Contents
Issue 54 May 2010
20 gail ann
dorsEy
We talk to Gail Ann Dorsey
about David Bowie’s new live
album and the adrenaline
rush of taking to the stage
with one of popular music’s
all-time greats
Regulars
08 thE low down
All the latest new gear and industry news...
14 bass to thE FuturE: Jon
rEshard
Introducing the talents of US bassist Jon Reshard.
16taKE FivE: MichaEl anthony
Michael Anthony reveals the top five albums that
have helped shape his hard rock basslines.
18 bassically spEaKing
We talk to bassists Freddy Feedback, Pete Agnew,
Joel Graham, Ahren Stringer, Carey Willetts, Ted
Lundström and Andrew Cushing.
BassicallySpeaking
Bassically Speaking
Bassists tell us what they do in a minute or less!
Pete Agnew Nazareth
I started playing the bass in
1969 – by accident! I was never
attracted to the thing at all – the
very opposite. I was a guitar
player in my own band in the
soul days, with Dan McCafferty
on vocals, up in Scotland. We
fired our bass player because
he was never showing up to
rehearsals and he’d arrive late to
gigs, so the guys basically said to
me, ‘You can play the guitar, aye?
So you must be able to handle
four strings…’ And I went, ‘OK,
I’ll give it a go,’ and went and got
myself a little Mustang bass. And
that was it! I put a Precision neck
on it when we started recording.
The very first song I ever played
onstage was ‘Good Times, Bad
Times’ by Led Zeppelin. There’s
a wee solo bass run in that song
and, do you know, I’ve never
been given a bass solo since. So
I must have really impressed
Carey Willetts Athlete
I have an Ampeg SVT Pro
rackmount, an Ashdown 8x10”
cab and an SWR Big Ben. I have
lots of hum with the Ampegs,
which is annoying, but on
the road they’re one of those
big brands, so it’s easy to get
anything fixed that goes wrong.
They have 18 or 19 valves in
the heads – you can’t expect
everything to be perfect with
them. I have too many pedals
for a bass player, I think – I use
a DOD Juice Box, which they
18 Bass Guitar Magazine
Basically Speaking_1nw.indd 18
4 Bass Guitar Magazine
Contents 54_1nw.indd 1
them! I think drum solos, bass
solos and great long organ solos
are pointless anyway – if you
can’t say what you’ve got to say
in three and a half minutes, then
don’t bother saying it. I’ve always
played the bass with a pick – a
lot of guys did in those days.
It was in the 60s when they all
started plucking it because it
looked cool. To this day I play
the bass with a pick but the
guitar with my fingers – I’ve
got it the wrong way round, I
think. I’ve played an Alembic
since 1977; I couldn’t believe it
when I first got it: the neck is
like the one on my Strat. It’s just
a wonderful bass and I love the
sound of it. The entire Nazareth
catalogue is being reissued by
Union Square at the moment,
and it’s been fascinating listening
back to all those basslines.
www.nazarethdirect.co.uk
don’t make anymore, so every
time I see one in a shop or on
eBay I just buy it, because I love
it. I use a Rat as well and a Tech
21 CompTortion, which is great
for instant feedback. I’ve got
a bass microsynth and a little
mixer pedal made for me by a
friend. I play a 1976 Fender Jazz,
which is my favourite guitar,
and I also have a Music Man
– which I don’t use very often
anymore – and a custom-made
1961 Tele. I’ve got another
Ahren Stringer
e Amity Affliction
I use Schecter or Ernie Ball
basses, or whatever is given
to me, really. I have a three-
channel SansAmp and maybe
a wah pedal. I have an Ampeg
SVT-3Pro head. It’s worked
for about three months of
the five years I’ve had it –
since it was dropped down
a flight of stairs once after a
show. My bass heroes are Fat
