinnie Fodera and Joey Lauricella for these beauties. My first Fodera is named “LaWanda” after LaWanda Page, an actress who played a famous black church lady named Aunt Esther on the 70’s TV show Sanford and Son."

"I bought this bass because it looked just like a Cherry Red Gibson ES-335 guitar that Mark Kimbrell played in my band, Oteil and the Peacemakers. I’ve been playing with Mark for 25 years and always associate that guitar with him. When I walked in the music store I thought it was a guitar and then I noticed that it only had 4 tuning pegs. It wasn’t expensive because of some water damage behind the bridge that only affected the finish. I’m not a collector so I’m not really worried about that type of thing. I only cared about how it felt and sounded. I ended up using it on most of my latest record, “Water In The Desert” (due out in 2013). It has the least clarity and definition of any bass I own. It also has the most bass end. I prefer it’s mellower sound with acoustic instruments too. Since I don’t play upright bass I use it when I play Jazz, Bluegrass or any other acoustic music. This bass is aptly named “Tubby”. It’s tone explains it all."

According to the D'Addario artist page, Oteil Burbridge uses D'Addario EXL160 Nickel Wound Bass Guitar Strings - .050-.105 Medium Long Scale.