Billy Sheehan - Thank You Billy Gibbons

[alembicbassguy]

Billy Sheehan is a great human being - Dimarzio make fantastic pickups. Thumbs up all round!

[Musicartsandcoffee]

Billy Sheehan really loves Billy Gibbons, he really does. I love him too, he's a great guy!

[och70]

This is why I admire & respect Billy so much, a phenomenally talented musician, but also a very down-to-earth, funny & self-deprecating guy. Rock on Billy...!!

[tbcass]

Gibbons was also one of the first Rock guitarists to use false harmonics and several guitarists and bassists have acknowledged they got the idea from him.

[markstacechris]

Harvey Mandel was tapping in the 60's. Know how I found out about him? An article by Billy Gibbons!!!

[shwalton75]

Larry...

First of all I want to say that your fine company makes amazing products. Everything from your pickups to accessories are of the highest quality and as a result of your obvious passion and commitment to what you do.

My question is this...I just purchased a new Yamaha LTD II and I’m wondering if there is a ideal distance I should maintain in adjusting my p/u height? I would like to get the height adjusted as close to the string as I can to maximize my technique. Thanks!!!

[LarryDiMarzio]

@shwalton75

There can't be an ideal distance, because every player has a different touch. You need to have at least 1/8" between the bottom of the 1st and 4th strings and the surface of the pickup with the strings at the highest fret, but beyond that it's a matter of taste.

[shwalton75]

@LarryDiMarzio Thanks, Larry!!! My question was less in relation to “taste” and more a question of magnetic interference. The question was spawned by my asking my tech to really get the p-bass pickup close to the string, and he warned against my doing that due to the magnetic influence that would be exerted on the strings.

[LarryDiMarzio]

@shwalton75 Magnetic interference (string pull) is more of a problem for guitars because of the light gauges of the strings. It is a big problem with standard Strats if the neck and middle pickup are too high. I haven't seen the same problem with basses but lets check. I would suggest moving the pickup closer and listen for false overtones when you play from the middle of the fingerboard toward the highest notes. This will also be effected by your pickup and the gauges of your strings.

Larry

[efzt]

I thought Eddie invented tapping? I bought VAn Halen 2 in 80 and figured out the tapping after I heard Spanish Fly which friggin' blew me away at the time. i knew he was doing something radically different. Now everybody's six year old newphew does it! LOL.

[chrook]

@efzt

EVH got the tapping idea from Billy Gibbons too

[SquierClassicVibe35]

I seriously want a fretless version of the attitude. billy has one on his studio vid.

[Spermwhales93]

@SquierClassicVibe35 You could just buy a regular attitude and have the frets taken out by a luthier.

[borcemiovski]

i have dimarzio pickups on my yamaha bass,it sounds great,thanks larry

[angmar11]

I thank Billy Gibbons too for the use the hammer ons and harmoincs one of best blue rock Gutiarists ever

[boongg]

Steve Hackette perhaps recorded the first widely known tapping solo on "Dancing with moonlit knight."

[tramontane]

@boongg right

[dannydanzig666]

i sure the real reason he had that bass built is cause no other bass could hand his awseomenee

[ibanezman007]

This is true! That neck pickup has such a deep sound!

[johndennerrocks]

How can you not just love Billy Sheehan's bass technique ?

[bassguitarmethod]

Classic !!

Love Billy Sheehan

[armskoteic]

Dimarzio's makes the best pickups. period.

[LarryDiMarzio]

Hi,

Thanks for the kind words, we try our best.

Regards,

Larry DiMarzio

[mmaier2112]

I love this video. Billy is such a fun and silly guy in a great way. I've met him at least 6 times and he's always very friendly and fun to speak with.

[castleshade13]

Billy is my idol, he is so down to earth, not like some in the music business,

Also, Larry, i've been using Dimarzios since the very beginning =D

i hope to meet billy some day, or go to NAMM hopefully i'll go to both before the end, i am only 13

I saw Mr Big in london on the 12th =D the day before my birthday, it was great!

how do you get to go to NAMM any way? =S

my Attitude should arrive in a few days

Thanks for the Video Larry!

I hope i can be at one of these some day

Regards

Adam

[LarryDiMarzio]

Hi John,

You are absolutely right, I met Billy years ago and he has always been the same, one of the nicest people in the business. Regarding NAMM please message me before the show, I get down to the floor for about a half hour each day except Sunday.

All the best,

Larry DiMarzio

[shaunmuffinman]

what a cool frickin guy man!

[NapoleanXV]

what about david bunker?

[myspacceer]

YOU TOUCHED A NOTE AND ANOTHER NOTE CAME OUT OHHHHHH MYYY GODDDDD

lol

[tylerwilks5150]

That's possible on bass? no way, but it sounds awesome on bass!

[basshred]

billy has sum amazing sense of humor

[burlearth]

Rickenbacker basses have had stereo outputs for decades.

[sicmick112]

i put dimarzio will powers in my first bass; sounds amazing. sheehan is a role model of mine. thanks for posting this larry!

[petecockcroft]

Frank Zappa tapped on "Inca Roads"  1973

[burlearth]

Robert Fripp tapped live in 69.

[dimarziopickups]

SWEET!!!

BILLY SHEEHAN IS THE MAN!!!

[turkuaz100]

By the way the awesome piece with hammer-ons is "Addicted To That Rush" from Mr Big. And Mr Big is back! Hell yea!

[turkuaz100]

I just love that super deep low tone of BS's p-bass. Surely kick ass!! Infact a bass legend is in front of us! Believe that! Thanks also for DiMarzio giving the help to get that amazing tone, amazing shows and records and so on...!!!

[PrsFenderJackson1980]

Umm...wow. I hate bass and this player is changing my mind as I type. Thank you very much Mr Dimarzio

[LarryDiMarzio]

Hi,

I glad that you enjoyed Billy, he is amazing.

All the best,

Larry DiMarzio

[nato101010]

Man, he's a funny guy. His playing and tone is just amazing, too. Thanks, Larry. Man, that was good!

[LarryDiMarzio]

Hi,

I have known Billy for years and he is always like that ... a great guy.

All the best,

Larry DiMarzio

[death666ninja]

5*****

[benjacksonuk]

Great video Larry,

I saw Billy when he played bass with Steve Vai on 2004 G3 tour in Nottingham (part of the G3 2004 Europe tour)

Ben

[leebass69]

Larry I gotta thank you for those pick-ups of yours, I couldn't not have 'that' sound with the Attitude and I still get get comments after playing-amazing aggressive ballsy tone.

Cheers,

Lee.

[LarryDiMarzio]

Hi Lee,

Thanks for your kind words.

Larry DiMarzio

[leebass69]

It's a pleasure! Cheers Larry...

Lee

[jokeslayer010]

Man that tone is just awesome.

Thank you, DiMarzio!

[kesx]

Genius, I love Billy and was glad to see him plaing with Vai again. Is he still? Havent kept up lately.

[LarryDiMarzio]

Hi,

Billy is going out on the road with Paul Gilbert and Mr. Big soon.

All the best,

Larry

[kesx]

Thanks Larry and thanks also for making the best pickups on the planet. Ive always loved DiMarzios since I was 4 years into my playing. Almost every guitar I buy I end up converting the pickups to DiMarzios.

[jalbertochavez]

Makes me want to play bass....and more importantly, makes me want to play DiMarzio bass pickups! \m/

[Andrexthor]

Sheehan's the best!