Chi Cheng (musician)
Encyclopedia
Chi Cheng, is a Chinese American
musician
, best known as the bass guitarist
for the American band Deftones
.
. He is the author of a collection of poetry
entitled The Bamboo Parachute
released in 2000 as a spoken word
album
. He has a wife, Colleen, and a son with ex-wife Adrienne. He is also a practicing Buddhist, and maintains an interest in Taoism
and Shamanism
.
Cheng also sponsors a community service group based out of the band's hometown of Sacramento, California
. The group aids homeless citizens in developing their musical talents, among other things. Cheng is also a vegetarian. During college, he read No Denial!: A Handbook for Becoming a Socially, Environmentally, and Personally Responsible Citizen of the Planet by Neill S. Cohen and decided to make the switch.
, on November 4, 2008. Cheng had been traveling with his sister, Mae, when their vehicle flipped three times after hitting another car going 60 mph, ultimately ejecting Cheng, who was in the passenger seat, not wearing a seat belt
. Mae sustained more minor injuries, as she had been wearing her seat belt. She attended to Cheng, holding his head until two off-duty EMTs approached, fortunate to have had medical equipment with them. They were able to insert a tube into Cheng's throat
to help him breathe until the ambulance arrived, to which action doctors later attributed his survival.
Deftones vocalist Chino Moreno
stated on the Deftones' blog:
The accident left Cheng in a coma, and Deftones announced in February, 2009 that the band would perform at Bamboozle Left in April, with their friend Sergio Vega
(formerly of Quicksand
) filling in for Cheng on stage. On April 26, Cheng was readmitted to ICU following a near-fatal septicemia infection; he survived the infection following treatment and was released from ICU about a week later. Following the release, a rumor started to spread in early May that Cheng had awakened fully from his coma but this was denied on oneloveforchi.com, stating that Cheng is in a semi-conscious state
. On August 18, Cheng underwent surgery to replace a bone flap in his skull that had been removed after the accident, in order to relieve intracranial pressure
.
Oneloveforchi.com was created in March to help raise funds for Cheng and his medical expenses, where fans can donate to help towards an initial target of $20,000 (later raised to $50,000, $100,000 and then again to $500,000 in 2010). It is also a place where fans can read personal blogs and comments from the Cheng family, and record a message that will be played to Cheng to further speed his recovery. In late April, PETA
announced that 20% of the income from a "Happy Families, Not Happy Meals" T-shirt designed by Chi would go to the One Love For Chi foundation. There is also a "Get well soon" card on MySpace
for Cheng that fans from all over the world can sign by posting comments. Fans and some rock celebrities have posted comments, including Sonic Youth
, Thursday
, The Used
, Flaw, Evans Blue
, Ill Niño
, and Limp Bizkit
's Fred Durst
.
On April 27, Shepard Fairey
put three signed copies of his Obama inauguration posters
up for auction on eBay
, with the proceeds of the auction going to the One Love For Chi foundation.
Long time friend and fellow bassist Fieldy of Korn
has recorded an instrumental song along with other musicians. All proceeds will be donated to Chi's family. The song entitled "A Song for Chi
" was released for free via digital download
on its official website where donations to Cheng and his family are also accepted. A few months later, in October, Răzvan Rădulescu (aka DJ Hefe) of the Romanian nu metal band Coma, released a compilation album entitled From Eastern Europe with Love, featuring bands from Romania
, Hungary
, Bulgaria
, Republic of Macedonia
, and Serbia
- the proceeds from the sale of the album will also go to the One Love For Chi foundation.
Deftones
played a two-night benefit show on November 19–20 at Avalon
in Hollywood. Proceeds went to the Chi Ling Cheng Special Needs Trust. Guests included Far
, Cypress Hill
, Rodleen Getsic
, Ben Kenney
, Greg Puciato
, Rick Verret, Tommy Lee
, Mike Shinoda
, P.O.D.
, Mark McGrath
, Xzibit
, Robert Trujillo
, Rocky George
and Mike Muir
(Suicidal Tendencies
), Dave Lombardo
, Alexi Laiho
, Daron Malakian
, Shavo Odadjian
, John Dolmayan
, and Max Cavalera
.
