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Support Your Local Music Store – Reader Submission from Steve Rosati
Steve Rosati, a Reader Submission
Recently I had I traveled out west to the sunny city of Anaheim, this trip was a great chance to reconnect with friends and companies. I was out here to share a new bass that was built for me by one of my students, it’s a very cool piece and if any of you know me; you’ve seen the progress all over Facebook. However this was not my only agenda, I am on a crusade to return community back to our craft. How do we do this? Well I’ve pondered the inevitable decline of our music stores; instruments and music… This was for most of us our first brush with bass and music.
The Disappearance of physical music stores troubles me. The internet is an awesome way to search out and discover new players and instruments. But without the stores the community connection is broken. I’ve thought about this a lot recently, as a private music teacher who has seen a decline in the student rolls, as well as in the programs in the schools and colleges. So, where have all the new students gone? That’s the big question, well I believe that the breakdown is due to the lack human interaction in the stores, the store functioned as a meeting spot, think pod, hang.
The local hang is so important it’s where you learn about the other players in your area and gigs. The store also functions as the show room to try guitars that may be outside your financial grasp at the moment, but provides you with dreams of one day owning that instrument you actually played. When you buy a instrument on the web(sight unseen) you never really know what you are getting.
For instance kid A buys a guitar, it comes in the mail 7 days later, chances are this instrument is not set up or tuned(why would it be). Kid A plays the guitar a couple times but gives up not having any real instruction on it or input from other musicians.(and I know what you are going to say what about YouTube, but that’s just entertainment, you wouldn’t use it learn to perform open hart surgery.)and so the journey ends prematurely. The Music store is more than just a place to buy guitars/basses it’s the meeting point where you could connect with the community. It’s where I met many new students and it’s where I met my first music teacher, it’s also where I searched for band mates.
The truth is the nature of the web is creating hermits out us, and our craft requires, no demands that we interact with other musicians. I hope that one day we return to having a meeting place where we can trade ideas and stories in a musical environment because the existence of our craft depends on it. Support your local music store.
About Steve Rosati
A lover of fine cigars, scotches and fast cars(not really). Oh and basses, yeah lots and lots of basses. I’ve played with some great musicians and recorded some cool tunes. Life is good!
Cheers
SteveRosati.com
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
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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
