2015 Wrap-up: What Was, & What's To Come

What was:

August marked the end of my Summer Project. Yes, there are a few things on the projects To-Do list that didn't happen... but fear not! I will mark from the list as many of those elusive items as I can in the months to come. 

Thankfully, much of my To-Do list was accomplished.  The kitchen remodel is completed and everyone seems happy with it.  I did complete several videos that haven't yet made it to the blog, because YouTube changed their upload criteria-- I now have to keep each video under 15min.  Which means I will either have to edit those I have, or simply film new versions.  I am leaning toward the later...

September through December I embarked on an adventure in the sound booth.  I was fortunate enough to land an internship working with our church's audio/visual team.  Though it was tough leaving my place next to the drummer on stage for 3 months, the new perspective was interesting.  Our "sound-guy" is really good at what he does, so gaining an understanding of his priorities in the booth hopefully helps when I return to the stage. As they say, "the more you know..."

What's to come:

"108 Days of Practice."  

While thumbing through the Holiday issue of Bass Player Magazine I noticed the GHS advertisement featuring Angeline Saris.  Her name was familiar, so I visited her website. 

 Angeline's home page

That's when I remembered hearing an interview with her on the Amps & Axes Show.  Anyway, her website includes a blog got my creative juices flowing "108 Days of Practice."  

The concept is similar to what I've been attempting here, although it seems much more realistic than the 2-hours/8-weeks format.  It was easy relate to her story and I enjoyed reading about someone else's journey... 

...then she mentioned one of my all-time favorite books; Philip Sudo's "Zen Guitar."  That was the last nudge I needed to take on the challenge of 108 days of practice.  Once I begin, you will be able to find updates here under it's own page here.  

Another exciting adventure on the horizon is trying flatwound strings for the first time.  I've already been researching what's available, tone expectations, and of course the necessary evil-- cost.  
Considering that I now have a pair of P-type basses, it seems logical that one of them should be strung with flats, at least long enough for me to develop enough hands-on experience with them to decide if they're for me or not. 

As we prepare to close the books on 2015, I am looking forward to the new year with optimism and a new list of accomplishments to achieve.  Whether or not I'm able to complete them all is honestly of little consequence-- it's the journey, not the destination that matters most.  Hopefully you'll join me on this ride, and together we might have a bit more fun than last year~

Stay tuned & in tune...! 

August Wrap-up

Wow, was August ever a busy month!

Having time on my hands, I took on a major item from my 'honey-do' list; painting the kitchen. 

Before...

We moved into our house last fall (2014). Built in the 1980s, it features a lot of stained wood-- cabinets, trim, etc.  We have a long list of ideas how to update it. Topping the list is the kitchen. 

Upper cabinets & pantry complete

Wanting to bring some color into the room, and brighten things up a bit, we visited the local hardware store, picked out our colors (beach/coastal theme) and went to work. I am now about three weeks or so into the project. 

As always happens, this project is taking much longer than I anticipated. There were a few missteps along the way, but I eventually hit my rhythm and am getting things done-- along with several other 'honey-do' items. I start working on the lower cabinets after posting this... for now I am enjoying a break in the action, and a cup of Moroccan Mint tea.

The kitchen project did not leave much time to work on this blog's 'to-do' list, but family takes priority,as it should. 

Music has not been totally abandoned during the kitchen project. This past weekend marked the beginning of a new chapter in our church that I was a part of. A lot of construction has been happening recently to expand the seating in the sanctuary, which included last weeks relocation of the stage. I was blessed to be part of the first worship team to take the new stage last weekend. Even though a lot of work is still to be done, it was great being an active part of this new chapter.

Sound check on our new stage

I still intend to work on some of the bass-gear reviews, especially now that the weather has cooled; we were at 100+ several times in the past few weeks. However, those videos will have to be filmed during the few moments of downtime of the kitchen project...

Stay tuned & in tune!~

August Weekends

Now that the dust is settling from our vacation and having family visit us right afterwards, I was able to jump right back on stage with only a touch of "jet-lag."

My go-to bass this summer has been my new Roadrunner G&L which has been sounding great as always. Every now and then however, I crave something different... like my G&L Jazz Bass for instance. Having more than one bass to choose from helps keep things fresh and inspires new grooves. Why this is I will likely never know, but the fact remains-- variety adds spice.