As of May 2010, Chi Cheng has shown significant signs of improvement, as he is able to track individual people with his eyes, occasionally make worded responses, and slightly move his hands. Chino Moreno has stated that the Cheng family will be paying a doctor with the International Brain Research Foundation, who is experienced in the field of coma and trauma patients using funds raised through oneloveforchi.com to use an experimental medicine to bring Chi out of his coma-like state. The treatment has an 84% success rate. As of May 2011, Cheng is currently undergoing rehabilitation and more operations in New Jersey. As of October 2011, Cheng is beginning to use vocalizations
On tour, Cheng uses around 5 or 6 basses. His main basses are two '59 Fender Precision Bass
Reissues which both feature a Precision Bass Split-coil Pickup (Mid), and a Humbucking Pickup (Bridge); made by Alex Perez of the Fender Custom Shop
. Cheng also uses a '51 Fender Precision Bass tuned in EADG, for all Adrenaline
songs.
Cheng occasionally makes innovative use of a fretless 4 string Precision Bass with a single EMG
split pickup (mid). The smooth slides can be heard on tracks such as "Knife Prty" from the album White Pony
.
Although he generally prefers to stick to 4-Strings, Cheng acknowledged that he pulled out a couple of Fender 5-Strings during the making of Deftones' self-titled album
. Ever since, until the accident, he played a Fender Roscoe Beck
V 5-String Bass when performing live.
2 Pro Heads, two Ampeg 8x10 Cabinets and a rack-mounted Tech 21
SansAmp PSA-1 for extra distortion. He also uses a Boss
OD-3 OverDrive and Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble pedals.
Chinese American
Chinese Americans represent Americans of Chinese descent. Chinese Americans constitute one group of overseas Chinese and also a subgroup of East Asian Americans, which is further a subgroup of Asian Americans...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, best known as the bass guitarist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
for the American band Deftones
Deftones
Deftones are an American alternative metal band from Sacramento, California, founded in 1988. The band consists of Chino Moreno , Stephen Carpenter , Chi Cheng , Frank Delgado , and Abe Cunningham . Currently Sergio Vega is standing in on bass while Cheng recovers from a car accident...
.
Personal life
Cheng went to school for a little while at CSU SacramentoCalifornia State University, Sacramento
California State University, Sacramento, popularly known as Sacramento State, is a public university located in the city of Sacramento, California. It is part of the California State University system...
. He is the author of a collection of poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
entitled The Bamboo Parachute
The Bamboo Parachute
The Bamboo Parachute is a spoken word album by Deftones bassist Chi Cheng.-Track listing:# "The Man Who Made October" - 1:18# "The Receiving Line" - 0:42# "Goin' South" - 0:43# "Bitter Angels" - 0:42# "Beautiful Life That Is Jodie - 0:09# "Witness" - 0:39...
released in 2000 as a spoken word
Spoken word
Spoken word is a form of poetry that often uses alliterated prose or verse and occasionally uses metered verse to express social commentary. Traditionally it is in the first person, is from the poet’s point of view and is themed in current events....
album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
. He has a wife, Colleen, and a son with ex-wife Adrienne. He is also a practicing Buddhist, and maintains an interest in Taoism
Taoism
Taoism refers to a philosophical or religious tradition in which the basic concept is to establish harmony with the Tao , which is the mechanism of everything that exists...
and Shamanism
Shamanism
Shamanism is an anthropological term referencing a range of beliefs and practices regarding communication with the spiritual world. To quote Eliade: "A first definition of this complex phenomenon, and perhaps the least hazardous, will be: shamanism = technique of ecstasy." Shamanism encompasses the...
.
Cheng also sponsors a community service group based out of the band's hometown of Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
. The group aids homeless citizens in developing their musical talents, among other things. Cheng is also a vegetarian. During college, he read No Denial!: A Handbook for Becoming a Socially, Environmentally, and Personally Responsible Citizen of the Planet by Neill S. Cohen and decided to make the switch.
Car accident
Cheng was seriously injured in an automobile accident in Santa Clara, CaliforniaSanta Clara, California
Santa Clara , founded in 1777 and incorporated in 1852, is a city in Santa Clara County, in the U.S. state of California. The city is the site of the eighth of 21 California missions, Mission Santa Clara de Asís, and was named after the mission. The Mission and Mission Gardens are located on the...