Mike from NOFX and Les
Claypool, because he’s got a
cool moustache. The secret of
playing bass well? I’m still trying
to figure it out. You tell me.
1961 reissue Jazz which I use
now because the neck started
moving on the old one – it was out and be flashy.
one of those with only three
screws at the back. I admire
people who play more tastefully
and what feels right for the song.
Melody is really important for
bass, so I think Alex James from
Blur and Colin Greenwood
from Radiohead are amazing.
And Paul McCartney, back in
the day, was really amazing,
just in terms of being
I just try and party and sing well
and have fun onstage. I do not
play 5-/6-string bass because
they are unnecessary. Plus I’m
not in Korn or Creed. My first
bass was borrowed, pretty
much. I just kept borrowing
until I hooked up the Schecter
about a year ago. For recording
I borrowed a bunch of basses
off friends’ bands to get a better
sound. My favourite bass
ever to date is whatever Mark
Hoppus used to play.
www.myspace.com/
theamityaffliction
creative. I like people who
create melodies but don’t stand
www.athlete.mu
Basically
06/04/2010 13:37 Speaking_1nw.indd 19
Joel Graham Evile
I’m a traditional metal player.
I’m often impulsive when
playing, in the sense that I do
like to wrap different basslines
around the song. Currently
I am using Fender Jazz and
Gibson Thunderbird basses –
nice old chunky wood-finish
instruments. Effects-wise I have
a Big Muff and Killer Whale
Wah in my set-up. I also have
a V-Amp effects unit, but I
mainly use that for compression
here and there. For amps I use
Peavey – I have recently been
using the Tour 700 amp and
two 4x10” cabs. Great amps – I
Andrew Cushing Taking Dawn
I have a very aggressive playing
style. When you play hard and
fast music I think you’ve got
to be aggressive. Sometimes I
get so into it, and play so hard,
can get a really nice punchy
gritty tone out of these. I do
not play 5- and 6-string bass
because I like to have my bass
hang low, which is a difficult
task for wide necks. It’s purely
for aesthetic reasons, I guess,
but it also allows for freedom
when playing songs onstage.
I always feel slightly sorry for
extended-range players, as I
have noticed them onstage
seeming a little unsure what to
do with themselves with their
bass tucked under their chin.
Aside from this, four strings
were always more than enough
I break two or three strings a
show! Currently I play a Music
Man StingRay. I have two of
them – one with a natural finish
and one with sunburst. They’re
a little heavier than others, but I
love the way they look and play.
Even though my amp has it, I
never use distortion. I like the
straight-up sound of a bass. I’m
not against trying it in the future,
though. My amp is a Mesa
Boogie. I’ve got an 8x10” cab
and the Big Block 750 head. If
you’re looking for a good sound,
Mesa is the way to go. I don’t
play with more than four strings
because everything I need to do
is possible on four. The first bass
I ever got was an Ibanez. It came
for my bass-playing heroes. The
secret of playing bass well is
simply enjoying the songs and
the music you’re playing. Playing
with passion is much better and
more enjoyable than just doing
bass tricks. Also, feel what you
are playing in a literal sense – I
have previously played shows
with bare feet just so I can feel
the bass drum vibrate on the
stage. It’s surprising how much
tighter that can make you play.
My first bass was an Encore
junior-scale bass. I had pestered
my parents for the whole year
about them getting me a bass
for Christmas – I remember
my knees buckling when I went
into the room and saw it. My
