{"id":50888,"date":"2026-03-17T13:06:34","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T13:06:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/?p=50888"},"modified":"2026-03-17T13:06:43","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T13:06:43","slug":"andy-rourke-bass-setup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/andy-rourke-bass-setup\/","title":{"rendered":"Andy Rourke&#8217;s Bass Setup &#8211; A Guide to The Smiths Bassist&#8217;s Gear"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_86 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/andy-rourke-bass-setup\/#In_a_hurry\" >In a hurry?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/andy-rourke-bass-setup\/#Andy_Rourkes_basses\" >Andy Rourke\u2019s basses<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/andy-rourke-bass-setup\/#Guild_B-301\" >Guild B-301<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/andy-rourke-bass-setup\/#Squier_Precision_Bass\" >Squier Precision Bass<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/andy-rourke-bass-setup\/#Yamaha_BB2000\" >Yamaha BB2000<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/andy-rourke-bass-setup\/#Fender_Precision_Bass\" >Fender Precision Bass<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/andy-rourke-bass-setup\/#Fender_Jazz_Bass\" >Fender Jazz Bass<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/andy-rourke-bass-setup\/#Amps_of_choice\" >Amps of choice<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/andy-rourke-bass-setup\/#Peavey_Mark_III_bass_head\" >Peavey Mark III bass head<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/andy-rourke-bass-setup\/#Trace_Elliott_GP-11\" >Trace Elliott GP-11<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/andy-rourke-bass-setup\/#Andy_Rourkes_effects\" >Andy Rourke\u2019s effects<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/andy-rourke-bass-setup\/#Boss_CE-2_chorus\" >Boss CE-2 chorus<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/andy-rourke-bass-setup\/#Boss_GE-10_equalizer\" >Boss GE-10 equalizer<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/andy-rourke-bass-setup\/#FAQs\" >FAQs<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/andy-rourke-bass-setup\/#What_bass_did_Andy_Rourke_use\" >What bass did Andy Rourke use?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/andy-rourke-bass-setup\/#How_did_Andy_Rourke_tune_his_bass\" >How did Andy Rourke tune his bass?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/andy-rourke-bass-setup\/#Did_Andy_Rourke_use_a_pick\" >Did Andy Rourke use a pick?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/andy-rourke-bass-setup\/#Final_thoughts\" >Final thoughts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Intro&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #999999;\">Featured image: Creative Commons License by <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:The_Smiths_(1984_Sire_publicity_photo)_002.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Paul Cox; distributed by Sire Records<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p>When people talk about the musical legacy of The Smiths, the conversation is usually about Morrissey and Marr\u2026 but not one of those iconic records would have sounded right without the impeccable basslines of Andy Rourke providing a foundation for, and counterpoint to, Marr\u2019s guitar. The Smiths&#8217; <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/bass-guitars\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">bassist<\/a><\/strong> played a key role in shaping their sound.<\/p>\n<p>And that leaves us with the question of exactly how he got the sound that supported The Smiths\u2019 finest tunes. His playing is clearly the most important factor, but his gear also played an essential role. So, here\u2019s our rundown of <strong>Andy Rourke\u2019s bass setup<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2024\/07\/Secondhand-Guitars.jpg&#8221; alt=&#8221;Secondhand Guitars&#8221; title_text=&#8221;Secondhand-Guitars&#8221; url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/secondhand\/guitars?utm_source=blog&#038;utm_medium=banner&#038;utm_campaign=secondhand_guitars&#8221; url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Secondhand Guitars Banner&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; global_module=&#8221;41670&#8243; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;In a hurry?&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;#f08000&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"In_a_hurry\"><\/span>In a hurry?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n<table id=\"tablepress-393\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-393 tbody-has-connected-cells\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">Gear Type<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">Model<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-striping row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2\">\n\t<td rowspan=\"5\" class=\"column-1\"><strong>Bass guitar<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Guild B-301<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3\">\n\t<td class=\"column-2\">Squier Precision Bass<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4\">\n\t<td class=\"column-2\">Yamaha BB2000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5\">\n\t<td class=\"column-2\">Fender Precision Bass<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-6\">\n\t<td class=\"column-2\">Fender Jazz Bass<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-7\">\n\t<td rowspan=\"2\" class=\"column-1\"><strong>Amp<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Peavey Mark III bass head<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-8\">\n\t<td class=\"column-2\">Trace Elliot GP-11<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-9\">\n\t<td rowspan=\"3\" class=\"column-1\"><strong>Effect<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Boss CE-2 chorus<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-10\">\n\t<td class=\"column-2\">Boss GE-10 equalizer<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-11\">\n\t<td class=\"column-2\">Boss flanger<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<!