Jol Dantzig Discusses the Creation of Sting’s 8-String Hamer Explorer Fretless Bass
Jol Dantzig Discusses the Creation of Sting’s 8-String Hamer Explorer Fretless Bass
I had the opportunity to discuss the creation of one of rock ‘n roll’s most iconic fretless basses with Jol Dantzig – Sting’s red fretless Hamer 8-string Explorer bass. Dantzig and the team at Hamer Guitars custom designed this bass for Sting in 1980 with a maple neck, unlined fingerboard, and a cherry red Explorer style body. Featured in The Police video for “De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da” and played live on a few occasions, this bass is an absolute work of art and truly is one-of-a-kind. …continue reading »
Bill Laswell Interview
Bill Laswell Interview – Public Image Limited (PIL) Album, Fretless Bass and More
Article by Eric Larson, copyright 2019 all rights reserved
A while back I started a conversation with Bill Laswell curious to find out more about his bass playing and also an album he did with Public Image Limited, aka PIL. The album titled simply ALBUM is a favorite of mine and features some amazing fretless bass. In addition, this album also features Sex Pistols lead singer and PIL founder John Lydon, veteran drummers Tony Williams and Ginger Baker, legendary guitarist Steve Vai, and some other amazing musicians and technicians. …continue reading »
Adam Ant Concert Review Shubert Theatre Boston September 17, 2019
Adam Ant Concert Review Shubert Theatre Boston September 17, 2019
Article and photos by Eric Larson, Copyright 2019
I have been a long time fan of Adam Ant, ever since the Friend or Foe album was released in 1982. The first time I heard the title track playing over the radio waves, I was mesmerized – I’d never heard anything like it. …continue reading »
Music – Hold On To The Nights – Patrick O’Hearn – Richard Marx – Richard Marx
Music – Hold On To The Nights – Patrick O’Hearn – Richard Marx – Richard Marx …continue reading »
Mark Egan & Arjun Bruggeman “Dreaming Spirits”
Mark Egan & Arjun Bruggeman “Dreaming Spirits”
Article by Eric Larson, © Copyright 2018 FretlessBass.com
This new release from Mark Egan and Arjun Bruggeman, featuring Shane Theriot, gets better and better the more you listen. Originally intended to be a bass guitar and tabla album, the project evolved to include guitar and more. Mark Egan was as generous as always answering my questions about how this project and trio came together, giving me thorough details of the project and the players that contributed. There is plenty of beautiful fretless bass work, and the complimentary styles that flow between the musicians are impressive. Read more to be brought behind the scenes of this unique project.
Basses – Mark Egan
Tabla & Drums – Arjun Bruggeman
Guitars – Shane Theriot
FretlessBass.com: How did this trio and project come together? What was the initial concept for this album, and did it change along the way at all?
Mark Egan: I met tabla player, drummer and percussionist Arjun Bruggeman in 2008 when we recorded and toured with master Kirtan singer-chanter, Krishna Das. Arjun is a world percussionist and session recording artist …continue reading »
Music – Lady In Red – Pino Palladino – Chris DeBurgh – Into the Light
Music – Lady In Red – Pino Palladino – Chris DeBurgh – Into the Light …continue reading »
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Look for “FQ” for the exclusive FretlessBass.com “Fretless Questions” interview. Have a suggestion for a player we should add? Contact us!
About
About FretlessBass.com
Welcome to FretlessBass.com. This site is dedicated to fretless basses (acoustic and uprights welcome too!). Originally designed as a user submitted gallery of fretless basses, our site now includes much more, including exclusive interviews and articles, featured songs and videos, a shopping area, and community links for those who play or simply admire fretless basses. …continue reading »
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Music – What I Am – Brad Houser – Edie Brickell & New Bohemians – Shooting Rubberbands At The Stars
Music – What I Am – Brad Houser – Edie Brickell & New Bohemians – Shooting Rubberbands At The Stars …continue reading »
MuteMath Bassist Roy Mitchell-Cárdenas – A Brief Interview
MuteMath Bassist Roy Mitchell-Cárdenas – A Brief Interview
Article by Eric Larson, © Copyright 2016 FretlessBass.com
If you have never heard MuteMath I suggest that you check them out. I was first told about this Grammy nominated band from New Orleans by a friend of mine. I had never heard of them. I listened to “Chaos” and “Break the Same” from their MuteMath album and immediately purchased it.
This band is phenomenal, but being a drummer and bass player, the rhythm section caught my attention immediately. Darren King is an unbelievable drummer with amazing energy and creativity, and a real showman. But I was really impressed with bassist Roy Mitchell-Cárdenas. …continue reading »
Sting’s 8-String Hamer Explorer Fretless Bass
Sting’s 8-String Hamer Explorer Fretless bass featured in The Police video for “De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da” and played live on a few occasions.
8-string basses are typically strung with four pairs of strings, each in the pair a different gauge, set close together and typically played together. The top string of each pair is a light gauge string strung an octave up from the main normal gauge bass string of the pair, creating an octave and chorus effect when played together. Though this is the typical setup, other alternate setups exist including using the heavier gauge bass string as the top string of the pair, with the light gauge string below it.
…continue reading »
Pedulla Guitars 40th Anniversary Interview With Michael Pedulla
Pedulla Guitars 40th Anniversary Interview With Michael Pedulla
Article by Eric Larson, © Copyright 2015 FretlessBass.com
For the past forty years the sound of Pedulla basses has been embedded in music of all genres. From Anne Murray to Eagles to Kiss. From Lynyrd Skynyrd to Elton John to Brooks & Dunn. From Mark Egan to Tim Landers to countless other players, Pedulla basses have been heard all over the world. If Michael Pedulla hadn’t combined his love for music, woodworking, and engineering in a small guitar shop near Boston in 1975, who knows how that music may have suffered? How would the musicians have been different, lacking the unique inspiration of a Pedulla, had he not committed his passions to building the best basses possible without compromise? Fortunately, as we enter into the year 2015, answers to those questions are not something to be pondered. …continue reading »
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HG Thor Guitar Lab – Epoxy Fretless Fingerboard Technique
Forward by Eric Larson, Founder of FretlessBass.com:
I have a weakness for 1970’s Fender Precision fretless basses with the one-piece maple neck and unlined fingerboard. I own three of them and they all have their own personalities.
One particular Fender I bought on eBay was not in the best condition when it arrived at my home. It had a rust brown stain applied over the original natural body, and the fingerboard had nicks, chips and dead spots in various locations. The finish was worn and it just didn’t have the life that I knew it once had. I had read about Jaco’s epoxy fingerboard finish technique and always dreamed of having a fretless with that hard glossy treatment. Harris at HG Thor Guitar Lab, expert in this process, brought new life to this bass and I couldn’t be happier with the results.
User Submitted Gallery addition 12/8/2000, #: 000021
Bass Details: …continue reading »
User Submitted Gallery addition 10/23/2000, #: 000011
Bass Details: …continue reading »
