Latest
Meet Bass Tech, Chris Brandt
Chris Brandt has been my bass tech for well over a decade. His knowledge
and skills as a tech are second to none, but he also has limitless insight into
the continued development of this instrument, and I believe his concepts will
provide great food for thought for any player.
Jake Kot, Editor
Meet Bass Tech, Chris Brandt
Back in 1963, when I was in the 7th grade, my love affair with the guitar was already in full bloom and I increasingly found myself drawn to the electric guitar. I was attracted to its mysterious power but I had never actually played one and for me at the time, the electric guitar seemed to have a sort of taboo around it. I’d been loyally reading Sing Out magazine because I dug the folk scene and back then there seemed to be a prejudice against the electric guitar. Back then the electric guitar was not as universally accepted as it is to day as Bob Dylan had a chance to when he first played his Strat at the Newport folk festival in19?? And so many people got upset. Well, I didn’t have money to buy one so when I was in the eighth grade, I made one . I copied a Mostrite because I liked the heavily sculpted body. A local music store had a real one and I went back over and over again so I could study every detail. It was the only way I could figure out how to make one. There was no teaching material at that time and there was no one to answer my questions. It came out very well and a few years later in spite of my age it helped me get a job as a repairman. I’ve been working on guitars and basses ever since. Now I’m in my mid 50s and I’ve been lucky enough to see the incredible evolution of the electric bass, which has arguably gone through more reinvention then the electric guitar.
The bass player today is now in an unprecedented environment of choices. The efforts and creativity of so many people have shaped the bass world light years beyond its early beginnings. Wood, graphite fiber, plastics, metals, finish materials, passive pickups, active pickups, even pizzo, synth, and photo optical systems, not to mention different bridges, gears, and control systems are all part of the scene and it can make your head swim. So many tantalizing possibilities.
The Twelfth Fret is the shop I own devoted entirely to craftsmanship and I love it when I can help someone get to where they are trying to go. Whether a job is little or large it almost always involves collaboration. Even for a straight forward set up I want to know about the person’s playing style, goals for their action and of course the kind of strings they will use. Collaboration is a core part of my work, and collaboration between players and builder/designers has always been where the rubber meets the road. The totally remarkable evolution of electric instruments always resulted from this and still does. I’ve watched many, many musicians first come into my shop and soon discover to what a great extent luthiery can add to their own quest to be better players. And I’ve also seen over and over again that figuring out how to help a player is what helps a luthier become a better luthier. I’ve spent years collaborating with many players. It is all worthy of a great deal of observation and thought, from designs, use of materials, the effects of stress and wear, adjustment issues, repair issues, and customizing. It is a world unto itself, and grows larger and more interesting the more one learns.
This is my first venture writing a column and I hope to do so in the same spirit of collaboration which so often seems to bring out the very best. I plan to explore what makes the electric bass the truly remarkable instrument that it is. As a part of this exploration, I would like to throw open a question to you, the reader. I am eager to see what comes back from this question and I look forward to incorporating it into the next article. So here goes…….
A magnetic pickup on an electric bass (or guitar) can not hear wood resonance yet if you plug it in and stand back and listen you CAN hear wood resonance. How does the pickup do it?
Send me your best answer and until the next article….SAY TUNED!
Gear News
New Gear: Alberto Rigoni Signature Bass, the VPR5 by Gaetano Costanzo!
Alberto Rigoni Signature Bass, the VPR5 by Gaetano Costanzo!
Internationally renowned bassist ALBERTO RIGONI (soloist, BAD AS, Vivaldi Metal Project, TwinSpirits, etc.) is proud to announce the release of his signature bass VPR5 made by renowned Italian luthier Gaetano Costanzo!
The bass is entirely handmade in Italy, without the use of CNC or other machinery, and has rather special features. The VPR is a 5-string bass (but also available as a 4-string) with 30 frets, Seymour Duncan pickups, Music Man Alnico style, passive electronics (volume, tone and a switch to select series/parallel/single-coil mode), alder body, and American maple neck and fingerboard. Gotoh tuners that ensure perfect intonation. The bass is totally painted white (nitro finish) but other colors can be requested. The VPR has a weight of about 2.9 kg and suitable for any genre.
For more information contact Gaetanobass77@gmail.com or visit online at www.instagram.com/gaetanocostanzoluthier or www.facebook.com/GaetanoCostanzoLuthier
Bass Videos
Interview With Bassist Graham Stanush
Bassist Graham Stanush…
Return to Dust is keeping Grunge alive and well! They have a new self-titled album that went out on May 3rd, 2024 and will be super busy promoting this project in the near future.
Graham Stanush is the bass powerhouse driving their sound and adding vocals to the mix. Join me as we hear all about Graham’s musical journey, details about the new album, how he gets his sound and their plans for the future.
Featured Videos:
Visit Online:
linktr.ee/returntodust
instagram.com/returntodustband/
twitter.com/Returntodustbnd
youtube.com/@returntodustband
tiktok.com/@returntodustband
Bass Videos
Review: CrystalBright Rombo Picks
CrystalBright Rombo Picks
PR SamplePlaying bass with a pick is still a touchy subject in our community. I believe you should be able to use whatever you need to get your sound. Even though I mostly play with my fingers, I like to check out innovative new picks that might have something new to offer, sonically speaking.
Judith and Carlos from Rombo recently contacted me about a new material called CrystalBright that they have been researching for the last 12 months and offered to send some prototype picks. After trying them out, I put together this video with my findings.
For more info check out @rombopicks
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This Week’s Top 10 Basses on Instagram
Check out our top 10 favorite basses on Instagram this week…
Click to follow Bass Musician on Instagram @bassmusicianmag
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Gear
New Joe Dart Bass From Sterling By Music Man
Sterling by Music Man introduces the Joe Dart Artist Series Bass (“Joe Dart”), named after and designed in collaboration with the celebrated Vulfpeck bassist.
Above photo credit: JORDAN THIBEAUX
This highly-anticipated model marks the debut of the Dart bass in the Sterling by Music Man lineup, paying homage to the Ernie Ball Music Man original that all funk players know and love. The bass embodies many of the original model’s distinctive features, from its iconic minimalist design to the passive electronics.
The design process prioritized reliability, playability, and accessibility at the forefront. Constructed from the timeless Sterling body, the Dart features a slightly smaller neck profile, offering a clean tone within a comfortable package. The body is crafted from soft maple wood for clarity and warmth while the natural finish emphasizes the simple yet unique look.
Engineered for straightforward performance, this passive bass features a ceramic humbucking bridge pickup and a single ‘toaster’ knob for volume control. Reliable with a classic tone, it’s perfect for playing in the pocket. The Dart is strung with the all-new Ernie Ball Stainless Steel Flatwound Electric Bass Strings for the smoothest feel and a mellow sound.
The Sterling by Music Man Joe Dart Bass is a special “Timed Edition” release, exclusively available for order on the Sterling by Music Man website for just one month. Each bass is made to order, with the window closing on May 31st and shipping starting in November. A dedicated countdown timer will indicate the remaining time for purchase on the product page. Additionally, the back of the headstock will be marked with a “2024 Crop” stamp to commemorate the harvest year for this special, one-of-a-kind release.
The Joe Dart Bass is priced at $399.99 (MAP) and can be ordered globally at https://sterlingbymusicman.com/products/joe-dart.
To learn more about Joe Dart, visit the official Vulfpeck artist site here https://www.vulfpeck.com/.
Interview With Bassist Graham Stanush
Review: CrystalBright Rombo Picks
Preparing for Performance with Dr. Randy Kertz
Interview With Bassist Erick “Jesus” Coomes
