I’ve been staring at the computer screen trying to figure out how to start writing about Bass Player Live, last weekend in Los Angeles. In trying to come up with a good “hook” for an intro, I’m trying to put a label on what exactly the whole thing was. The problem is, it wasn’t any one thing; it was inspiring, humbling, exasperating, exciting, ridiculous, revealing, and grueling, all at once, within any five minute time span. Most of all, it was a lot of fun, so I guess the safe way to go is to try to impart that, while giving you a taste of all the other things, too.

    First of all, how often do you get to spend that much time with someone who you admire and learn from? The whole trip was courtesy of Bobby Vega, and the chance to hang out, talk to him, and watch how he went about his business was invaluable. Right off the top, I can’t thank him enough for the experience.

    The event took place at SIR Studios in Hollywood. SIR is a large rehearsal and equipment rental facility right on Sunset Strip. The rooms were full of manufacturers showing off their latest gear and their latest endorsers. Bobby was there on behalf of EMG Pickups, and was showcasing the “X” pickups he helped develop. He was also there at the behest of Bass Player Magazine to present Tower of Power bassist Rocco Prestia a Lifetime Achievement Award.

    Rather than try to tell the story chronologically, which could take hours to read, I want to present it as little snapshots, to give you an idea of how the weekend went. Things were always changing, someone coming in, something going on over here, someone playing this, people pushing that – sensory overload in a low register. Life imitating quick-cut marketing. If you’re not a bass player, I’ll try to explain some things as I go, if you are, be patient with me!

    In the ever-crowded Ernie Ball Music Man/Markbass room, a Round Table discussion features EBMM Prez Sterling Ball, bass heavyweights Dave Marotta, Juan Nelson, Stan Seargeant, and Tony Levin, long time Peter Gabriel/King Crimson/everyone bassist. Tony Levin has the best line of the show, in answer to “What are you currently up to?” Tony said “I’m busy. Busy is the new ‘rich’.” Sterling talked so passionately about running the company and how certain bass designs came about that I was about ready to enlist.

    Canadian fusion giant Alain Caron played in the same room. As good as he is on that six string fretless F Bass, and he is very good, the groove didn’t kick in until the drummer came in. Sometimes ‘Funky’ is more than a one-man job.

    Bakithi Kumalo, who played bass on Paul Simon’s “Graceland”, amongst other things, is not very tall, but is about 75% Smile. If anyone had a better time than me this weekend, it was him. Always smiling, laughing, and playing. He bounces around the room the way his bass lines bounce right through the speakers. On Sunday, when Phil Chen showed up at the show, the two of them were hilarious to watch, leaning their heads together and laughing riotously at whatever private moment they shared. Phil Chen, who played Jeff Beck’s “Freeway Jam” and Rod Stewart’s “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy”, not to mention that’s him playing the bass solo on “Hot Legs”, is actually from Jamaica, so listening to the African bass player talk to the Chinese bassist from Jamaica was music in and of itself.

    After about a half day of listening to bassists strut and preen in front of each other, Stu Hamm poked his head in to say ‘hi’ to Bobby and said “They should have called this ‘Mid-Range Player Live’.”

    Chris Chaney (Jane’s Addiction, Alanis Morisette) bounding up to say hello to Tony Franklin (Bad Company, The Firm).

    Norwood Fisher’s (Fishbone) 10:30AM clinic; “I’ve never really done this kind of thing. I should be out surfing, y’all.” He was funny, personable, and even though he forgot parts of songs, he was revealing about where “this stuff” comes from, and how he came up with different techniques and ideas. Asked why he hangs his bass so low, he explained that there were two reasons; reason number one, all the coolest guys on Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert and Midnight Special hung their guitars low. The second reason was that when he was starting, he had a bass book that said to ‘adjust your strap so that you’re at your most comfortable, and he figured there wasn’t anything more comfortable than just letting your arms hang! He then spent all of Sunday hanging at the Warwick booth.

    Speaking of booths, there was a lot of ‘Bass Porn’ on display (non bassists, bear with me!). Bobby and the EMG X’s were a big hit, and a lot of players came by to check out him demoing them. The JA-X’s were particularly popular.

    Aguilar debuted the new 751 Bass head, the replacement for the popular 750. They’ve redone the design and mid-range structure, and the price is actually less than the 750’s. This could mean there will be a lot of 750’s on the used market, too (Dominic)!

    Sekou Bunch was all over the place getting people to try the new Carvin SB400 bass. Good reviews all around for the jazz-like, Alnico equipped bass, and Sekou was the perfect Ambassador, with a quick smile and easy laugh. He was always playing something, somewhere.

    The new “Classic Collection” Stingrays were on display at the Ernie Ball booth, featuring cool colors like Seafoam Green, Shell Pink, and Vintage White, and sporting 2-band EQ’a and thumbscrew bridge mutes, like the original Stingrays. Sterling said the original mutes were discontinued years ago under threat of lawsuit by someone who apparently cut themselves on the metal edges. He brought them back now because “I’ve got better insurance.”

    I was a fly on the wall for a conversation between Michael Tobias and Bobby about tone, strings, and all things bass, and it was fascinating to hear a guy so up on his craft talk about his own stuff. He had a beautiful bass set up with LaBella Black Tape strings, and I’ve never heard those strings sound more musical.

    Other manufacturers with cool stuff were Alleva-Coppolo Basses, T.C. Electronics, King Doublebass, Spector, D’Addario Strings, Fender, and many more.

    To illustrate the whole “drummer/Bassist dynamic, I ‘Facebooked’ the fact that John Ferraro was drumming in the Ernie Ball room, and got three text messages from bass players to tell him “Hi”. Well, two ‘hi’ messages and one that said to “kiss his bald head for me”. I passed along the ‘hellos’!

    Mikey Vernon was there helping out with the Spector booth and lending a hand setting up EMG’s stuff. Mikey is one of those invaluable guys who the general public never knows about, but he’s actually the one who makes things ‘go’. He’s a long-time Bass tech for touring bands, and is what I call a “GSD Guy”. He “Gets Shit Done”. Plus he was a great hang all weekend. In the bass world, if you need shit done, check him out; http://totalmetalgear.tech.officelive.com

    In the next installment, I’ll tell you about the concert and awards ceremony! Backstage at the Key Club was really Bass Player Heaven! I’ll also get to some overall thoughts, and why if you’re a bass player, you need to attend one of these beasts, and if you do, how not to lose your mind (if that's possible).