-- #tablepress-393 from cache -->\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text=&#8221;SHOP BASS GUITARS&#8221; button_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;NEW CTA Button&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; button_text_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; button_bg_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_border_width=&#8221;0px&#8221; button_border_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_font=&#8221;Arial|700|||||||&#8221; button_icon=&#8221;&#x35;||divi||400&#8243; button_icon_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;10px|30px||30px|false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset6&#8243; box_shadow_blur=&#8221;2px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; button_url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/bass-guitars&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Andy Rourke\u2019s basses&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;#f08000&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Andy_Rourkes_basses\"><\/span>Andy Rourke\u2019s basses<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Guild_B-301\"><\/span>Guild B-301<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Way back in the beginning, in early 1983, Andy Rourke played a Guild B-301. It\u2019s a lovely, simple bass with a bright, punchy sound that lent itself beautifully to his playing style. In fact, with a single pickup close to the bridge, it may well have helped shape the way Rourke played as he chased that lively tone! It was used both for early recordings and gigging.<\/p>\n<p>By spring of 1983, however, he\u2019d moved on. First to an Antoria Precision Bass copy, before quickly progressing to the real thing. Well, nearly.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Squier_Precision_Bass\"><\/span>Squier Precision Bass<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Moving on from his P-Bass copy, Rourke got himself a Squier. It\u2019s a little unclear whether he used a variety of <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Bass_Guitars\/Fender_Squier_Bass\/Precision\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Squier P-Basses<\/a><\/strong> or simply enjoyed modifying the one he had. Either way, the Squier he started playing at gigs in July 1983 was the starting point of a love affair with the feel and sound of the Precision Bass.<\/p>\n<p>The video for &#8220;This Charming Man&#8221; sees Rourke playing a black Squier P-Bass with a black scratch plate and maple fretboard. This remained his main bass for the rest of 1983 and into 1984. He also played a similar Squier, albeit with a rosewood board, on <em>Top of the Pops<\/em> in June 1984.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Yamaha_BB2000\"><\/span>Yamaha BB2000<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Stepping away from the P-bass for a moment \u2013 don\u2019t worry, we\u2019ll get back to it shortly! \u2013 Rourke also had a Yamaha BB2000 for what he called \u201cthe funky stuff.\u201d The fantastic line that makes &#8220;Barbarism Begins at Home&#8221; so good? That\u2019s the Yamaha.<\/p>\n<p>As well as recording with it, Rourke took the Yamaha on tour from 1984 onwards, using it for a single song (&#8220;Meat is Murder&#8221;) at each show on the 1985 Spanish tour. It also went on The Smiths\u2019 Scottish tour the same year. As late as April 1987, just months before The Smiths came to an end, Rourke used the Yamaha on a live performance for <em>The Tube<\/em>.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Fender_Precision_Bass\"><\/span>Fender Precision Bass<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>This is the big one, Rourke&#8217;s main love, the bass he used more than any other, the first true electric bass guitar ever made: the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Guitar-and-Bass\/Fender-American-Professional-II-Precision-Bass-RW-3-Tone-Sunburst\/3IZ9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fender Precision Bass<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>His main Precision was a 1964 model bought at Manny\u2019s Music in New York after the band signed with Sire:<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cI picked out this old beat-up bass because its label said 1964 \u2013 same year I was born. It has a really warm sound. When you crank it, it has a good growl that I don\u2019t think you can get from any other bass.\u201d\u00a0<\/em>&#8211; Andy Rourke.<\/p>\n<p>But that\u2019s not the whole P-Bass story. Rourke also had a 1962 Fiesta Red model and an Olympic white \u201966. These three Precision Basses were used for the vast majority of recording and touring throughout 1984 to 1986, and into the early part of 1987.<\/p>\n<p>Following the ending of The Smiths, Rourke used P-basses regularly for session and live work.