favourite bass ever to date was
a Rickenbacker 4001 in jet glow.
That thing was a thing of beauty,
and to play it was something
else. I don’t have it anymore,
regrettably. My bass heroes are
Steve Harris and John Deacon
– it was those guys that my
ears really tuned into when I
was listening for bass in music.
Harris had really prominent
basslines – I would listen to
the intro of ‘Killers’ over and
over – and Deacon, well, how
many simple but unforgettable
basslines has that guy laid down
over the years? The greatest bass
players that ever lived were Cliff
Burton and John Entwistle. Cliff
was a huge influence. Entwistle
was something else altogether.
www.evile.co.uk
in a starter pack with a little
15-watt amplifier, some picks
and a video on how to play.
I threw away the video and the
picks and the rest is history. The
bass players that inspire me
are Cliff Burton, Steve Harris
and Geddy Lee. They’re just
the best of the best. Listen and
you will know this. The greatest
bass player of all time to me is
Cliff Burton. He was the man!
He really took bass playing to
a whole other level. I don’t slap
because the styles of music I play
have never really called for it.
I will say that Victor Wooten’s
slaps are amazing, and he makes
me want to learn.
www.takingdawn.com
Interviews
36 alan
gorriE:
avEragE
whitE band
Alan looks back
over his remarkable
career with Scottish
funk & R&B outfit,
the Average White
Band
26 EtiEnnE MbappE
Everything you wanted to know about one of
Africa’s greatest bass exports. Including his new
gig with John McLaughlin’s 4th Dimension.
Bassically
BassicallySpeaking
30 Kai EcKhardt 40 tord ØvErland KnudsEn:
thE woMbats
Ted Lundström
Mike Flynn reveals the magic formula behind
Amon Amarth
I’m a pick player because of all
the faster parts I have to play.
My style is not really technical
and I like to be the bulldozer
of the band. At home I prefer
Jack Stevens drops in on the Liverpool
fingerstyle playing because it’s
Kai’s unique brand of Indo-funk-fusion.
more relaxing and fun. Right
now I’m using a Hughes &
Kettner Quantum amplifier,
together with an 8x10” QS
810 PRO Cabinet, but I also
have an EBS Fafner head.
Live, I sometimes use the
three-piece for an update on their second album.
EBS MicroBass II pedal to get
some extra distortion and the
possibility to use the line signal.
I recently switched bass brand
34 MarK bEazlEy
from ESH to ESP – I don’t like
big changes so I take one letter
at a time… The bass players
that influenced me to start
playing are Steve Harris, Gene
Simmons, Nikki Sixx and Cliff
Burton – I think it was more
42 lEo williaMs: drEadzonE
for their cool appearance
than their actual bass playing.
The founder of experimental bass trio Rothko
Today I like players like Justin
Chancellor, for example. I
guess there is no short cut to
becoming good. Practise a lot,
of course, and I believe that
playing a lot of different styles
makes you a better musician
overall. I could probably
talks about his long-standing love affair with the Leo explains just why Dreadzone are proving a
use more practising but I’m
very lazy sometimes. I play a
5-string bass so that I can get
the low B. On the new album
we even have some songs
where we use drop tuning to
A. A 6-string bass is not really
bass guitar. force to be reckoned with.
an option for me since I don’t
need guitar strings on my bass:
we already have two guitar
players in the band – more
than enough!
www.amonamarth.com
Bass Guitar Magazine 19
06/04/2010 13:37
07/04/2010 11:45
 46 FrEt-King
Gear vEntura supEr 80
Reviews Fret-King have done it again with a bass that
looks the part and more than sounds it, too.

