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Bass Musician Magazine’s Year of the Luthier – Axel Roks
Bass Musician Magazine’s Year of the Luthier – Axel Roks
How did you get your start in music?
I think I was about 12 years old. My father took me to a Mother’s Finest concert. It was the very first concert I ever attended and it was an amazing experience. I somehow felt connected with the bass playing of Wyzard; I was mesmerized by the movement of his hands and feeling the low frequencies in my body. When the show was over it was clear to me that I wanted to play bass guitar.
Are you still an active player?
I am, however it is getting harder to find the time to play due to my job as a Luthier.
How did you get started as a Luthier?
I have a background in restoring classic cars and mechanical engineering. Because of that I already had experience with industrial design before I started building basses. I quickly realized the designing process doesn’t confine itself to a certain material or object so it could easily be applied to Lutherie. With this thought in mind I went to the lumberyard and bought some wood. I wasn’t happy with the basses I was playing at the time. I also did not have the financial means to buy the basses I desired. So why not build one, it couldn’t be that difficult.
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How did you learn the art of woodworking/Luthier? Who would you consider a Mentor?
I’m self-taught. But I think people of my generation are brought up autodidact. The Internet is a goldmine of information, you can teach yourself practically anything. I really enjoyed the videos of Carl Thompson, they gave me a lot of inspiration when I was starting out.
How do you select the woods you choose to build with?
Wood, to me, has to have certain characteristics to be used in guitar building. Which are: looks, density and feel. All of these factors contribute to the final outcome of a bass. Wood is a wonderful material in all its diversity. I love to use woods I’ve never worked with before.
How about pickups? What pickups did you use in the past? What electronics do you use right now?
I use pickups from EMG, Haussel or some of my own. They all have their own features that can complement a properly built bass. My goal is to build versatile basses and I feel a good preamp adds to this, especially on a gig. I’ve had situations where my drummer would go bananas and wash away my sound, tweak the preamp a little and your sound is back. It’s like adding seasoning to a dish.
How do you develop a signature or custom bass for an artist?
Essentially every bass I make is a signature. Every bass is created in close collaboration with its future owner, from selecting the woods to the finishing.
Can you give us a word of advice to young Luthiers who are just starting out?
There might be someone reading this right now who has these ambitions. If anyone thinks about starting a career in guitar building, it is the job of you, me and everybody else to stand around and join together in a chorus, Do It! Do It! Do It!
Are you preparing something new, some new model or new design?
I am working on a new bass that takes its inspiration from a chair. I am a sucker for Scandinavian design and I was so inspired by the works of Arne Jacobsen that I wanted to make a bass with one of his chairs in mind. The project has a very “form follows function” approach; every feature is there with a reason. The bass will hopefully make its grand entrance later this year.
Visit Online:
- www.facebook.com/roks.instruments
- www.roks-instruments.com
- www.youtube.com/channel/UCMpsbxVWQXi2PULeU7Z4elg
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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/
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youtube.com/@returntodustband
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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