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Fender_Jazz_Bass\"><\/span>Fender Jazz Bass<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Clearly a devotee of Fender basses, Rourke moved from his trusty Precision to a <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Guitar-and-Bass\/Fender-Made-in-Japan-Traditional-Late-60s-Jazz-Bass-RW-3-Color-Sunburst\/7KKE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jazz Bass with a sunburst finish<\/a><\/strong> that was used for TV appearances early in 1987. In fact, it was the last bass that Rourke used in The Smiths. As with his Fender Precision basses, he went on to use Jazz Basses for session work and live performances after The Smiths.<\/p>\n<p><div id=\"attachment_50949\" style=\"width: 610px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-50949\" class=\"wp-image-50949 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/03\/Johnny-Marr-Andy-Rourke-600x300.jpg\" alt=\"Johnny Marr + Andy Rourke\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/03\/Johnny-Marr-Andy-Rourke-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/03\/Johnny-Marr-Andy-Rourke-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/03\/Johnny-Marr-Andy-Rourke-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/03\/Johnny-Marr-Andy-Rourke-1080x540.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/03\/Johnny-Marr-Andy-Rourke-1280x640.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/03\/Johnny-Marr-Andy-Rourke-980x490.jpg 980w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/03\/Johnny-Marr-Andy-Rourke-480x240.jpg 480w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/03\/Johnny-Marr-Andy-Rourke.jpg 1330w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-50949\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Creative Commons License by <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Johnny_Marr_%2B_Andy_Rourke_-_10899288335.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Vladimir<\/a><\/p><\/div>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text=&#8221;SHOP BASS GUITARS&#8221; button_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;NEW CTA Button&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; button_text_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; button_bg_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_border_width=&#8221;0px&#8221; button_border_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_font=&#8221;Arial|700|||||||&#8221; button_icon=&#8221;&#x35;||divi||400&#8243; button_icon_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;10px|30px||30px|false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset6&#8243; box_shadow_blur=&#8221;2px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; button_url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/bass-guitars\/types&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Amps of choice&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;#f08000&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Amps_of_choice\"><\/span>Amps of choice<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Peavey_Mark_III_bass_head\"><\/span>Peavey Mark III bass head<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Early on, Andy Rourke used a Peavey Mark III bass head. The Mark III is a punchy, aggressive-sounding amp with a strong midrange presence, ideal for melodic basslines that need to cut through a mix.<\/p>\n<p>To emphasise this midrange, Rourke ran the head through an OHM 4&#215;10 cabinet, as well as a 1&#215;15 that gave him the bass thump he needed live. It\u2019s a popular bass cab setup, and it was one he used throughout his career.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Trace_Elliott_GP-11\"><\/span>Trace Elliott GP-11<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>As the band toured and recorded, Rourke moved from the Peavey to a Trace Elliott GP-11. The GP-11 name refers to the amp\u2019s Graphic Preamp with an 11-band EQ, something that set the amp apart and made it extremely versatile. It seems very likely that this was a big part of what led to Rourke making the switch.<\/p>\n<p>Again, he ran it through the classic <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/bass-guitars\/bass-amps\/amp-cabs?page=1&amp;filters[141]=1498&amp;filters[501]=3624\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">4&#215;10<\/a><\/strong> and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/bass-guitars\/bass-amps\/amp-cabs?page=1&amp;filters[141]=1500&amp;filters[501]=3621\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">1&#215;15<\/a><\/strong> pairing, though he chose to use matching Trace Elliott cabs with the GP-11.<\/p>\n<div class=\"mceTemp\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text=&#8221;SHOP BASS AMPS&#8221; button_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;NEW CTA Button&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; button_text_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; button_bg_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_border_width=&#8221;0px&#8221; button_border_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_font=&#8221;Arial|700|||||||&#8221; button_icon=&#8221;&#x35;||divi||400&#8243; button_icon_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;10px|30px||30px|false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset6&#8243; box_shadow_blur=&#8221;2px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; button_url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/bass-guitars\/bass-amps&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Andy Rourke\u2019s effects&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;#f08000&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Andy_Rourkes_effects\"><\/span>Andy Rourke\u2019s effects<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Boss_CE-2_chorus\"><\/span>Boss CE-2 chorus<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>The bass underpinned the achingly atmospheric and swirling textures of The Smiths\u2019 work, and careful use of chorus helped to widen the bass sound on tracks like &#8220;This Charming Man&#8221; and &#8220;Barbarism Begins at Home&#8221;. While Rourke never went overboard with effects, the subtle use of chorus helped create that full, lush sound we associate with The Smiths.