50 wood & Bass Techniques

tronics Ergon
ractIve style FIle
Dave Marks: Inte
step
3 month’ BoogIe is a rocked-up Blues
Boogie,
This s Style File ‘3 Step Boogie’
Gary Moore.
typical of an artist like in E for all of
the 12 bar blues pattern
Form-wise, we follow interlude drops to
C7
lessons work: the interlude. The
the sections except shuffle. (For great
Here’s how my interactive

Top-quality sounds and innovative

bassline for feel here is a ‘half-time’
a transcription of the
carry for 16 bars and the out John Bonham,
1. The magazine will shuffles, go check
examples of half time
you to study. in-depth video Jeff Porcaro’s drumming.)
you can get a special, Bernard Purdie and solid and with
2. On the Internet, or my own site. tune needs to be rock
either the BGM site The playing on this in hard and used

Dave Marks
lesson, viewable from this piece, I’ll have
a aggression – I dug
want to get inside lots of attitude and
3. If you who really track with the bass expression to the lines.
and also a backing slides to add some feel free to put your
own stamp
copy of the full song ks.com. As with last month’s tune,
from www.davemar a fairly specific
London- removed, both available post a video based sections require
Dave Marks is a busy of you who like a challenge, track. The on this song. The riff

design make the Ergon well worth

sections are wide
playing 4. Finally, for those choruses and solo
based musician. His playing along to the
backing approach, but the the 12 bar
response with you will win a prize and
a your own ideas around
span we see this month open for you to explore
and recording credits best performance
and issue… Blues in E.
a wide rage of bands picture in the next
Carlton, the bass parts in
artists, including Larry pentatonic riffs in lesson on playing
main musical ideas: For an in-depth video guitar solo
This bassline has two a transcription of the
this piece, along with Bass Techniqu
Paul choruses. Make
Albert Lee, Carl Palmer, blues lines for the basses at the end, es
check out
others. At the verses and walking to leave room
Carrack and many verse gaps totally silent, bassline and the layered m
sure to keep those your lines simple (no & www.bassguitarmagazine.co

an audition
is spread the choruses, keep www.davemarks.com
the minute, his time for the vocal and in drums.
out 8th them in with the
between pounding jazz!) and really lock
note rock with the
Dirty Hands
Andrew MCK
InneY:
Jr. band,
and the Rick Parfitt
depping Thriller Live
and writing and producing
in London
at 3 Step Boogie
How To Read Music TuITIon TIp
Clean Feet Studios.
Dave also
in London
The tenth in a series
on reading
: Lesson 10
teaches at the ICMP

A
music notation
web – reading in position
and maintains a heavy question people
on his own often ask
presence, blogging on bass goes something when reading music
site and keeping his
Youtube
Which C do I play?’ like this: ‘It says
C.
Strategy For Choosi
stocked up with fresh There is a lot of
duplication of As I said earlier, ng A Position
channel notes on a stringed most bass players’
default reading
Music appearing four instrument, with the bottom four
content. He endorses or more times
on the fretboard,
some notes or five frets. A quick position is in
scan over the piece
and on how many tell us if this is sufficient.
Man Basses, EBS amps strings you have.
Take the C at the
depending
above the stave,
If there are any
notes higher than
should
the G string, for 5th fret on then we will definitely the C
Elixir strings. example (on the
above the stave). stave it is one ledger comfort zone. You have to move out
www.davemarks.com places, so if that’s
This note can be
played in four
line
for as long as possible,
may be tempted
to stick to the safe
of this
the first note of different but this could result position
your piece of music, up the neck for
Andrew
where do you the higher notes. in a desperate lunge
start? This tactic is fraught
As ever, with this danger, as large with
position shifts done
MCKInneY than one solution.
that can help you
sort of musical
However, there
problem there
are a few guidelines
is more
end up in the wrong
this happening?
place, so what can
in an emergency
we do to insure
often
Andrew McKinney make an informed I have boiled it down against
is Head of avoid disasters. choice and hopefully investigate which, to two main areas
Bass at Bass Guitar-X, if you have only to
The first port of before having to a minute to look
part of Tech over a piece
In assocIatIon wIth
call for all play it, can help
Music Schools in play in the bottom bass players should you to avoid potential
London, and is be to pitfalls:

Gear
currently touring four frets of the
strings. This is bass, and to use 1. Identify ‘range’
with the James where people open of piece. What’s
Taylor Quartet. exercises and also start off with note lowest note? Can the highest note,
recognition I play it all in the what’s the