, on November 4, 2008. Cheng had been traveling with his sister, Mae, when their vehicle flipped three times after hitting another car going 60 mph, ultimately ejecting Cheng, who was in the passenger seat, not wearing a seat belt
Seat belt
A seat belt or seatbelt, sometimes called a safety belt, is a safety harness designed to secure the occupant of a vehicle against harmful movement that may result from a collision or a sudden stop...
. Mae sustained more minor injuries, as she had been wearing her seat belt. She attended to Cheng, holding his head until two off-duty EMTs approached, fortunate to have had medical equipment with them. They were able to insert a tube into Cheng's throat
Tracheal intubation
Tracheal intubation, usually simply referred to as intubation, is the placement of a flexible plastic or rubber tube into the trachea to maintain an open airway or to serve as a conduit through which to administer certain drugs...
to help him breathe until the ambulance arrived, to which action doctors later attributed his survival.
Deftones vocalist Chino Moreno
Chino Moreno
Chino Moreno is an American musician. He is best known as the lead singer and contributing guitarist of Deftones. He is also a member of the side-project bands Team Sleep and Crosses....
stated on the Deftones' blog:
It deeply saddens me to inform you all that our brother Chi Cheng was involved in a terrible car accident last night. He is currently in a Northern California Hospital in serious, but stable condition. I am on my way up North right now to be by his side along with the rest of our band mates and family. Chi is one of the strongest people I know, and I'm praying that his strength will get him through this. Please say a prayer for him as well.
The accident left Cheng in a coma, and Deftones announced in February, 2009 that the band would perform at Bamboozle Left in April, with their friend Sergio Vega
Sergio Vega (bassist)
Sergio Vega is an American musician. He is the former bassist of post-hardcore band Quicksand, which originated in New York City in 1990. In 1995, Quicksand disbanded, although they reunited again in 1997 to tour with Deftones...
(formerly of Quicksand
Quicksand (band)
Quicksand was an American post-hardcore band from New York City founded in 1990 by singer/songwriter Walter Schreifels. Their debut self-titled EP was followed by two major label albums, Slip and Manic Compression...
) filling in for Cheng on stage. On April 26, Cheng was readmitted to ICU following a near-fatal septicemia infection; he survived the infection following treatment and was released from ICU about a week later. Following the release, a rumor started to spread in early May that Cheng had awakened fully from his coma but this was denied on oneloveforchi.com, stating that Cheng is in a semi-conscious state
Minimally conscious state
Minimally Conscious State is a disorder of consciousness distinct from Persistent vegetative state and Locked-in syndrome. Unlike persistent vegetative state, patients with MCS have partial preservation of conscious awareness. MCS is a relatively new category of disorders of consciousness. The...
. On August 18, Cheng underwent surgery to replace a bone flap in his skull that had been removed after the accident, in order to relieve intracranial pressure
Intracranial pressure
Intracranial pressure is the pressure inside the skull and thus in the brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid . The body has various mechanisms by which it keeps the ICP stable, with CSF pressures varying by about 1 mmHg in normal adults through shifts in production and absorption of CSF...
.
Oneloveforchi.com was created in March to help raise funds for Cheng and his medical expenses, where fans can donate to help towards an initial target of $20,000 (later raised to $50,000, $100,000 and then again to $500,000 in 2010). It is also a place where fans can read personal blogs and comments from the Cheng family, and record a message that will be played to Cheng to further speed his recovery. In late April, PETA
Peta
Peta can refer to:* peta-, an SI prefix denoting a factor of 1015* Peta, Greece, a town in Greece* Peta, the Pāli word for a Preta, or hungry ghost in Buddhism* Peta Wilson, an Australian actress and model* Peta Todd, English glamour model...
announced that 20% of the income from a "Happy Families, Not Happy Meals" T-shirt designed by Chi would go to the One Love For Chi foundation. There is also a "Get well soon" card on MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
for Cheng that fans from all over the world can sign by posting comments. Fans and some rock celebrities have posted comments, including Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Steve Shelley , and Mark Ibold .In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City...