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Boss_GE-10_equalizer\"><\/span>Boss GE-10 equalizer<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>As a bassist with a very clear idea of how he wanted his instrument to sound, Rourke made use of a Boss GE-10 equalizer. This 10-band EQ pedal was primarily part of his touring rig, helping to ensure he was able to recreate his recorded sound live.<\/p>\n<p><div id=\"attachment_50950\" style=\"width: 610px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-50950\" class=\"wp-image-50950 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/03\/The-Smiths-1984-600x300.jpg\" alt=\"The Smiths 1984\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/03\/The-Smiths-1984-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/03\/The-Smiths-1984-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/03\/The-Smiths-1984-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/03\/The-Smiths-1984-1080x540.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/03\/The-Smiths-1984-1280x640.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/03\/The-Smiths-1984-980x490.jpg 980w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/03\/The-Smiths-1984-480x240.jpg 480w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/03\/The-Smiths-1984.jpg 1330w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-50950\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Creative Commons License by <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:The_Smiths_(1984_Sire_publicity_photo)_001.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Paul Cox; distributed by Sire Records<\/a><\/p><\/div>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text=&#8221;SHOP BASS EFFECTS&#8221; button_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;NEW CTA Button&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; button_text_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; button_bg_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_border_width=&#8221;0px&#8221; button_border_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_font=&#8221;Arial|700|||||||&#8221; button_icon=&#8221;&#x35;||divi||400&#8243; button_icon_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;10px|30px||30px|false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset6&#8243; box_shadow_blur=&#8221;2px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; button_url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/bass-guitars\/effects-pedals&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;FAQs&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;#f08000&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQs\"><\/span>FAQs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_bass_did_Andy_Rourke_use\"><\/span>What bass did Andy Rourke use?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Andy Rourke used several basses throughout his career, but his main instrument was a 1964 Fender Precision Bass. Prior to that, he used a Squier Precision bass and an Antoria copy of the same instrument. In later years, he also used a Fender Jazz Bass.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_did_Andy_Rourke_tune_his_bass\"><\/span>How did Andy Rourke tune his bass?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Andy Rourke tuned his bass up a full step to F# for early recordings, moving to standard tuning (E-A-D-G) for later albums. He also used drop-D for some songs. He used lighter gauge strings for the higher tuning to reduce tension. On later tours, he kept a bass tuned to F# for older songs.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Did_Andy_Rourke_use_a_pick\"><\/span>Did Andy Rourke use a pick?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Andy Rourke regularly used a pick, playing close to the bridge of his bass. This enabled him to get a very bright tone that suited his playing style and basslines. That bright bass tone, combined with his choice of gear, produced his instantly recognisable sound.<\/p>\n<div class=\"mceTemp\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Final thoughts&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;#f08000&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Final_thoughts\"><\/span>Final thoughts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>As always, the key to a player\u2019s sound is the way they play\u2026 but getting the gear right can get you well on the way. Hopefully our guide to <strong>Andy Rourke\u2019s bass setup<\/strong> has given you some insight and perhaps some inspiration!