JMJ Introduction
FlyGuitars Why did you start playing bass and at what age?
Justin Meldal-Johnsen (JMJ) Because a friend of my parents gave me some crazy Japanese Jazz Bass copy when I was twelve, and I wanted to play along with MTV. Boo yah.
FlyGuitars Any formal training?
JMJ I had, on and off for a year, some great lessons with The Faunt School here in LA right after high school. It's unique in that they are private lessons that are actually based on an expansive curriculum. Lots of emphasis on ear and rhythm training.
FlyGuitars What are your favorite bass players or your bass influences?
JMJ Peter Hook, Tony Levin, Robbie Shakespeare, Tina Weymouth, Bootsy, Graham Lewis, Paul McCartney, Chuck Rainey, Joe Osborn, James Jamerson, David J, Jah Wobble.
FlyGuitars When did you decide play bass as a profession?
JMJ I think I always did. It was into that right when I got my bass. I'm so happy, even now, to realize that I do this for a living. It's like a constant realization. I just love playing.
FlyGuitars You seem to get a lot of work, what is it you bring to the table as a bass player?
JMJ A great listening skill, a positive outlook, good taste, and desirable tones. That seems to be the combo.
FlyGuitars Do you do any production work?
JMJ Yes indeed. Just co-produced a Ken Andrews (ex-Failure) solo album (Secrets of the Lost Satellite), Holly Palmer, Reeve Carney, Ima Robot, various things. I'm liking producing, but I can't stop playing bass, and I don't see how I ever could.
FlyGuitars It seems that a lot of bass players make great producers, why do you think that is?
JMJ Because the bassist, more than any other role in the band landscape, listens to the interrelationships between all things. That sets his ears on constant alert, if you will. I find that in order to bridge harmony and rhythm, I have to have, in my periphery, a bird's eye view of what everyone else is doing. Same for production, obviously.
FlyGuitars Do you find producers today, favor a passive tone?
JMJ Unequivocally. I can't bring in an active bass, and the only one I have anyway (besides an RD, which doesn't really count, in my book) is a Wal, and that is a very unique voice, thankfully.
FlyGuitars Ima Robot really remind me of the band Sparks, fun music! Are you still working/playing with them?
JMJ Thanks. That's a big influence for me. No; the boys are out on their own. I liken myself to being their benevolent uncle, though.
FlyGuitars Do you do any singing?
JMJ Yup. I'm always doing backgrounds.
FlyGuitars What work did you do with Gnarls Barkley?
JMJ I was hired to be their bassist and music director, which is what I do for Beck. Unfortunately, I could only do two shows (their first two ever), and then it was over. I acted remotely as their music director, however. Even now, I'll help them if they need anything.
FlyGuitars Were you one of the Storm Troopers on the Grammy Awards show a year or so back with Gnarls Barkley, playing the Les Paul Standard?
JMJ No sir. That was my excellent replacement, my friend Cedric from Remy Zero
FlyGuitars Do you ever plan on having your own band or do you just enjoy working/producing other people's projects?
JMJ Always. That was the point of Ima Robot. I like bands. I'll probably do another.
Thanks to John (Redbird) Fertig and Justin Meldal-Johnsen for another great interview
Why not check out some of these links
Justin Meldal-Johnsen homepage
Ima Robot homepage
Beck homepage
and don't forget the other FlyGuitar interviews
Gibson bass guitars for sale
1964 Gibson Thunderbird II Bass the mintest 100% original Polaris White example.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 333**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$44995
1976 Gibson Thunderbird Bicentennia Ebony
Antioch, Tennessee, 370**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$4145
... more
Gibson Thunderbird Bass Guitar
Easley, South Carolina, 296**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$2500
... more
Gibson Non-Reverse Thunderbird Bass Inverness Green
Middletown, New York, 109**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$2198
Used Gibson Non-Reverse Thunderbird Bass - Sparkling Burgundy
Brookfield, Wisconsin, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$1919
Used Gibson Non-Reverse Thunderbird Bass - Sparkling Burgundy
A used Gibson Non-Reverse Thunderbird Bass. This is a showroom model that has seen almost no use and is in fantastic condition. The bass will ship with all original factory documentation and packaging. Additionally, before shipment our luthiers will provide a professional inspection and full setup, so it arrives ready to play. If you have any questions about this instrument or any of our great gear, please send us a ... more
2022 Gibson Non-Reverse Thunderbird Pelham Blue Electric Bass Guitar #47868
Burbank, California, 915**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$1799
eBay Template Design by OCDesignsOnline HomeAboutTestimonialsPoliciesContactSell your Gear 2022 Gibson Non-Reverse Thunderbird Pelham Blue Electric Bass Guitar #47868 ××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××× Item DescriptionWORKING CONDITION: Excellent - Plays great. All of the electronics and controls are working ... more
GIBSON THUNDERBIRD NON-REVERSED BASS GUITAR
New Port Richey, Florida, 346**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$1600