This past weekend I had a chance to play with our main worship band, which is something I haven't been able to do for the past four months or so. Being away that long created a bit of a problem which was compounded by trying to mesh in with new musicians (drummer, singers). Again, variety spicing things up, but in a way that I had not anticipated. Maybe it was the heat (this summer Wa. state has been going through a heatwave...), maybe my enthusiasm for playing with the band again, or maybe I was just having an off day. Whatever the reason I just never did feel like we meshed together as a band this weekend. Granted, anyone outside the group likely did not notice anything as the band still sounded good-- just a little rough around the edges...

Lessons learned/reminded of from this weekend:
- Relax and have fun
- Need more work on those walking bass lines
- Bring an extra pen
- Stay hydrated
- Relax and have fun

This week and next will be concentrated on practicing, video editing and the blog... not to mention the long list of Honey-Do items around the house that remain. Time to put on my painter's hat (!)

Till next time...
                      Stay tuned & in tune!~

Video Review: Cases & Gig Bags

Almost ready to post my first video review!

It is intended to be a companion to my most recent post, "Gig Bags that Rock! iGig & Reunion Blues."

When looking for a new gig bag I searched the net for video reviews on those I was interested in... but only a few were helpful. So then, here is a video I hope someone finds helpful in their search for a good case, or gig bag.

Reviewed:

- G&G hardshell case (two different models)

- Fender gig bag

- Mono Vertigo

- Reunion Blues Continental

- iGig G535 

- iGig G525

You will be able to sit back, pour your favorite beverage of choice and enjoy, then post any questions in the comments section below and I'll do my best to help you out!

Keep an eye out for the video review in the next few days... ,  'Till then...

Stay tuned & in tune!~

Back From Vacation!

After a short visit with family & friends in Sunny Southern California, we are finally back home!

We did a lot of fun stuff during the trip, including visits to Disney and the Battleship USS Iowa. Being away from home usually helps to clear my head, and this trip was no exception-- the main thing being very little electronics! Yup, I rarely checked in on my social media outlets, including this blog.  


Now that I'm back, picking up the bass again is refreshing. Where before the trip I would somewhat dread locking myself away in the music room to practice-- if we are honest about it most will agree that we all feel that way about practice occasionally.  Today however, I couldn't wait to pick up my bass again... 

...but there was that nagging feeling that I've been neglecting any readers that might be enjoying my blog.  I couldn't keep going without some kind of update... so here ya go!

My music schedule is pretty busy these next few weeks, along with my "honey-do" list of projects around the house (need to build & install a pair of Dutch doors-- inspiration from our trip) and family visiting us from California. Lots going on, but I'm back and the blog will see much more attention as a result. I did try uploading a video review, but had nothing but problems with YouTube... thats a topic for another time; till then...

Stay tuned 
          & in-tune!~

Gig Bags that Rock! iGig & Reunion Blues

When talking cases (soft & hardshell) and gig bags, I am looking for the best protection I can find. After that I consider how the case, or bag will be used. 

Choosing to replace the G&G hardshell case that came with my new Plum Crazy G&L P-bass was necessary because it does not properly secure the instrument. Being a generic fitting case, there is nothing to keep the weight of the bass from being transferred directly to the headstock, and with its minimal padding any shock to the case will also be transferred to the instrument. Lastly, the thing is big & bulky, lacking storage to house even a spare pack of strings. 

So how did I choose the replacement for the traditional style hardshell case? 
Priority 1, I wanted something that would protect the bottom of the bass where the strap button is mounted. Damage to the instruments body from a shock to the strap button is fairly common with traditional cases. 
Priority 2, I wanted the neck to be protected. The stock G&G case only supports the neck at one point-- its weakest-- just below the headstock. Any replacement case/bag needs to do a better job at supporting & protecting the neck. 
Priority 3, storage large enough for the essentials: strings, strap, cables, sheet music, picks, tuner, and somewhere to stash my phone & keys... maybe even a Cliff Bar to hold me over during those unexpected long rehearsals. 