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243;][et_pb_column _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; type=&#8221;1_2&#8243;][et_pb_button url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text=&#8221;SHOP BASS GUITARS&#8221; button_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;NEW CTA Button&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; button_text_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; button_bg_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_border_width=&#8221;0px&#8221; button_border_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_font=&#8221;Arial|700|||||||&#8221; button_icon=&#8221;&#x35;||divi||400&#8243; button_icon_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;10px|30px||30px|false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset6&#8243; box_shadow_blur=&#8221;2px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; button_url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/bass-guitars&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; type=&#8221;1_2&#8243;][et_pb_button url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text=&#8221;READ MORE GUITAR GUIDES&#8221; button_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;NEW CTA Button&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; button_text_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; button_bg_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_border_width=&#8221;0px&#8221; button_border_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_font=&#8221;Arial|700|||||||&#8221; button_icon=&#8221;&#x35;||divi||400&#8243; button_icon_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;10px|30px||30px|false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset6&#8243; box_shadow_blur=&#8221;2px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; button_url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/category\/guitars-bass\/guitar-guides\/&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When people talk about the musical legacy of The Smiths, the conversation is usually about Morrissey and Marr\u2026 but not one of those iconic records would have sounded right without the impeccable basslines of Andy Rourke providing a foundation for, and counterpoint to, Marr\u2019s guitar. The Smiths&#8217; bassist played a key role in shaping their sound.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":68,"featured_media":50948,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"<p><span style=\"color: #999999;\">Featured image: Creative Commons License by <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:The_Smiths_(1984_Sire_publicity_photo)_002.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Paul Cox; distributed by Sire Records<\/a><\/span><\/p><p>When people talk about the musical legacy of The Smiths, the conversation is usually about Morrissey and Marr\u2026 but not one of those iconic records would have sounded right without the impeccable basslines of Andy Rourke providing a foundation for, and counterpoint to, Marr\u2019s guitar. The Smiths' bassist played a key role in shaping their sound.<\/p><p>And that leaves us with the question of exactly how he got the sound that supported The Smiths\u2019 finest tunes. His playing is clearly the most important factor, but his gear also played an essential role. So, here\u2019s our rundown of <strong>Andy Rourke\u2019s bass setup<\/strong>.<\/p><hr \/><h3>In a hurry?<\/h3><p>[table id=393 \/]<\/p><hr \/><h3>Andy Rourke\u2019s basses<\/h3><h4>Guild B-301<\/h4><p>Way back in the beginning, in early 1983, Andy Rourke played a Guild B-301. It\u2019s a lovely, simple bass with a bright, punchy sound that lent itself beautifully to his playing style. In fact, with a single pickup close to the bridge, it may well have helped shape the way Rourke played as he chased that lively tone! It was used both for early recordings and gigging.<\/p><p>By spring of 1983, however, he\u2019d moved on. First to an Antoria Precision Bass copy, before quickly progressing to the real thing. Well, nearly.<\/p><hr \/><h4>Squier Precision Bass<\/h4><p>Moving on from his P-Bass copy, Rourke got himself a Squier. It\u2019s a little unclear whether he used a variety of <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Bass_Guitars\/Fender_Squier_Bass\/Precision\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Squier P-Basses<\/a><\/strong> or simply enjoyed modifying the one he had. Either way, the Squier he started playing at gigs in July 1983 was the starting point of a love affair with the feel and sound of the Precision Bass.<\/p><p>The video for \"This Charming Man\" sees Rourke playing a black Squier P-Bass with a black scratch plate and maple fretboard. This remained his main bass for the rest of 1983 and into 1984. He also played a similar Squier, albeit with a rosewood board, on Top of the Pops in June 1984.<\/p><hr \/><h4>Yamaha BB2000<\/h4><p>Stepping away from the P-bass for a moment \u2013 don\u2019t worry, we\u2019ll get back to it shortly! \u2013 Rourke also had a Yamaha BB2000 for what he called \u201cthe funky stuff.\u201d The fantastic line that makes \"Barbarism Begins at Home\" so good? That\u2019s the Yamaha.<\/p><p>As well as recording with it, Rourke took the Yamaha on tour from 1984 onwards, using it for a single song (\"Meat is Murder\") at each show on the 1985 Spanish tour. It also went on The Smiths\u2019 Scottish tour the same year. As late as April 1987, just months before The Smiths came to an end, Rourke used the Yamaha on a live performance for <em>The Tube<\/em>.<\/p><hr \/><h4>Fender Precision Bass<\/h4><p>This is the big one, Rourke's main love, the bass he used more than any other, the first true electric bass guitar ever made: the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Guitar-and-Bass\/Fender-American-Professional-II-Precision-Bass-RW-3-Tone-Sunburst\/3IZ9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fender Precision Bass<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p><p>His main Precision was a 1964 model bought at Manny\u2019s Music in New York after the band signed with Sire:<\/p><p><em>\u201cI picked out this old beat-up bass because its label said 1964 \u2013 same year I was born. It has a really warm sound. When you crank it, it has a good growl that I don\u2019t think you can get from any other bass.\u201d\u00a0<\/em>- Andy Rourke.<\/p><p>But that\u2019s not the whole P-Bass story. Rourke also had a 1962 Fiesta Red model and an Olympic white \u201966. These three Precision Basses were used for the vast majority of recording and touring throughout 1984 to 1986, and into the early part of 1987.