INSTITUTE
The where we earn bottom five frets?
As people get most of our money! can I play it all
more experienced in one position If not,
favour playing , they will often point? Where is or will I have to
MUSIC PERFORMANCE For the full Tuition the 5th fret instead start to the best place shift at some
of CONTEMPORARY Tip archive of the open string, 2. Identify key. to shift?
including sound fretted notes generally What is the key
files and videos, have a more consistent as signature? Can
to to a scale fingering
Dave’s column is brought visit www.bassg are easier to control. sound and you relate this
uitar-x.co.uk - This position is that encompass
with the and no matter our ‘home’ territory, If there are no es the range of
you in association Interact – Tuition how experienced accidentals, if you the piece?
ry Tips. Each issue is on, reading-wis you get, when all the notes should stick to your scale
the heat fingering
Institute of Contempora Andrew will be
featuring a specific advise you to spend
e, this is where
we all head back.
be under your
fingers.
. I would
Music Performance class taught at the
school, giving getting your reading
a considerable
amount of time Further down the
you a bite-size chunk together in this line there are other
of the up the neck, as area before moving in: ‘Which C would factors to consider,
there’s no point sound best in this as
www.icmp.co.uk lesson, and an insight
into what options and more giving yourself
more reading with very situation?’ But for
sight-
to deal with until little time for preparation
T: 0207 328 0222 it’s like to be on
a course. base to work from. you have a concrete first two areas to
address – more , these are the
As I said, most come in further musical consideratio
In AssoCIATIon of the money in down the line. ns can
wITh playing low notes, bass playing is
but you will definitely earned
that go out of this encounter notes Exercises
range, so we need
first of all by dealing to prepare ourselves, I’ve included a
with ledger lines. whole range of
that cover a lot example basslines
of what has been this month
Andrew’s column
is brought to you Ledger Lines reading course.
Working out the
discussed so far
on this
in association with position before
Bass Guitar-X. Notes that are all part of ‘pre-reading you play
www.bassguitar-x.co higher or lower than the preparation’. As is
.uk can be represented range of the stave you can give yourself you probably know,
Magazine 020 8749 3131 using temporary a significant advantage
74 Bass Guitar known as ‘ledger 06/04/2010 11:28 ‘stave extensions’, actually start playing, if, before you
lines’. It takes time you step back,

54 Mtd Kingston hEir

heart, so in the to learn these off whole and see consider the piece
meantime just by what you’re dealing as a
that you do know work from the the main things with. Position is
the name of, and nearest note you can address one of
74 alphabet assigning work through the As you play through during this valuable
Dave Marks_1nw.indd a note name to the exercises, try time.
you get to the each line and space best position would to work out what
note in question. until be. Once you are the
down to a low The Ledger Lines a different position comfortable with
B (5- and 6-string table goes and explore the it, try
G at the 12th fret basses), and goes Don’t forget that alternatives – good
on a 4-string. up to the these reading articles luck!
tuition tips are and all the previous
available on the
Any questions Bass Guitar-X website.
or thoughts about
you’d like me to this article, or anything
cover, email me
See you next time. on andrew@gu

This affordable offering from Michael Tobias gets

itar-x.co.uk.
Ledger Lines

put through its paces 70 Bass Guitar

Magazine

Andrew McKinney_1n
w.indd 70

60
Techniques
06/04/2010
12:24

MarKbass
littlE MarK
tubE 800 & 70 andrEw McKinnEy
Tuition Tip: Reading Notation
ny604 cabs
A recent addition 72 stu haMM
The Bass Place!
to the Little Mark
range, this rig is all 74 davE MarKs
about portability Style File:
and tone 80 JanEK gwizdala
Modern Bass Improvisations

82 Franc o’shEa
Regulars
Bass Beyond: The Tempered Scale

84 MiKE diMin
The Art Of Solo Bass
64 thE woodshEd
We meet renowned electronics expert John East. 86 JaMiE wilKins
ICMP Scholarship Diary
68 on rEviEw
We preview the latest bass-related CD releases from the
likes of Marcus Miller and Gorillaz.

Bass Guitar Magazine 5

Contents 54_1nw.indd 2 07/04/2010 11:46