QRD – What was your first bass & what happened to it?

Brian – A Fender Precision fretless!  I still have it (but play it rarely). My second bass was a Fender Telecaster bass (1972) which I still have, but play rarely.  That thing is a tank!

QRD – What’s your typical set-up from bass to effects to amplifier?

Brian – Very simple: Carvin 5 or 6 string fretless with active electronics into an Ernie Ball volume pedal, into a Digitech BP200 effects pedal, into an Electro Harmonix Memory Man pedal into a Hartke 3500 amp.  Sometimes I use other preamps, but this is my typical live set-up currently.

QRD – What’s the most important part of your rig – bass, amplifier, or effects?

Brian – Well, I think its all important to get my sound... there are other basses, amps, & effects that I have played that could change the sound, but I think how the player emotes through string attack & note/rhythm choice may be most important. 

QRD – What’s your main amplifier & why?

Brian – Hartke 3500.  I like its power & preamp & EQ choices.  It seems to emphasize the mid-range punch that I usually like.

QRD – Do you prefer upright or electric bass?

Brian – Electric, for sure.

QRD – Do you prefer to use a pick, fingers, or a bow?

Brian – I am 90% fingers.  I can play with a plectrum very well; but for most of what I am doing now, I have more tonal choices at my fingertips, with my fingertips.

QRD – How many strings do you think a bass should have?

Brian – 3, 4, 5 or 6, of course!

QRD – Why do you play bass instead of guitar?

Brian – I like to move long waves.  I also play guitar & drums; but my theory is, find musicians who are better at guitar & drums than me, then that leaves room for me to explore the bassment.  Bass is the cement between rhythm & melody, so it is a perfect place for me.

QRD – How is a bass different than a guitar other than being lower in pitch?

Brian – It’s more physical, its heavier (figuratively & literally), but the real difference is in how a bassist hears the music & the most important thing is when not to play.  Rests & space help cement & move the music forward.

QRD – What’s your main bass & what are the features that make it such?

Brian – Carvin LB20 (I think that is the model), 5 string, all Koa wood, neck through body, active electronics.

QRD – What do you think of the thumb rests on some basses?

Brian – I think some people may rest their thumbs there.

QRD – If you had a signature bass, what would it look like & what would some of its features be?

Brian – Oh wow, I have never thought about it so I I’m not sure.

QRD – If you had a signature pedal, what would it be & what would some of its features be?

Brian – Easy customization & arrangements of effects would be one thing...

QRD – How many basses do you own?

Brian – Four.

QRD – How & where do you store your basses?

Brian – In their cases in a closet.  But I have had all four hanging as wall art at times.…

QRD – What features do you look for when buying a bass?

Brian – Feel & sound. Does it speak to me?

QRD – How much do you think a good bass should cost?

Brian – I guess more than $300.  But less than $2,000.  :)

QRD – Do you upgrade & customize your bass or just stick with what you get?

Brian – I modified my Telecaster when I got it in 1981.  Never should have touched it!  But I put a Badass bridge on & a jazz pick up too.  Also stripped the finish... damn!

QRD – Are you after one particular bass tone & locking into it, or do you like to change your tone around a lot?

Brian – I am mainly using only my Carvins now.  I just did a gig today & I only played the fretted 5 string as it has more of a rock sound than my fretless.

QRD – What are some basses, amps, & pedals you particularly lust after?

Brian – Ampeg amps.  I played a G&L bass a few years ago that I loved.  Roscoe fretless basses are incredible.  I am sure there are many I would lust after if I let myself go there.

QRD – What do you think are some important features to be on a person’s first bass that aren’t always there?

Brian – It’s important not to start a young player out with a poor quality instrument.  It would be better to borrow a nice instrument if you can’t buy at least a mid-grade instrument.  If the neck & overall feel is poor, the beginner may get too frustrated & we want it to be a good experience.

QRD – What have been the best & worst bass related purchases you’ve made?