Gibson Thunderbird 4-string Solidbody Electric Bass Guitar - Inverness Green
Fort Wayne, Indiana, 468**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$1500
Used Condition
4-string Electric Bass with Mahogany Body and Neck, Rosewood Fingerboard, and 2 Humbucking Pickups - Inverness Green
8 6 lbs
In good condition. There is a finish chip under the bass edge of the truss rod cover; there are dents in the bass edge of the fretboard at the 2nd and 5th frets. The electronics have been tested as good. The stock bridge has been replaced with a black Hipshot Supertone bridge and it is included inside the case along with all the pictured ... more
De Armond By Guild STARFIRE BASS Guitar Sunburst Semi Hollow + Case Korea Made
Hawthorne, California, 902**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$1000
De Armond By Guild STARFIRE BASS Sunburst Semi Hollow / Case Included
IN EXCELLENT CONDITION
WILL SHIP IT WITH THE CASE ( not the original case for DeArmond but it fits )
HARD CASE IS FOR EPHIPHONE BASS
NOT FOR DE ARMOND
IM USING IT ONLY FOR PROTECTION
PLEASE CHECKTHE PHOTOS CAREFULLY FOR MORE DETAILS
FEEL FREE TO MESSAGE ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
... more
Excellent Guild Starfire I Semi-Hollow Body Double-Cut Bass Guitar, Vintage Waln
Jenison, Michigan, 494**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$599
Guild Starfire I Semi-Hollow Body Double-Cut Bass Guitar, Vintage Walnut
Condition
Light wear: minor surface scratches in the body. Damage: None
Description
An iconic shape at an affordable price, Guild??s Starfire I Bass is a modern adaptation of the traditional Starfire Bass platform, exemplifying the features needed on a modern Hollowbody bass. Featuring a slimmed down, 2 4?? body thickness, inward-shifted neck, short 30 ¾?? scale length, and a 1 ... more
60's EPIPHONE by GIBSON EMBASSY BASS USA - THUNDERBIRD SOUND - LONG SCALE
COLOGNE, GERMANY
€3333
60's Epiphone by Gibson Embassy Deluxe Bass - made in USA:
+ mahogany body finished in wine red, has lots of weather checking and wear, several extra screw holes on back
+ mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, LONG SCALE, has 4 minor SURFACE stress cracks below tuners=check last 3 pics
* skinny neck profile on back around first 5 frets
+ new Fender Reissue tuners
+ 1 original THUNDERBIRD pickup & 1 newer Fender Jazz bass single coil
+ new pickguard
+ new pots and ... more
60er EPIPHONE von GIBSON EMBASSY DELUXE BASS - hergestellt in USA - THUNDERBIRD SOUND
COLOGNE, GERMANY
£2998
+ mahogany body finished in wine red, has lots of weather checking and wear, several extra screw holes on back
+ mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, LONG SCALE, has 4 minor SURFACE stress cracks below tuners=check last 3 pics
* skinny neck profile on back around first 5 frets
+ new Fender Reissue tuners
+ 1 original THUNDERBIRD pickup & 1 newer Fender Jazz bass single coil
+ new pickguard
+ new pots and ... more
Gibson USA Thunderbird Reverse Bass Natural Tobacco With Original Hard Case
Launceston, PL15***, UNITED KINGDOM
£2000
The traditional 9-ply mahogany / walnut neck through body construction provides a thundering low end response and a piano like sustain.
The narrow nut width and rounded neck profile neck feels both fast and intuitive. The Thunderbird high output, ceramic magnet loaded humbucking pickups (neck and bridge) deliver the sonic and iconic ... more
Gibson Victory Bass 1981 Vintage USA Kahler Tremolo Thunderbird Headstock
Southend-on-Sea, SS1***, UNITED KINGDOM
£1999
Gibson Thunderbird Bass - USA vom Feinsten - aus 1. Hand mi orig Koffer
Lenzkirch, 79***, GERMANY
€1699
Nix verbastelt. Keinen Dead Spot (Hals gerade, Bünde topp). Selten Live gespielt. Nur im rauchfreien Proberaum quartiert! Saiten sind auch noch in Ordnung !
Der Lack auf er Rückseite ist an der Kante an einer Stelle abgeplatzt (siehe Bild). Der Kopf hat mal leicht angedotzt (siehe Bild). Sonst hat der Bass oberflächliche Kratzer und ist in einem sehr gepflegten Zustand ... more
1987 Gibson Bass IV - hergestellt in den USA - THUNDERBIRD TONABNEHMER
COLOGNE, GERMANY
£1090
* the black painted part of the body was cut off before by some moron and replaced with 2 pieces of ash=
check pic 5
* pearl white finish is very worn
* Thunderbird pickups
* black Schaller hardware
* ebony fingerboard, frets are fine
... more
1969 GUILD USA STARFIRE BASS CASE fits also EB SEMI BASS
COLOGNE, GERMANY
€390
1969 Guild Starfire Bass case -- made in USA:
+ black tolex, very dusty, some wear
+ purple interior, some wear
+ all latches work fine EXCEPT bottom latch is broken & needs to be repaired
+ gaffa tape sticking at headstock side
+ fits also Gibson EB 2 Bass models
Over 1000 more
GUITARS-BASSES-PARTS in our OTHER
AUCTIONS !!!!
TAKE A LOOK !!!... more
1989 Jackson Thunderbird Basshülle - Made in USA - passt GIBSON
COLOGNE, GERMANY
£250
+ fits also Gibson T-Bird models
+ black interior with formfit cut, some wear
+ tolex has a LOT of wear and larger rips on back and front
+ leather ends have rips
+ right latch is broken
+ worn but ROCK SOLID
... more
Gibson Bass Brücke Chrom (SG oder Thunderbird) WIE NEU!
Zella-Mehlis, 98***, GERMANY
€50
Die Marke Gibson steht seit Jahrzehnten für exzellente Qualität und hervorragende Verarbeitung. Diese Bass Brücke ist keine Ausnahme und wird jeden Bassspieler begeistern. Kaufen Sie ... more