Props + string + setup

[lefty007]

Hey Janek.

First of all big props to you: you are an amazing player. Flawless fast technique but always lyrical and musical.

I hope you take this as a compliment, but I really see things in common between you, Matt Garrison and Richard Bona. That all three happen to play Foderas with ramps, and Epifani, is another matter.

I think you all are taking fingerstyle playing to a whole new level.

2 questions:

-What string gauge do you use and do you tune with high-C (I think it's obvious, but I still ask)?

-Do you know how low is your action? For example, if you press in the first fret and measure distance from bottom of string to top of the 12th fret. (I'm at 2/64ths). I know action is a preference, I'm just curious.

Thanks, and keep doing what you doing - you might break the fingerstyle speed record pretty soon.

[janekbass]

Hi,

thanks for your thread and your kinds words, I'm glad you're digging the music.

My strings are 100-80-60-40-30 right now on my main bass. But this changes on a week to week basis for other basses depending on what music I'm playing. I normally use 105-85-65-45 on my four string P-bass. I use it for record dates and all kinds of other stuff that isn't my own music. And more recently I've been in pre-production for my new album and have rented a vintage Jazz bass with the same gague on it to play on some songs.

I can't really tell you too much about the action on my fodera as I know very little about it. I'ts low, that's for sure. But I take it to the workshop and have Joey, Vadim and Vinne work on it about once every month or two. When I have a lot of records dates on I'll take it to them before most dates for a set up, sometimes a fret job if it needs it. And also if I'm about to leave on the road for 6 weeks and I'm not coming through NYC at all I'll have them set it up. It's weak of me not to know more about the set up, but it's one of those things that I would prefer a professional to deal with rather than me screw it up.

I use a mediium action on the P-Bass, nothing ground breaking. Just what feels comfortable. I'm going to get either another P bass or a vintage Jazz bass soon as well as a new Fodera and I will experiment with the set up on them. The fodera will always stay pretty low for the forseable future, as I'm very much into ecconomy of movement. I want to play this bass for the rest of my life, and the easier it is to play the better really. I do have a ramp system of sorts.... do play a fodera bass.... but play FENDER amps. FBA, not Epifani.

I do like the Epifani gear very much, and am good friends with Nick who owns the company, but I ended up signing a deal with Fender,and have been incredibly happy with the stuff.

I'm going to be in Europe in September doing a masterclass tour for Fender launching a new line of gear they have out.

I'll be hitting Iceland, France, Germany, Poland and Hungary. all the details will be posted on my myspace page as soon as I get them.

Easy,

Janek

[janekbass]

P.S. the strings I use are made by fender and will become a signature set at some point which will be available to the public.

[lefty007]

Thanks for your reply!

[jnprather]

Originally Posted by janekbass

But I take it to the workshop and have Joey, Vadim and Vinne work on it about once every month or two.

Rubtsov? Does he work for Fodera now?