After searching the internet forums and on-line retailers, I narrowed the choice down to two options; the Reunion Blues Continental soft case, and the iGig G525 gig bag. Both are great alternatives to the stock hard case, though for this specific instrument the choice was clear... and here's why:

Priority 1: protection around the strap button.

Reunion Blues Continental:

Notice where the instruments weight is concentrated when upright.

In the photo above, notice how the weight of the bass on the left is fully on the strap button-- which is at the very center and bottom of the case. On the right, the weight of the bass is not directly on the strap button due to the instruments offset body shape-- there is more protection for the bass on the right, than the one on the left. By this measure, the Continental is better for J-basses, and less so for P-basses.

iGig G525:

iGig G525 "GigSaddle"

In this photo (right), notice that the strap button is suspended above the padding, allowing for the instruments body to carry its weight rather than being concentrated on the strap button. With this design, any shock to the bottom should be absorbed and displaced by the padding that surrounds the strap button. This is one of the two components unique to the iGig they call the "Gig Saddle." Not only does this design protect the strap button, but also the body, bridge, controls, and pickup. For the 

Priority 2: neck protection.

Reunion Blues Continental

Reunion Blues Continental: 

The RB Continental (left) supports the neck with a foam block, and uses a Velcro strap to hold it in place. This is a big improvement over many gig bags & cases, because the memory foam will absorb and displace shock to the neck from all sides. The strap also helps to keep the neck from sliding about which adds to the security of the instrument.

Reunion Blues made a video showing a guitar secured in this case tossed from atop a building, and surviving the impacts of the landing. While I would never attempt such a thing with my instrument, I am 100% confident that my bass will survive small falls that would be more typical of actual use. 

iGig "GigPillow"

iGig G525:

iGig uses what they call a GigPillow to protect the entire length of the instruments neck. Made from shock absorbing memory foam and secured with a Velcro strap, it protects the neck from the heal (also helping to keep the instrument from moving), all the way to just below the headstock. Once fully zipped closed, the gig bag provides impact protection that the traditional plywood hard case is simply incapable of providing. 

Between the two manufacturers, iGig's patented system protects much better than the Reunion Blues neck brace, which itself is much better than many other companies offer. The case I want to see someone make is a combination of these two; take the GigPillow & GigSaddle and incorporate them into the Reunion Blues Continental-- that would be the ultimate in protection and usability. Both cases have excellent backpack-type straps, but the iGig's flop around a bit when not in use, while the RB straps stowaway in a zippered compartment. Foam protection on the front of the case feels slightly thicker on the RB case as well. 

(L) RB Continental; (R) iGig G525 (Front & Back)

Priority 3: storage capability.

Storage on the RB is adequate enough for my needs, but more would be nicer.

iGig's G525 is much easier to access than the RB, with a main front pocket that expands to hold more than the RB. iGig also includes a large pocket on the upper portion along the neck. This is a great place to store a padded strap, thus improving the protection to the instruments headstock. It also provides the perfect place for my wallet, keys and phone while I'm on stage.

Ready to roll with my G525 and G&L LB-100

While the Reunion Blues is an excellent soft case (its very stiff outter frame makes it more of a case, than a gig bag), I chose the iGig to replace the generic G&G case that came with my Plum Crazy G&L primarily due to the better protection around the strap button area. 

How well the gig bag performs, only time will tell. Whenever the instrument leave the house, it will be in this bag-- so it should get a lot of use this summer! I will post updates on its performance throughout the year. My initial impression is that it is a serious improvement over the stock G&G case-- and I am thankful to now actually have enough storage for more than just a tuner!

Until next time...
          Stay tuned & in tune!~

Use Protection! Gig Bags & Soft Cases

A lot of people believe quality gig bags and soft cases offer better all-around protection than traditional tolex-covered wooden hard cases can provide.  Me? I agree that some of the newer soft cases are better performers in 98% of situations. I'm actually leaving that 2% for situations I have yet to encounter where a wooden case is better.

What exactly is the difference between a gig bag, a quality gig bag, and a soft case? Here is a quick general rundown:

Gig bags. Most often found with entry level instruments. These floppy, unstructured bags are little more than fancy dust covers-- with handles. These entry level bags are sometimes included with mid-range import instruments such as Squire and Mexican made Fender's. The bags can be found sold separately for around $40, and are better than having nothing at all.

