EQUIPMENT
Me with my Warrior Bass, my main axe. I have three of them. This one is the Funkboy model. They’re made just outside of my hometown: Chattanooga, TN. The Funkboy model is a 5-string bass with a purple metal flake finish over a swamp ash body and a maple neck with blue LEDs lighting up each fret position marker. I also have a fretted 5-string with a spalted sycamore top and swamp ash body, maple and purpleheart neck. My other one is a fretless 5-string, #53 out of their shop, with a gorgeous zebra wood top, swamp ash body, maple and purple heart neck, with lined purple heart fingerboard.
JD Lewis and the gang down at Warrior Instruments welcomed me as their very first endorsee and built for me whatever I could possibly imagine. A few of my design specifications are now standard on all of their instruments.
Larry Hartke is a genius. His aluminum-coned speakers are a revolution. I use the 4x10 speaker cabinet with the 3500 amp head (350 watts). I also have a 2x10 140-watt combo I use for a lot of my live work in smaller venues and a genius 1x12 120-watt Kickback combo amp which I use for any possible situation I can get away with. The Kickback is tiny and sounds huge.
I use nickel-plated steel strings on all of my instruments. They're a little mellower than stainless steel. I hardly ever change strings, but when I do I have special stringing needs. The cats at Markley custom wound me gauges for my piccolo, 8-string, and Warrior 5-string basses. The Warriors require two extra length strings (the low B & E) to take full advantage of their G-Factor through body stringing system. My gauges for the 5-strings are .045, .065, .080, .105, .126. The gauges for the 8-string and piccolo basses are a closely guarded industry secret for which I have been sworn to secrecy...
These folks make some scary electronics processing boxes and amplifiers. I use the Bass Pod and the Guitar Pod 2.0 for direct recording and live applications as well. The Pods utilize digital imaging technology to create exact replications of recording with different vintage and modern amplifiers, cabinets, microphones, and effects. The resulting sound is powerful and uncanny. They must be heard to be believed. A Pod should be required equipment in every bassist or guitarist's arsenal. Live I've been using Carol Kaye's actual 1960s Versatone Pan-O-Flex amp (digitally modeled in the Pod!). For recording I use the Ampeg B-15 model straight into the console and direct to tape.
Simply the best and the cheapest CD manufacturer I've found. Contact Jules (he cares about independent music) and tell him I sent you.
Bill Merchant is a world-class double bass luthier and inventor/builder of the Merchant Vertical Bass electric upright. Bill is a genius when it comes to wood. I go to him for all of my upright bass needs and most of my electric bass repair as well.
Peekamoose Guitars is a small shop in New York City known for high quality repairs, vintage restorations, and custom building of fretted instruments (guitars, basses, mandolins etc.).
I use custom imprinted (double sided) Delrin Brites (florescent pink) heavy gauge picks.
Bartolini PickupsI use them and love them. Tone second to none.
I use the digital VS1880 recorder, companion Roland digital reference monitors, and the DR202 drum machine in my home studio. Ten years ago technology like this in a home studio was unthinkable. Roland is consistently ahead of the curve making this technology available and affordable.
Little Debbie snack cakes are made in Collegedale, TN, about 30 miles north of my home town, Chattanooga, TN. The McKee Baking Company is located in a strict Seventh Day Adventist community of all vegetarians. As such their Swiss Cake Rolls (my personal favorites) are and always have been completely vegetarian. What can I tell you? I grew up with them…
Ivan uses Warrior basses, Hartke speakers, Gallien Krueger amps, Dean Markley strings, Digitech and Line 6 signal processors, and Bartolini pickups. Ivan eats only Little Debbie snack cakes
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