Bassist Glenn Hughes played in some of the seminal hard rock bands of the 60s and 70s, including Deep Purple and Trapeze. Hughes has also done session work with artists too numerous to list. His last several solo efforts have featured his good friend, Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, as rhythm section.

“Chad and I have been working together for 4 years solid.” says Hughes." Chili Peppers make a record every four years or so, and then tour. During the downtime he makes records with me and tours with me when he can. He’s an animal. He loves to play. Everything I do solo has Chad on it--There's no better drummer than he is.”

Next spring Hughes will release a new record which he is writing in October. He plans to be on the road in 2008 and even though this is far in the future Hughes says he is usually good on keeping on schedule.

After almost 40 years in music and with a schedule and output that is still constant Hughes has some news on the degree to which gear has changed in rock music.

“It hasn’t changed at all." he says.

Hughes still swears by Fenders (although he has had signature basses with other companies). He also says that back in the days he was with Deep Purple, all the tracks were cut live in the studio and he has come back to that way of working on his recent solo efforts. The Ampeg SVT is his amplifier of choice. Which bass he uses is complicated by sheer numbers.

“I have literally--I won’t say how many. You’d freak.” says Hughes. “The 65 P-Bass is the best sounding bass I have ever heard. I met someone who had one and I bought it. I am an old Fender guy, been playing them since 68.”

He is also an avid Jazz bass fanatic and has a 63 Fender Jazz Bass that still has the price tag.

“It has the sound I had in Deep Purple and Trapeze, that piano string sound. You get an incredible 60s sound,” says Hughes. “I am always looking for a great bass sound.”

But it isn’t all in the instrument. Mostly it is the person playing the instrument.

"It is all in the fingers," says Hughes. “I have seen Jeff Beck pick up a not so great guitar and he still sounded like Jeff Beck.”

Over the years Hughes has played and endorsed basses other than Fenders. He had a signature model with Manne and played their basses for two year. He is now working out the details on a new signature model with Yamaha; a company that gave Hughes a bass when he was playing in Japan in 1975. Hughes wants a particular sort of sound from this new signature bass.

“I want something that sounds like a cross between a Jazz and a P-Bass with passive pick-ups.” he says.

Hughes says that he uses more effects these days.

“I use Digitech Wah pedal--set on wah and synth-- like a Bootsy Collins sound; a Stevie Wonder sound. I call it the green goblin,” says Hughes. "“The envelope is so cool. Digitech is a great company.”

When it comes to strings Hughes is unequivocal. He says that he feels like he finally came home to D'Addarrio.

“I used D’Addarrio because they get the cleanest sound. Remember I have been around--been all over the place," says Hughes. “If you like a round piano string sound.”

Finally for all you new bass players, or prospective bass players; what does Hughes say should be your first bass?

“I would go to the cheaper model Fender, stock Squire. Because it is the best sounding instrument. I would go for the passive set up--a more natural bass sound," says Hughes. “It is not how much you spend. It is what it sounds like. You can spend $250 . . . and get a decent bass.”

Remember, ultimately it is all in the fingers.