Quality gig bags. This is by no means an all-inclusive definition, but there are a few generally accepted criteria for a "quality" bag. First it should offer padding that surrounds all sides of the instrument, and have some sort of neck support. Bags in this category when not housing an instrument should have very little "floppiness" about them and have at least 1/2 inch padding. 

Quality gig bags are a great choice for those who don't travel a lot with their instrument and want a reasonable level of protection should the propped up instrument be knocked over accidentally. These are great for people who use public transportation as the bags are much easier than traditional cases to carry in crowed areas and still offer protection from bumps and bangs.

Some of the more popular offerings are the Mono Vertigo (shown), Mono M80, and gator's ProGo series. These typically cost between $150 - $200.

Carvin's soft case supporting a 30-lb bass amplifier
 without a bass inside

Soft Cases. An equally appropriate description would be 'hybrid cases' as these tend to offer case-like protection with the light, slim, easy to carry/maneuverability of quality gig bags. With various methods of side/top reinforcement, these are somewhat stiff and hold their shape with, or without a bass inside. The majority of these offer some sort of neck bracing, and have thick shock absorbent padding all around. Two of the best examples of the breed are the Reunion Blues Continental, and the Carvin (Kiesel) Ultimate Soft Case. 

Jeff Kiesel drop testing his soft case

Prices for popular soft cases often range between $125 - $225, and tend to weigh slightly more than quality gig bags. Google the two cases mentioned above, and you will find "drop test" footage of these cases being tossed about with an instrument safely cradled inside-- before and after the rough handling.

Now that I've got the definitions out of the way, why do I like quality gig bags, and soft cases better than traditional wooden cases? Simple-- they work best for me. Subjectivity is necessary when searching for your own bag/case solution-- only you know what will work best for you-- though there remains room for objective reasoning. 

Take shock forces for instance. The typical wooden case utilizes very little interior padding, with the neck being supported just below the headstock. So dropping a hard case on concrete several feet from the ground will likely jar the locks open (depending on design) and transmit the force of the shock directly to the instrument. 

Many soft cases have thick padding that can absorb and displace the shock from a drop. Granted, soft cases are not fool-proof solutions, but they do improve the odds of your instrument surviving the shock of a drop. 

So exactly what did I select to replace the generic G&G case that came with my new Plum Crazy G&L? I'll cover that in my next post, so 'till then...

Stay tuned & in tune!~

A "Plum Crazy" New Bass Day

My new bass was delivered this past weekend. It is from G&L's Detroit Muscle Series, R/T Collection. Its arrival marked the end of a long journey that began in February when seeing an advertisement for these special limited editions inspired by 1960/1970s muscle cars. From their website:

G&L Detroit Muscle Series: R/T Collection

"G&L has turned to Mitch Lanzini, owner of world famous Lanzini Body Works (featured on TV's Overhaulin' show) to provide expert guidance and ensure these high performance G&L's sport the exact paint hues for Sublime Green, Go Mango, Plum Crazy and Panther Pink on the ASAT Special, ASAT Classic Bluesboy 90, Fallout, Legacy, Legacy HB and LB-100 Bass."

Prices of those old cars being as high as they are, I will never be able to afford one... but after a few email conversations and a phone call later, I was able to order a LB-100 bass in my favorite Mopar color, "Plum Crazy."

I phoned in my deposit to Greg at Rocket Music in VA, and he sent the order to G&L. In the following weeks I raised the remaining money by selling the last few bits of 6-string gear that was collecting dust in the closet. Then it was a matter of waiting for G&L to complete. Greg at Rocket Music Gave it a great setup then shipped it off to me right away. 

Opening the case for the very first time

I spent Saturday running it through it's paces. This is my second LB-100, and I was concerned it would be kind of redundant aside from the special color. No need to worry however, as the two have quite different tones.

L) Himalayan Blue. R) Plum Crazy

My older Himalayan Blue LB100 is HEAVY! However, it has a very vintage-sweet tone with a body that resonates like crazy! In contrast, the Plum Crazy LB100 is more of a medium/lightish weight with a very aggressive tone somewhere near the growl of a Jazz bass, but with more bottom end. At first I thought this all might be attributed to their looks influencing my perception, but when comparing with my other basses and trying to be as objective as possible, the purple bass is definitely more aggressive with the volume & tone wide open. Back off the two controls and we are back in the classic P-bass realm. When A/B-ing the two with controls full up, I have to cut the volume on the purple bass to approach the tone of the blue. This is wonderful news, and makes me  very happy since I really don't like having redundancies in the stable. 

