Tom Petersson

Petersson can be seen playing a Waterston TP-12 bass in this photo.

1967 Fender Telecaster Bass Prototype Introduced in 1968, the Fender Telecaster bass was essentially a reissue of the original Precision. "They've been a favorite of mine since Ronnie Wood used one with the Jeff Beck Group in '68," says Petersson. "This is an all-original, candy-apple-red prototype with a '50s neck." (Edit: I couldnt find a specfic mention of candy apple red but i did find this)

Petersson has a number of unique examples of other American-made basses, and one of the more notable is a ’64 Epiphone Embassy in TV yellow finish. “It was basically Epiphone’s version of a Thunderbird bass, with all the same parts,” he said.

Petersson can be seen in this photo playing a Hamer B-12A.

Gibson had a very small production run for what is essentially an ES-335 with a bass bridge, Petersson's 6-string 1960 Gibson EB-6 bass is a very rare find. "With its PAF pickup, it's the heaviest-sounding 1960s ES-335 ever," says Petersson.

1964 Gibson Thunderbird II "I had it refinished by RS Guitar Works to look like John Lennon's Gibson J-160E that was used for the worldwide live satellite broadcast of All You Need Is Love ," Petersson says.

"The members of Cheap Trick have reigned as the high priests of hard-rocking U.S. power pop for more than 40 years, with an influential and infectiously ever-youthful sound driven by the impeccable playing and volcanic sound of bassist and co-founder Tom Petersson.

Petersson pioneered the creation and use of the 12-string bass guitar, and now, on the heels of Cheap Trick’s April 2016 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Gretsch Custom Shop is supremely delighted to introduce the USA Custom Shop Tom Petersson Signature 12-String Falcon™ Bass. Stunning in style and utterly seismic in tone, it puts Petersson’s distinctive stamp on the classic White Falcon Bass design, with premium features including dual custom Seymour Duncan® Super’Tron pickups, short scale length (30.5”), a specially designed 12-string Space Control™ bridge and Gretsch “Cadillac” tailpiece, gloss-finish maple neck with “C” profile, 12”-radius ebony fingerboard with 22 vintage-style frets and mother-of pearl inlays, gold hardware and pickguard, and more. With Petersson’s name and style, Gretsch’s first and only 12-string bass model is surely the most powerful Falcon ever."

"The members of Cheap Trick have reigned as the high priests of hard-rocking U.S. power pop for more than 40 years, with an influential and infectiously ever-youthful sound driven by the impeccable playing of bassist and co-founder Tom Petersson

Now, on the heels of Cheap Trick’s April 2016 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Gretsch is proud to introduce the G6136B-TP-AWT Tom Petersson Signature 4-String Bass. Stunning in style and tone, it puts Petersson’s distinctive stamp on the classic White Falcon Bass design, with premium features including a Gretsch Rumble'Tron neck pickup and custom Seymour Duncan® Super’Tron middle pickup, short scale length (30.3”), Adjusto-Matic™ bridge and Gretsch “Cadillac” tailpiece, gloss-finish maple neck with “U” profile, 12”-radius ebony fingerboard with 22 medium jumbo frets and mother-of pearl inlays, gold hardware and pickguard, and more. Deluxe hardshell case included."

In a feature by Vintage Guitar® magazine, Tom Petersson is shown with two Fender Precision Basses, including a 1957 model, one in red and one in green.

If you scroll to his equipment you can see that he uses a 1965 Fender P bass

"The members of Cheap Trick have reigned as the high priests of hard-rocking U.S. power pop for more than 40 years, with an influential and infectiously ever-youthful sound driven by the impeccable playing and volcanic sound of bassist and co-founder Tom Petersson.

Petersson pioneered the creation and use of the 12-string bass guitar, and the Gretsch Custom Shop is supremely delighted to introduce the G6136B-TP12 Custom Shop Tom Petersson Signature White Falcon™ 12-String Bass, Relic. Stunning in style and utterly seismic in tone, it puts Petersson’s distinctive stamp on the classic White Falcon Bass design, with premium features including dual custom Seymour Duncan® Super’Tron pickups, short scale length (30.5”), a specially designed 12-string Space Control™ bridge and Gretsch “Cadillac” tailpiece, gloss-finish maple neck with “C” profile, 12”-radius ebony fingerboard with 22 vintage-style frets and mother-of-pearl inlays, gold hardware and pickguard, and more. With Petersson’s name and style, Gretsch’s first and only 12-string bass model is surely the most powerful Falcon ever."

He also uses an original ’61 Rickenbacker 4000 in Fireglo – the single-pickup variant of the more popular 4001 (the 4000 has what was usually called the “horseshoe” pickup in the middle of body, and is lacking a neck pickup). His appreciation of this brand and model is another nod to Petersson’s single-pickup bass inclinations.

This Reverb listing claims to be selling a vintage Gibson EB-6 6-string hollowbody formerly owned by Tom Peterson of Cheap Trick for $14,995 +$110-Shipping (as of November 2022).

"About This Listing"

"1960 Gibson EB-6, Extremely Rare model with Stickered PAF, Baritone guitar with Big fat '59 neck profile, ES-335 body style with a bass bridge, '59 style knobs, Previously owned by Tom Peterson of Cheap Trick with letter of authenticity, Fine playing and huge sounding! Gorgeous and fully original, EC+, Clean Original brown hard case"

Listed: 2 years ago

Condition: Excellent (Used)

Brand: Gibson

Model: EB-6

Finish: Sunburst

Categories: 5-String or More

Year: 1960

Made In: United States

Fretboard Material: Rosewood

Body Material: Maple

Right / Left Handed: Right Handed

Pickup System: Passive

Number of Strings: 6-String

Neck Material: Mahogany

Wood Top Style: Plain

Finish Style: Gloss

Body Shape: Double Cutaway

Pickup Configuration: H

Number of Frets: 20

Tom Petersson, the bassist, is confirmed to use the Fender Coronado Bass II. In an interview with Premier Guitar, Petersson remarked on the instrument's qualities, stating, "It's very much like a Guild Starfire. It's a great-sounding, underappreciated bass." This information was documented by Adrian Budnick in the article "GALLERY: Tom Petersson's Bass Collection" on Premier Guitar.