Hey everyone, I'm new to talkbass.
I've been a drummer since age 10 or so. Joined a band freshman year of high school and played until mid-college. Our biggest show was at "The Rave" in Milwaukee, when we sudo-opened for the band Finch. Things were quiet throughout college, but recently I was asked to guest play a couple drone shows with my friend Troy Schafer, who's an accomplished artist. Hard to describe the music. You can check it out here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dvl3_sQF2y8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBjgtnttH0o
Mind you these performances are almost completely improvised on the spot. I built the crazy, large black device with the glowing eye in front of the Troy, the violinist in the first video. It's a 4x 12AU7 distortion inside an old "Frequency Analyzer" case.
My musical taste (as far as playing goes) lies primarily in the Doom Metal and Drone zone for stringed instruments, and faster stuff (think High on Fire) for drums, but I enjoy many different genre's.
I started repairing/maintaining/upgrading electric stringed instruments and simple electronics (for band-mates) around age 16. Took some electronics courses at a tech school during high school. Started working on tube amps and effects around age 25 after college. Picked up Guitar for a bit a year ago or so, but after tuning down lower and lower, realized bass was more my style. Bought a bass rig a few months ago. Still very much in the learning stage, but fellow bassists say I'm progressing quickly. It's fun as hell either way.
I work in the Information Technology field (for an Ad Agency in Madison, WI) My title is Network Technician, but I really do System Administrator things.
I operate an unofficial music repair/upgrade shop. Fellow musicians (friends/coworkers/friends of friends) bring their instruments, amps, and effects to me for maintenance/upgrades/etc. I'm kind of "that guy who can fix or modify anything". Lots of time I barter for gear or beer. I do fret work, intonation, finishing, full builds, replace pickups, fix wiring, shield cavities, change electronics/preamps, re-tube amps, mod tube amps, mod cabs, build cabs, build effects, mod effects, circuit bend for noise-heads, make acoustic to electric conversion drum kits, and other stuff I'm sure I'm forgetting. My wife is working on becoming a certified nurse at which point I may start an official business of some sort.
My gear: Bass Rig:
ESP J1005 5 String - Stock for now
Gallien Krueger 700RB with 700RBII preamp
Genz Benz 410T-XB
Epiphone Valve Junior I'll be modding for bass
Effects:
Amplitube for practicing at night
VT Bass
Boss Line Selector
Monte Allums Modded Boss CS-2 Compressor
Aphex Big Bottom Exciter
Green Russian Big Muff
Black Russian Big Muff - heavily modded by me
Apocalypse Audio Toecutter clone - made by me
12AU7 Boost/OD made by me
4x 12AU7 Distortion/Fuzz made by me
Green Rhino OD
ProCo RAT w/LM308
Zvex SHO clone
TS808 spec Tubescreamer, modded
MXR 10-band EQ
Boss DD-2 Delay
EH Holy Grail Reverb
Other odds and ends as well. Not all used for bass of course.
Guitar:
Self Made Mahogany, set neck Dean-style Flying V with Dimarzio Super distortion/PAF Pro pickups
Laney Pro-Tube AOR Amp
4x12 with Celestion Vintage 30's
Ibanez RG320FM 6-string with dimarzio X2N/Tone-Zone PU's.
Drums:
Old trusty 5 piece Ludwig drum kit, with Zildjian A's, Z's, and Newbeat/Mastersound hats. Iron Cobra pedals, pinstripe heads. Milwaukee Birch snare.
A home-brew DIY acoustic-electronic conversion drum kit with an Alesis DM5 running into Addictive Drums for practicing.
I also am into vintage road bicycles. I have too many bikes, but of note are an 80's Pinarello Montello with Campagnolo Super Record, a '86 Bill Davidson Impulse with Dura Ace 7400, and a 70's Raleigh Professional with Nuovo Record.
I also love cars. I drive a 2009 VW GTI with an APR Stage 1 tune and some minor bolt-ons.
Well, that was a novel.