L) Himalayan Blue. R) Plum Crazy

On the down-side, the G&G cases that shipped with each bass couldn't be more different. The blue one is form fitted and doesn't allow the bass to move around at all-- when it's in, it's in-- very secure as it also supports the full length of the neck, with a storage compartment underneath. 

Sadly, that is not the case with the purple bass, as it is a generic case that does not have any form fitting whatsoever, and allows the bass to slide about freely. At the top, near the headstock there is a small glovebox, and extending across the case from its edge is a flimsy thin block that the neck at the headstock rests in. The backside of most cases have metal feet, but again those too are missing from this new version.

It appears that G&L has been moving toward the generic fitting cases since early 2014. Overall, this is a small issue for me, as I only use the cases for storage at home, and transport them in my favorite gig-bags when I'm out playing with the band. 

Currently, new G&L LB-100s can be found for a few hundred dollars less than Fender American Standard P-basses. This however, will be changing on 1 July when the "street price" of the LB-100 is set to increase 20%, thus pricing it much closer to Fender's model-- still though, the G&L is a great instrument at a very reasonable price.

If you decide you would like one for your very own, I highly recommend contacting Greg at Rocket Music. His prices are among the best anywhere, the customer service is top-notch, and the set-up he did on the instrument was excellent!

This will be my go-to bass during the summer, and the one that will be used to gauge other manufacturers basses-- a handy list of reviews can be found on my new "Reviews" page. 'Till then...

Stay tuned & in tune!~

A Prelude to Awesomeness

This arrived in the mail over the weekend... 


Can you guess what it is?

After much planning, I placed the order through Rocket Music a few months ago. Waiting that long was admittedly tough, but far less than special orders from most major companies. Being extremely busy keeping up with the course work in our Masters program made the wait a bit easier... and now she's here!

I've been having too much fun playing it for the last few days, however, I have been working on the unboxing and full report during breaks, so...

Stay tuned & in tune!~

To Do List for Summer 2015

This summer will be about expanding upon last year's single focus of 2-hours practice a day. Here is a rough outline for what I have in mind this year:

To do this summer:

            - Practice/work my way through Norm Stockton's The Worship Bass Book: Bass, Espresso, and the Art of Groove.

            - Explore new genre: Celtic

            - Visits the Fender, G&L, and Kiesel/Carvin factories

           

            - Try as many different manufacturers basses as possible 

            - Amps vs. DI

            - Give five-strings a chance

           

            - Lessons

            - Update new music room

            - Recording/video clips

            - CREATE!

            - Go to more local live shows

All of this-- and more-- will be posted here as it happens with at least one post each week; gotta keep my writing chops up for the coming fall quarter don't-cha know~

Stay tuned & in tune!~

Welcome to Summer 2015!!

Having fun for the blog

Last year was a blast—a lot of excellent things happened… but this is a new year and with it, new possibilities.

I have been enjoying playing bass more than ever, and really appreciate the time I spent in practice last summer. That time made me a much better player and I learned a lot about myself as well.

As I write this, we are only a few days away from the end of the Spring Quarter: Saturday is final presentations, a handful of lectures and a seminar group. Then it will be time to put fresh strings on the basses, fire up the Carvin amp, and let ‘er rip!

The plan for this summer is still being worked out, but rest assured I will have something fun ready for y’all to read about—maybe even a few surprises along the way.

Practice ready in our new space

Three goals for the blog this time around:

1) Inspire others to take up a musical instrument

2) Improve my skills on the instrument

3) Maintain my writing chops for the upcoming Fall Quarter.

**Bonus goal: have fun doing all three!!

Lastly, I want to encourage all my readers to join in!  Ask questions, or post comments below-- start your own blogs, YouTube… what every you like that encourages others to take an active part in making music~

Now time to dust off those blogging skills~

‘Till next time…
                   Stay tuned & in tune!