Brian – I like my Hartke amp & my classic Telecaster bass.  The Carvins are very good.  Worst was probably buying a folded horn design speaker cabinet when I was in my 20s... big damn thing that was just not practical - thank the gods that bass amp gear has gotten more compact over the years!

QRD – What’s the first thing you play when you pick up a bass?

Brian – Improvisation...

QRD – How old were you when you started playing bass?

Brian – 19.  I started on guitar at age 12, drums age 13, & bass came later.

QRD – At what age do you think you leveled up to your best bass playing?

Brian – Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm?  Not quite sure what you mean here.

QRD – Do you feel bass lines should echo & emphasize guitar & drum parts or be their own distinct elements?

Brian – Different approaches for different feels... in improvisation you go to all those places & in-between.

QRD – Would you rather people hear or feel your bass?

Brian – Both.

QRD – Why do you think a bass fits you more so than other instruments?

Brian – Big fingers... simple melodies, drummer at heart.…

QRD – Who are the bassists that most influenced your playing & sound?

Brian – Geddy Lee, Chris Squire, Anthony Jackson, Percy Jones (Brand X), Ray Schulman (Gentle Giant), some Bill Laswell.

QRD – What’s the most physical damage you’ve done to a bass & how did you do it?

Brian – Stripping the finish off my telecaster!!

QRD – What do you do to practice other than simply playing?

Brian – Listen & think.

QRD – How many hours a week do you play bass & how many hours would you like to?

Brian – 4-6 hours.  I’d like 8-12 hours maybe.

QRD – What gauge strings do you use & why?

Brian – Medium gauge - DRs.

QRD – How often do you change strings?

Brian – Not often enough – they’re expensive!!

QRD – How often do you break strings?

Brian – Almost never - not in 20 years.

QRD – Which do you feel is more proficient, your strumming/bowing hand or fretting hand & how does that effect your style?

Brian – Ah… interesting question. My picking hand as I use many different types of attack, edges, sweeps, pops, scrapes, mutes, etc., etc. in conjunction with fingering & fretting, sliding & muting... many possible textures!

QRD – What tunings do you use & why?

Brian – Standard on bass usually.

QRD – What’s a bad habit in your playing you wish you could break?

Brian – Slouching.

QRD – Playing what other instrument do you think can most help someone’s bass playing?

Brian – Drums!!

QRD – What’s a type of bass playing you wish you could do that you can’t?

Brian – Super fast complex fusion lines like those hot chop dudes!  LOL

QRD – What’s a bass goal you’ve never accomplished?

Brian – Upright bass.

QRD – What’s the last bass trick you learned?

Brian – Using the third finger of picking hand to increase speed.

QRD – Did you ever take bass lessons & if so, what did you learn from them?

Brian – Yes, in college I took orchestra bass for one semester. I learned bowing technique, reading simple parts, proper posture, hand positioning... it was actually very helpful.  Much later I took one lesson from a jazz player to walk through some jazz standard movements & patterns.

QRD – What would you teach someone in a bass lesson that you don’t think they would generally get from a bass teacher?

Brian – Humanism & satire.

QRD – What’s something someone would have to do to emulate your style?

Brian – Geeze... I don’t know... I would rather they develop their own sound.

QRD – If a band has good bass work, can you ignore the rest of the band not being good?

Brian – No!

QRD – What famous musician’s bass would you like to own & why?

Brian – One of Geddy’s or one of Chris Squire’s Rickenbackers would be cool!

QRD – Who do you think is currently the most innovative bass player & why?

Brian – Hadrien Feraud kills with John McLaughlin & my girl friend Mia says I should say Esperanza Spaulding too!

QRD – Where can people hear your best bass work?

Brian – A lot of the things with Onomata (6 string fretless),  Smokin’ Granny, George-Preston-Herrett, Freehand, Daily Planet.

QRD – Anything else?

Brian – Whew...! That was a lot of questions!  Thanks for your interest!