, Thursday
Thursday (band)
Thursday were an American rock band from New Brunswick, New Jersey. Formed in 1997, the group has released six full-length albums, their most recent being No Devolución, which was released in April 2011 on Epitaph Records...
, The Used
The Used
The Used is an American rock band from Orem, Utah. The band was founded in 2001 and signed to Reprise Records the same year. They rose to fame in June 2002 after releasing their self-titled debut album. They followed up with their second album, In Love and Death, in September 2004 and their third...
, Flaw, Evans Blue
Evans Blue
Evans Blue is an alternative rock band from Toronto, Ontario, Canada founded in 2005.- Origins :Evans Blue came together in early 2005. Five musicians, then in three separate bands, met through a local musician's message board...
, Ill Niño
Ill Niño
Ill Niño is an American six-piece metal band from New Jersey founded in 1998. The band has sold over 3.3 million units worldwide; they have 5 studio albums and 10 music videos.-History:...
, and Limp Bizkit
Limp Bizkit
Limp Bizkit is an American rock band from Jacksonville, Florida. Formed in 1995, the group's lineup consists of Fred Durst , Wes Borland , Sam Rivers , John Otto and DJ Lethal . The band achieved mainstream success with their second studio album Significant Other, released in 1999...
's Fred Durst
Fred Durst
William Frederick "Fred" Durst is an American musician, director, producer and actor, well known as the frontman of the band Limp Bizkit.-Early life:...
.
On April 27, Shepard Fairey
Shepard Fairey
Frank Shepard Fairey is an American contemporary graphic designer, and illustrator who emerged from the skateboarding scene. He first became known for his "André the Giant Has a Posse" sticker campaign, in which he appropriated images from the comedic supermarket tabloid Weekly World News. His...
put three signed copies of his Obama inauguration posters
Barack Obama "Hope" poster
The Barack Obama "Hope" poster is an image of Barack Obama designed by artist Shepard Fairey, which was widely described as iconic and became synonymous with the 2008 Obama presidential campaign...
up for auction on eBay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
, with the proceeds of the auction going to the One Love For Chi foundation.
Long time friend and fellow bassist Fieldy of Korn
Korn
Korn is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The current band line up includes four members: Jonathan Davis, James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, and Ray Luzier. The band was formed as an expansion of L.A.P.D.The band released their first demo album,...
has recorded an instrumental song along with other musicians. All proceeds will be donated to Chi's family. The song entitled "A Song for Chi
A Song for Chi
"A Song for Chi" is an instrumental alternative metal song recorded by several high profiled rock and metal musicians to raise money for poet and Deftones bassist Chi Cheng who was involved in a car accident in Santa Clara, CA, on November 4, 2008 which left Cheng in a coma, later it was revealed...
" was released for free via digital download
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
on its official website where donations to Cheng and his family are also accepted. A few months later, in October, Răzvan Rădulescu (aka DJ Hefe) of the Romanian nu metal band Coma, released a compilation album entitled From Eastern Europe with Love, featuring bands from Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, Republic of Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
, and Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
- the proceeds from the sale of the album will also go to the One Love For Chi foundation.
Deftones
Deftones
Deftones are an American alternative metal band from Sacramento, California, founded in 1988. The band consists of Chino Moreno , Stephen Carpenter , Chi Cheng , Frank Delgado , and Abe Cunningham . Currently Sergio Vega is standing in on bass while Cheng recovers from a car accident...
played a two-night benefit show on November 19–20 at Avalon
Avalon Hollywood
Avalon is a historic night club and music venue in Hollywood, California, located near the intersection of Hollywood and Vine, at 1735 N. Vine Street...
in Hollywood. Proceeds went to the Chi Ling Cheng Special Needs Trust. Guests included Far
Far (band)
Far is a band from Sacramento, USA.-Releases :After a number of local releases including their first demo tape Sweat A River, Live No Lies and two independent albums Listening Game and Quick they signed to Epic/Immortal Records and released their first major record, Tin Cans With Strings To You...
, Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill is an American hip hop group from South Gate, California. Cypress Hill was the first Latino hip-hop group to have platinum and multi-platinum albums, selling over 18 million albums worldwide...