<\/p><p>Following the ending of The Smiths, Rourke used P-basses regularly for session and live work.<\/p><hr \/><h4>Fender Jazz Bass<\/h4><p>Clearly a devotee of Fender basses, Rourke moved from his trusty Precision to a <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Guitar-and-Bass\/Fender-Made-in-Japan-Traditional-Late-60s-Jazz-Bass-RW-3-Color-Sunburst\/7KKE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jazz Bass with a sunburst finish<\/a><\/strong> that was used for TV appearances early in 1987. In fact, it was the last bass that Rourke used in The Smiths. As with his Fender Precision basses, he went on to use Jazz Basses for session work and live performances after The Smiths.<\/p>[caption id=\"attachment_50949\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"600\"]<img class=\"wp-image-50949 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/03\/Johnny-Marr-Andy-Rourke-600x300.jpg\" alt=\"Johnny Marr + Andy Rourke\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" \/> Creative Commons License by <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Johnny_Marr_%2B_Andy_Rourke_-_10899288335.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Vladimir<\/a>[\/caption]<hr \/><h3>Amps of choice<\/h3><h4>Peavey Mark III bass head<\/h4><p>Early on, Andy Rourke used a Peavey Mark III bass head. The Mark III is a punchy, aggressive-sounding amp with a strong midrange presence, ideal for melodic basslines that need to cut through a mix.<\/p><p>To emphasise this midrange, Rourke ran the head through an OHM 4x10 cabinet, as well as a 1x15 that gave him the bass thump he needed live. It\u2019s a popular bass cab setup, and it was one he used throughout his career.<\/p><hr \/><h4>Trace Elliott GP-11<\/h4><p>As the band toured and recorded, Rourke moved from the Peavey to a Trace Elliott GP-11. The GP-11 name refers to the amp\u2019s Graphic Preamp with an 11-band EQ, something that set the amp apart and made it extremely versatile. It seems very likely that this was a big part of what led to Rourke making the switch.<\/p><p>Again, he ran it through the classic <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/bass-guitars\/bass-amps\/amp-cabs?page=1&filters[141]=1498&filters[501]=3624\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">4x10<\/a><\/strong> and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/bass-guitars\/bass-amps\/amp-cabs?page=1&filters[141]=1500&filters[501]=3621\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">1x15<\/a><\/strong> pairing, though he chose to use matching Trace Elliott cabs with the GP-11.<\/p><hr \/><h3>Andy Rourke\u2019s effects<\/h3><h4>Boss CE-2 chorus<\/h4><p>The bass underpinned the achingly atmospheric and swirling textures of The Smiths\u2019 work, and careful use of chorus helped to widen the bass sound on tracks like \"This Charming Man\" and \"Barbarism Begins at Home\". While Rourke never went overboard with effects, the subtle use of chorus helped create that full, lush sound we associate with The Smiths.<\/p><hr \/><h4>Boss GE-10 equalizer<\/h4><p>As a bassist with a very clear idea of how he wanted his instrument to sound, Rourke made use of a Boss GE-10 equalizer. This 10-band EQ pedal was primarily part of his touring rig, helping to ensure he was able to recreate his recorded sound live.<\/p>[caption id=\"attachment_50950\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"600\"]<img class=\"wp-image-50950 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/03\/The-Smiths-1984-600x300.jpg\" alt=\"The Smiths 1984\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" \/> Creative Commons License by <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:The_Smiths_(1984_Sire_publicity_photo)_001.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Paul Cox; distributed by Sire Records<\/a>[\/caption]<hr \/><h3>FAQs<\/h3><h4>What bass did Andy Rourke use?<\/h4><p>Andy Rourke used several basses throughout his career, but his main instrument was a 1964 Fender Precision Bass. Prior to that, he used a Squier Precision bass and an Antoria copy of the same instrument. In later years, he also used a Fender Jazz Bass.<\/p><hr \/><h4>How did Andy Rourke tune his bass?<\/h4><p>Andy Rourke tuned his bass up a full step to F# for early recordings, moving to standard tuning (E-A-D-G) for later albums. He also used drop-D for some songs. He used lighter gauge strings for the higher tuning to reduce tension. On later tours, he kept a bass tuned to F# for older songs.<\/p><hr \/><h4>Did Andy Rourke use a pick?<\/h4><p>Andy Rourke regularly used a pick, playing close to the bridge of his bass. This enabled him to get a very bright tone that suited his playing style and basslines. That bright bass tone, combined with his choice of gear, produced his instantly recognisable sound.<\/p><hr \/><h3>Final thoughts<\/h3><p>As always, the key to a player\u2019s sound is the way they play\u2026 but getting the gear right can get you well on the way. Hopefully our guide to <strong>Andy Rourke\u2019s bass setup<\/strong> has given you some insight and perhaps some inspiration!<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[243,105],"tags":[168,290,107],"class_list":["post-50888","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guitar-guides","category-guitars-bass","tag-bass","tag-guide","tag-guitars"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Andy Rourke&#039;s Bass Setup - A Guide to The Smiths Bassist&#039;s Gear<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Here\u2019s a rundown of Andy Rourke\u2019s bass setup. 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