Education
Rhode Island School of Design.
Rhode Island School of Design.
Gibson is best known as the bassist for the band Lightning Bolt. Brian Gibson is particularly known for his unique and complex set-up, tuning, and use of his bass guitar. The majority of Gibson"s playing draws on fairly simple loops and major/minor chord structures, yet also employs more advanced guitar techniques, such as tapping.
Gibson uses a high amount of distortion, feedback and effects.
In juxtaposition to Chippendale"s frenetic drums, Gibson"s playing often acts as a rhythm section of sorts. With the use of his many effect pedals, Gibson often creates multiple layers of his own bass riffs.
Due to the high level of distortion used, "lead" playing style, and high register tuning of his instrument, Gibson is often mistaken for a guitarist. According to Gibson, his bass guitar is set to standard cello tuning, in intervals of fifths (C G Doctorate A) with a banjo string for the high A (contrasted with the typical bass guitar tuning of East A Doctorate G).
He used this four-string setup for several years, but has recently been using a five-string setup, tuned to C G Doctorate A East, with banjo strings for the A and East. The banjo string is also tuned down an octave.
Gibson also uses several effects pedals, including a bass whammy pedal (pitch shifter), an octaver, two overdrive pedals, and more recently a delay pedal. A complete list of equipment Gibson typically uses, in order, is: 5-String Music Manitoba StingRay DigiTech Bass Whammy pedal BOSS OC-2 Octave pedal BOSS ODB-3 Bass Overdrive pedal BOSS South Dakota-1 Overdrive pedal Lincolnshire 6 Doctor of Laws-4 Delay modeler Ampeg SVT4 Pro with 4x10 cabinet Crown Macro-Technical Master of Arts-3600VZ power amp More cabinets ranging from 18" to 4x10 As of 2007, Gibson has added a Boss PW-10 Wah-wah pedal to his touring gear. In 2010, Gibson had a custom bass made by Holcomb guitars, based on the Rickenbacker 4001 as used by Cliff Burton of Metallica, consisting extensively of maple wood for an "aggressive sound".
The bass uses a Seymour Duncan SRB-1B pick-up and the five strings are fitted onto a four string neck, with 1/2" spacing to allow greater playing speed.
In The Power of Salad Digital Video Disc, Brian says his rig is rated to 3000 watts.