, Rodleen Getsic
Rodleen Getsic
Rodleen Getsic is an American singer, activist, actress, film producer and performance artist.-Biography:...
, Ben Kenney
Ben Kenney
Benjamin Lee Kenney, Sr. , is a musician from Brielle, NJ, and the bassist for the band Incubus.Ben Kenney played guitar for the hip-hop group The Roots before he joined Incubus in 2003 after the departure of bassist and founding member Alex Katunich aka Dirk Lance...
, Greg Puciato
Greg Puciato
Greg Puciato is the lead singer of the band The Dillinger Escape Plan. He is known for his reckless live performances, wide vocal range, and outspoken views, having caused controversy due to both performances and interviews...
, Rick Verret, Tommy Lee
Tommy Lee
Thomas Lee Bass , best known as Tommy Lee, is an American musician and founding member of glam metal band Mötley Crüe. As well as being the band's long-term drummer, Lee founded rap-metal band Methods of Mayhem, and has pursued solo musical projects...
, Mike Shinoda
Mike Shinoda
Michael "Mike" Kenji Shinoda is an American musician, record producer, and artist. He is best known as the rapper, principal songwriter, keyboardist, vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the rock band Linkin Park, along with his co-frontman and lead singer Chester Bennington, and as a solo rapper in...
, P.O.D.
P.O.D.
Payable on Death is an American Christian metal band formed in 1992. The band's line-up consists of vocalist Sonny Sandoval, drummer Wuv Bernardo, guitarist Marcos Curiel, and bassist Traa Daniels. Their Christian faith is an important part of their music.They have released seven studio albums and...
, Mark McGrath
Mark McGrath
Mark Sayers McGrath is an American singer of the rock band Sugar Ray. McGrath is also known for his work as a co-host of Extra, and he was the host of Don't Forget the Lyrics! in 2010...
, Xzibit
Xzibit
Alvin Nathaniel Joiner , better known by his stage name Xzibit , is an American rapper, actor, and television host. He is known as the host of the MTV show Pimp My Ride, which brought him mainstream success...
, Robert Trujillo
Robert Trujillo
Robert Trujillo is an American bassist who currently plays bass in Metallica. He has also played in Suicidal Tendencies, Infectious Grooves, Black Label Society, and with Jerry Cantrell and Ozzy Osbourne.-Career:...
, Rocky George
Rocky George
Rocky George is an American heavy metal guitarist who has been a member of several notable musical acts. George's guitar playing career began in 1982 when he joined a local punk rock band called Pap Smear. He became lead guitarist of Suicidal Tendencies in 1984 and stayed with the band until their...
and Mike Muir
Mike Muir
Mike Muir is the lead vocalist of the Venice skate punk bands Suicidal Tendencies Los Cycos and the funk rock band Infectious Grooves...
(Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies is a U.S. crossover thrash band founded in 1981 in Venice, Los Angeles, California by Mike Muir, its leader and only permanent member. The band is sometimes credited as one of "the fathers of crossover thrash"...
), Dave Lombardo
Dave Lombardo
Dave Lombardo is a Cuban American heavy metal drummer best known for his work with American thrash metal band Slayer. He has performed with Slayer on seven albums, including their groundbreaking 1986 release Reign In Blood and their 2006 release Christ Illusion, for which he received critical praise...
, Alexi Laiho
Alexi Laiho
Alexi "Wildchild" Laiho is a Finnish singer, composer, and guitarist. He is best known for being the lead guitarist as well as lead vocalist for melodic death metal band Children of Bodom, and he is also the guitarist for Sinergy and Kylähullut...
, Daron Malakian
Daron Malakian
Daron Vartan Malakian is an Armenian-American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. He is best known as the guitarist, songwriter, and occasional vocalist of the heavy metal band System of a Down and as the lead vocalist, lead guitarist, and songwriter of the alternative...
, Shavo Odadjian
Shavo Odadjian
Shavarsh "Shavo" Odadjian is an Armenian American songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, music video director/editor, music producer, and artist/painter. He is best known as the bassist, backing vocalist and occasional songwriter of the Grammy Award-winning rock band System of a Down...
