Dougie Poynter

[RyanO'Neal]

Hey there!
I'm only on this forum since yesterday (and it's great) but I was wondering: Why is there almost no post/thread concerning Dougie Poynter?
For those of you who don't know, he is the bassist of British Pop Band McFly. He started of using Fender basses but switched to different Stingray 4 for the second album. Since their third album, he has been exclusively using the Sterling 4 in many different custom colors. He has a yellow one with inlays and a brown one with custom paintjob by Drew Brophy. Furthermore some of his basses are equipped with LEDs. He has those basses in blue sparkle, pink sparkle, green and two in white. The white ones and the Drew Brophy one have an extra singlecoil. His newest addition is a black Music Man Reflex HH.

As such a dedicated Music man User (and really good bassplayer), there should be a little more about him on this forum!

Regards
Nick

McFly Live at Wembley - Lies - YouTube (one of his solos at 2:40)

 

[RyanO'Neal]

Bump

 

[Aussie Mark]

I was wondering: Why is there almost no post/thread concerning Dougie Poynter?

For the same reason there isn't a thread about Todd Hunter, or the guy in Eskimo Joe - because nobody in the USA knows who they are.

 

[adouglas]

Welcome, Nick!

Looks like you've already volunteered to give Dougie more exposure here.

I think Mark's on target. I don't know who Dougie Poynter is and wouldn't know McFly if they walked in my door, but then I'm an old fart and pretty much stopped paying attention decades ago.

There's also the fact that this is the bass forum, which is about, well, basses, as in gear. That's the theory, anyway. It hasn't stopped bassist threads from popping up pretty regularly.

EBMM has been kind enough to provide an artist forum... perhaps that's the right place to dive into deep discussions of bands and their bass players.

 

[Movielife]

Dougie recently won 'I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here', and his band are HUGE in the UK, especially with the younger ladies. Even guys like myself (I'm 30) admit that the band are pretty damn good live....and play much heavier than you'd think. It ain't all sugar-like pop!

Dougie plays Stingrays/Sterlings, and I've seen a bit of info saying he has a black Reflex!

 

[bovinehost]

More photos, then! Bring on the Dougie!

 

[RyanO'Neal]

It's a shame that Dougie and McFly aren't more famous outside of the UK. As you can see, I'm from Germany and noone knows them overhere. But they really have some skills, and as you said they are pretty damn good live.
I just thought it would be nice to discuss the gear he uses as all of his Sterlings are customized which is pretty interesting. Also, a lot of McFly songs are really bass driven such as Too Close For Comfort. Well, I will post some pictures now!

 

[RyanO'Neal]

Stingrays during the beginning (2004):


Switched to Sterlings in 2006. This one in yellow with inlays:


Sterling HS with LEDs (2011):


New Reflex (not seen live yet) with Danny Jones:

 

[RyanO'Neal]

But I guess he's treating them rough:

 

[nurnay]

But I guess he's treating them rough:
View attachment 17306

Ouch

 

[drTStingray]

his band are HUGE in the UK, especially with the younger ladies

They've had several top 10 singles in the UK - in fact have been an act as big as any of the Pop Idol/X Factor ones - a boy band with guitars - I was shocked when I heard them do a version of Thin Lizzy's 'The Boyz are Back in Town' - it was excellent and with a fantastic bass sound.

(A Douglas and anyone else who hasn't heard of them - Thin Lizzy are an Irish/UK based rock band v popular in the 70s/80s - strangely with a bass player as lead singer, and the side act being guitar heros of the like of Gary Moore....and Midge Ure I found out the other day (for part of one US tour) - I'm guessing you all may have known this.....but just in case)

 

[bassmonkeee]

Heh...Thin Lizzy we know...

 

[cellkirk74]

A nice story and I will check this band out, but for some reasons I am stuck with the flux compensator....

Oh, and I am still not getting the LED-thing. I think that looks ugly almost all the time.

 

[Movielife]

I've never liked LED's on basses. Weird 80s concept...that never looked that good.

 

[drTStingray]

Heh...Thin Lizzy we know...

A trip to a Level 42 concert may help with the LED understanding thing - I saw them last year (for the third time - once in 81, once in 1990 and then 2011!) - they come on to a completely black and dark stage except the blue spot LEDs on the bass neck, and a broad red one at the 12 th fret - sort of Star Wars ish - followed by a torrent of mid 80s pop/jazz/funk/rock. Great stuff if you were there the first time round - huge numbers of 30 to 40 years olds (probably at least 50% women) who grew up to these guys in clubs in the 80s. Oh and he's a pretty hot bass player

 

[RyanO'Neal]

Oh my, I love those LEDs. In fact, my Sterling is fitted with LEDs. I really love the look, although it can be annoying when playing in smaller rooms. That thing easily illuminates a whole stage! I espacially like the orange LEDs on Dougies white Sterling as they are more subtle. But well, each to his own.

For all of you who don't know McFly and would like to check out Dougie and his skills, I recommend you listen to any of these songs:
Too Close For Comfort
Lies
Fight For Your Right
I Wanna Hold You
Corrupted

And as Movielife said, listen to the songs live. The album versions are usually softer and seem as they have exclusively been made for girls under 18.

 

[Aussie Mark]

All I can think is that British bass players like LEDs because of the fog.

 

[TheAntMan]

To heck with the whole LED thing. He likes it so he has it.

I really like the band. They are fun, energetic and the music is catchy.

Thanks for the post R.O'N and welcome

--Ant

 

[drTStingray]

All I can think is that British bass players like LEDs because of the fog.

Ha ha - you could well be right - we don't get fog quite so much - it's often nice and sunny and warm these days - even in mid winter - hmmm global warming?

LEDs are good in dry ice fog on stage I hear. I'm with you guys though - LEDs have never really been something which has much appealed to me - I guess blue ones might be nice on a blue dawn bass with rosewood board.

Dougie is a v good player with great taste in basses - it's refreshing to see a pop band bass player who can play well and is jumping out of the 'vintage' mould.

Likewise thanks for posting Ryan.

 

[RyanO'Neal]

You're all very welcome and maybe some people will check out Dougie after scrolling through this thread. After all: Objective complete ;-)