John Entwistle's bass strings: The Who's lead-bass canon, sourced
Documented bass-string gauges, brands, and tunings John Entwistle used with The Who (1964-2002). Rotosound Swing Bass 66 documented historical use, multiple Fender + Alembic + Status Graphite basses, defining lead-bass voice in rock. Historical, with citations.
The Who · reviewed by the Change Your Strings editorial team ·
John Alec Entwistle (October 9, 1944 – June 27, 2002), nicknamed The Ox + Thunderfingers, was The Who's bassist + co-founding member from 1964 until his death in 2002. Documented Rotosound Swing Bass 66 user across the canonical Who catalog (My Generation, 1965; Tommy, 1969; Who's Next, 1971; Quadrophenia, 1973). Played Fender Jazz + Precision in the early Who era, then Alembic in the mid-1970s, then Status Graphite Buzzard signature basses from the 1980s onward. The defining lead-bass voice in rock; few bassists in history have played as melodically prominent a role in their band's sound. Died unexpectedly the day before The Who's 2002 reunion tour was to begin. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with The Who (1990).
Strings John Entwistle played
Historical use · documented by the Change Your Strings editorial team · Affiliate links
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At a glance
Active
Affiliations
- The Who (bassist + co-founding member, 1964–2002)
- John Entwistle Band (solo, 1973–2001)
- The Ox (solo project name)
- Rotosound Swing Bass 66 (documented historical, foundational user)
- Fender Jazz Bass + Precision (early Who era)
- Alembic basses (mid-1970s)
- Status Graphite Buzzard (signature instrument 1980s+)
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with The Who (1990)
Notable credits
- The Who, My Generation (1965)
- The Who, A Quick One (1966)
- The Who, Sell Out (1967)
- The Who, Tommy (1969)
- The Who, Live at Leeds (1970)
- The Who, Who's Next (1971)
- The Who, Quadrophenia (1973)
- John Entwistle, Smash Your Head Against the Wall (1971, solo debut)
Who John Entwistle was
John Alec Entwistle, born October 9, 1944, in Chiswick, London, was The Who's bassist + co-founding member from 1964 until his death on June 27, 2002. He recorded with the band from My Generation (1965) through Endless Wire (the 2006 record completed posthumously with Pino Palladino on bass), with the canonical catalog spanning Tommy (1969), Live at Leeds (1970), Who's Next (1971), and Quadrophenia (1973).
Documented Rotosound Swing Bass 66 user across the catalog. Played Fender (early), Gibson Thunderbird + EB-3 (mid-1960s), Alembic (mid-1970s), and Status Graphite Buzzard signature (1980s onward).
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with The Who (1990).
Style signatures
Three things across The Who catalog you can identify as Entwistle's:
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Treble-forward + harmonically rich tone. Rotosound stainless + active electronics + treble-boosted preamps; the bass sits at the front of The Who's mix in a way few major-band rock bassists ever achieved.
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Three-finger right-hand technique. Hand speed beyond standard rock bassists; the technique supported The Who's loud + busy arrangements + Pete Townshend's windmill-strum guitar attack.
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Lead-bass passages + bass solos. The 'My Generation' bass break (1965) is one of the canonical bass solos in rock, predating most of the lead-bass vocabulary that came later.
Related
Documented strings. Rotosound Swing Bass 66 (.045-.105) as the documented historical production set across The Who catalog.
Bassist hub. Bassists index. Historical British-rock-bass canon parallel: John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin), Lemmy Kilmister (Motörhead), Paul McCartney (Beatles, contemporary peer), Steve Harris (Iron Maiden, Rotosound continuation).
Related locations. London, England (Entwistle's origin + The Who's home).