, John Dolmayan
John Dolmayan
John William Dolmayan is a Lebanese-born Armenian-American songwriter and drummer. He is best known as the drummer of System of a Down. Dolmayan is also the drummer for the band Scars on Broadway and Indicator....
, and Max Cavalera
Max Cavalera
Massimiliano Antonio "Max" Cavalera is a Brazilian singer, guitarist, and songwriter. He was the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for the heavy metal band Sepultura, before forming Soulfly in the late 1990s...
.
As of May 2010, Chi Cheng has shown significant signs of improvement, as he is able to track individual people with his eyes, occasionally make worded responses, and slightly move his hands. Chino Moreno has stated that the Cheng family will be paying a doctor with the International Brain Research Foundation, who is experienced in the field of coma and trauma patients using funds raised through oneloveforchi.com to use an experimental medicine to bring Chi out of his coma-like state. The treatment has an 84% success rate. As of May 2011, Cheng is currently undergoing rehabilitation and more operations in New Jersey. As of October 2011, Cheng is beginning to use vocalizations
Basses
Cheng exclusively uses Fender Basses.On tour, Cheng uses around 5 or 6 basses. His main basses are two '59 Fender Precision Bass
Fender Precision Bass
The Fender Precision Bass is an electric bass.Designed by Leo Fender as a prototype in 1950 and brought to market in 1951, the Precision was the first electric bass to earn widespread attention and use. A revolutionary instrument for the time, the Precision Bass has made an immeasurable impact on...
Reissues which both feature a Precision Bass Split-coil Pickup (Mid), and a Humbucking Pickup (Bridge); made by Alex Perez of the Fender Custom Shop
Fender Custom Shop
The Fender Custom Shop is a division of Fender Musical Instruments, housed within their headquarters complex in Corona, Riverside County, California. The Fender Custom Shop primarily exists to compete with smaller companies and independent luthiers that, in turn, build products reminiscent of those...
. Cheng also uses a '51 Fender Precision Bass tuned in EADG, for all Adrenaline
Adrenaline (album)
-Personnel:Deftones*Chino Moreno – vocals*Stephen Carpenter – guitars*Chi Cheng – bass guitar, backing vocals*Abe Cunningham – drumsProduction*Kim Biggs – art direction*Victor Bracke – cover photo...
songs.
Cheng occasionally makes innovative use of a fretless 4 string Precision Bass with a single EMG
EMG, Inc.
EMG, Inc. is the current legal name of a company based in Santa Rosa, California which manufactures guitar pickups and EQ accessories. Founded in 1976, the company was originally called Dirtywork Studios. The name was changed to "Overlend" in 1978 and then to the current name in 1983...
split pickup (mid). The smooth slides can be heard on tracks such as "Knife Prty" from the album White Pony
White Pony
White Pony is the third studio album by American alternative metal band Deftones. Released in 2000, it marks a significant growth in the band's sound, incorporating New Wave and shoegaze influences with the alternative metal edge the group had become known for...
.
Although he generally prefers to stick to 4-Strings, Cheng acknowledged that he pulled out a couple of Fender 5-Strings during the making of Deftones' self-titled album
Deftones (album)
Deftones was well received by critics earning an aggregate rating of 74 on Metacritic. The music website Sputnikmusic gave it a perfect score and praised the band for have returned to their heavy sound without leaving behind their experimental side, lauding also Moreno's abstract lyrics and the...
. Ever since, until the accident, he played a Fender Roscoe Beck
Fender Roscoe Beck Bass
The Roscoe Beck Bass is an Artist Signature Series electric bass guitar made by Fender for Texas bass veteran Roscoe Beck. Modeled after a custom-made 6-string bass built for Beck himself by luthier Michael Stevens of Stevens Guitars, this one-of-a-kind design came in 4 and 5-string versions and...
V 5-String Bass when performing live.
Amplifiers and effects
Cheng uses two 300-watt, all-tube Ampeg SVTAmpeg SVT
The Ampeg SVT is a bass amplifier made by Ampeg. The SVT, which stands for "Super Valve Technology", was designed by Bill Hughes and introduced in 1969. The SVT bass head produced 300 watts at a time when most amplifiers made less than 100. The SVT has been through many design changes over the...
