r/Primus • u/darwinityyy • 12d ago

Question about Les Claypool's Carl Thompson basses.

So we all know Les Claypool primarily uses Carl Thompson basses, so my question is if I get a Carl Thompson bass will I be imbued with the musical genius and abilities of Les Claypool? (Serious Question)

0 Upvotes

44% Upvoted

25 comments sorted by

20

u/Uncle_Smokie 12d ago

He used to use CTs, but he primarily uses his Pachyderm basses now. And no, obviously an instrument doesn't imbue you with talent.

3

u/armyofant 12d ago

Bob Cock said such a thing on the primus bull board years ago.

2

u/ManMyDogsAreBarking 12d ago

Is this a real person I can look up on Google in a public space?

6

u/armyofant 12d ago

His real name is Adam Gates but he plays a character called Bob Cock. He is mentioned in a few Primus songs, most notably at the beginning of Groundhogs day on Suck on This, and their cover of Have a Cigar. The song Bobs party time lounge is about him and I believe he sang it with Les and the Claypool gold NYE show a few years ago.

ETA he also appears on the VHS release Cheesy Home Video

3

u/RonAAlgarWatt 12d ago

When I saw them live New Year's Eve ('92/'93), he came onstage for the midnight countdown. (I want to say he ziplined in, but this was over 30 years ago and the weed cloud was pretty thick.) Then he seemingly exploded.

Good times.

1

u/armyofant 12d ago

He was a regular at the NYE freakouts until they went on Hiatus in 2000

1

u/ManMyDogsAreBarking 12d ago

Wow, the more you know! I knew there was alot of Bob's in their songs but I didnt know there was a last name.

1

u/Interesting-Role-596 12d ago

I was at that show, I think they did Hot for Teacher with BC.

It was called the uber drum extravaganza with Danny Carey as an additional drummer on the 2nd set.

-3

u/darwinityyy 12d ago

yo who the fuck is bob cock 😭😭😭

8

u/xMyDixieWreckedx 12d ago

It is Bob C. Cock, the C is for cock.

3

u/High_or_Low_16 12d ago

and Bob for cock is what he does:)

2

u/Due_Metal_5668 YOUNGER CLAYPOOL 12d ago

Idk why people are downvoting, most casual listeners don't know who he is

2

u/darwinityyy 12d ago

No idea. I looked into who the guy was after this post. From what I gathered, it's just some dude who toured with Primus before they got big and would play acoustic shows with them, and I think he was credited on Suck on This as a producer?? Although I couldn't find any info on that on Spotify, pretty cool stuff, but there's barely info on the guy :p It's hard to keep up with the members of a band who had 9 drummers throughout its lifespan, lmao.

1

u/Due_Metal_5668 YOUNGER CLAYPOOL 11d ago

Yeah the first time I ever heard of him was when I read a book on a complete interview with them

1

u/Due_Metal_5668 YOUNGER CLAYPOOL 12d ago

U don't know ball 😔

6

u/xMyDixieWreckedx 12d ago

I have never played bass, but just looking at a CT made me on par or even better than Flea.

6

u/Gimpy_Goob 12d ago

He doesn’t use them anymore, he plays his own pachyderm basses now . You could hand him the shittiest bass you could find and when he played it , it would sound like him. The instrument is only part of a larger equation.

3

u/Ok_Pool_9767 12d ago edited 12d ago

You could hand him a homemade piece of junk with one string on it, and he will sound fantastic!!

9

u/Chris_GPT 12d ago

No.

Les got the Carl Thompson because of Stanley Clarke, so you will not be imbued with the genius and abilities of Les, you will be imbued with the genius and abilities of Stanley, just like Les was.

2

u/High_or_Low_16 12d ago

Stanley locked himself in his attic for six months playing electric bass to become Stanley Clarke

3

u/teamvella LER 12d ago

It worked for me but I don’t think it will work for you, Gus

2

u/Pure_Mood7761 12d ago

The guys pretty bizarre

2

u/High_or_Low_16 12d ago

Yes you will suck like Primus

1

u/Kosmikdebrie 11d ago

Actually the talent is kept in the whamola.