2 Pro Heads, two Ampeg 8x10 Cabinets and a rack-mounted Tech 21
Tech 21
Tech 21 is a New York based manufacturer of guitar and bass effect pedals, amps, and DI boxes which allow the user to emulate the tone of many popular guitar amps and record those sounds directly into a mixer....
SansAmp PSA-1 for extra distortion. He also uses a Boss
Boss Corporation
Boss is a manufacturer of effects pedals for electric guitar and bass guitar. It is a division of the Roland Corporation, a Japanese manufacturer that specializes in musical equipment and accessories...
OD-3 OverDrive and Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble pedals.
With Deftones
- AdrenalineAdrenaline (album)-Personnel:Deftones*Chino Moreno – vocals*Stephen Carpenter – guitars*Chi Cheng – bass guitar, backing vocals*Abe Cunningham – drumsProduction*Kim Biggs – art direction*Victor Bracke – cover photo...
(1995) - Around the FurAround the Fur-Band members:*Stephen Carpenter – guitar*Chi Cheng – bass guitar, backing vocals*Abe Cunningham – drums*Chino Moreno – vocals-Additional personnel:...
(1997) - White PonyWhite PonyWhite Pony is the third studio album by American alternative metal band Deftones. Released in 2000, it marks a significant growth in the band's sound, incorporating New Wave and shoegaze influences with the alternative metal edge the group had become known for...
(2000) - DeftonesDeftones (album)Deftones was well received by critics earning an aggregate rating of 74 on Metacritic. The music website Sputnikmusic gave it a perfect score and praised the band for have returned to their heavy sound without leaving behind their experimental side, lauding also Moreno's abstract lyrics and the...
(2003) - Saturday Night WristSaturday Night WristSaturday Night Wrist is the fifth studio album by American metal band Deftones. It was released on Maverick Records on October 31, 2006. Despite early contributions that were later scrapped, Saturday Night Wrist marks the departure of mainstay Deftones producer Terry Date.The band's fifth album...
(2006) - Eros (TBD)
Guest appearances
- Live at the Fillmore by DredgDredgDredg is an American rock group formed in 1993 in Los Gatos, California. The band consists of vocalist Gavin Hayes, guitarist Mark Engles, bassist Drew Roulette and drummer Dino Campanella....
(2006)
In pop culture
- KornKornKorn is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The current band line up includes four members: Jonathan Davis, James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, and Ray Luzier. The band was formed as an expansion of L.A.P.D.The band released their first demo album,...
has a song entitled "Chi" from their second album Life Is PeachyLife Is PeachyLife Is Peachy is the second studio album by the American nu metal band Korn, released on October 15, 1996 through Immortal/Epic Records. Following the success of their 1994 self-titled debut, Korn earned a second double platinum album in the United States, certified by the Recording Industry...
(1996), which is named after Cheng. - DredgDredgDredg is an American rock group formed in 1993 in Los Gatos, California. The band consists of vocalist Gavin Hayes, guitarist Mark Engles, bassist Drew Roulette and drummer Dino Campanella....
dedicated their 2009 album The Pariah, the Parrot, the DelusionThe Pariah, the Parrot, the DelusionThe Pariah, the Parrot, the Delusion is the fourth studio album by American alternative rock band Dredg, released on June 9, 2009, on Ohlone Recordings...
to Cheng, who had previously been a special guest on Dredg's 2006 live album Live at the Fillmore. - FarFar (band)Far is a band from Sacramento, USA.-Releases :After a number of local releases including their first demo tape Sweat A River, Live No Lies and two independent albums Listening Game and Quick they signed to Epic/Immortal Records and released their first major record, Tin Cans With Strings To You...
frontman, Jonah MatrangaJonah MatrangaJonah Rzadzinski Matranga is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist who has released a variety of solo material under his own name and onelinedrawing, and has previously been part of the bands Far and New End Original and Gratitude...
, has stated that the title track "At Night We Live" from their 2010 albumAt Night We LiveAt Night We Live is an album recorded by the band Far released on May 25, 2010. A few different pre-order packages were available. Some of the packages included one of the 500 limited edition colored Double-LPs.-Track listing:...
, is inspired by a dream he had, shortly following a hospital visit to see Cheng.