Justin Meldal-Johnson

[myrockinbass]

I think Justin is one of the best/ most versatile and creative bass players of my generation. He has managed to find work in great bands (many years with BECK, IMA ROBOT, and GNARLS BARKLEY) but as a go-to LA session bassist (GARBAGE, AIR, TORI AMOS, MACY GRAY, THE MARS VOLTA, THE BLACK EYED PEAS, THE DIXIE CHICKS, PINK, ROB THOMAS, MARIANNE FAITHFUL, DAVID BOWIE, NELLY FURTADO, COURTNEY LOVE, ETC....). I just can't think of somebody in the last 30 years who has put his stamp on so many current artists.
I saw him play live last night at the BECK/TOM PETTY concert, but I was sooooo far away I couldn't really "see" him. Sounded great though. Justin Meldal-Johnson=Bass God for our time!!!

I just wanted to share in case you didn't realize that at least one of our low end brothers is "living the dream"!!!

[bassist15]

I recently saw some footage of him playing with beck on SNL and was blown away by his playing very funky stuff. HE is a very good player and ive only heard him with beck so I defintely have to check out his other recordings.

[tplyons]

He's actually a member here and pokes in every once in a while.

One of the better bassists out there these days.

[excane]

That photo is called the orgasm room.

[myrockinbass]

He just gives me the impression that he's very knowledgable when it comes to music and bass. Plus it's nice to see a touring musician who also seems really connected to his family. It's pretty much what I want to do with MY life. I wonder if he'd give me lessons!??!? Hell, LA is only an hour and a half away.

[mattq]

i'm even closer to l.a. i wonder if he'd give me lessons...

anyway, i first fell in love with this guy's playing while listening to beck's sea change album. specifically the song "paper tiger." if you listen to what justin's playing in conjunction to the tension between the string part and the electric guitar part, it's simply amazing. i don't know if he wrote that part or what, but either way he played it masterfully

[phxlbrmpf]

He seems to be a huge fan of retro basses, the most "modern" bass design I spot in that picture is the Yamaha BB. I also don't spot a single 5 string.
I usually associate him with the Guild Starfire (?) hollow/semi-hollowbody bass that he seems to use with Beck pretty much all the time and its warm, slightly "thuddy" sound. I saw some Beck live footage once and when he busted out a Jazz (probably detuned so he could hit the low D, which I imagine is difficult to do with the Guild) when they played "Loser" it looked almost "wrong".

[Nedmundo]

Originally Posted by mattq

i first fell in love with this guy's playing while listening to beck's sea change album. specifically the song "paper tiger." if you listen to what justin's playing in conjunction to the tension between the string part and the electric guitar part, it's simply amazing. i don't know if he wrote that part or what, but either way he played it masterfully

Same here, and then I got the Ima Robot album, which features more outstanding playing. Learning some of those parts helped me change my playing for the better, using fewer notes but with better timing and groove. I revamped some of my parts along those lines. Luckily, I got to talk to him after an Ima Robot show in Philly, and tell him that! He's a super nice guy, and one of the very best players around.

[The Lurker]

his playing on Macy Gray's "the trouble with being myself' is also really cool..... the bass line to Every Now And Then is just...well, jaw-dropping. And it's ear candy. Not often that you get your mind blown by a song you can't get out of your head for days.

[BloodTypeBlue]

La Femme D'Argent

Enough said...

[mattq]

i recently found out that he plays semi-regularly for gnarls barkley.

what? even MORE of a reason to see them live?

[Ampeg SVT]

Originally Posted by mattq

i recently found out that he plays semi-regularly for gnarls barkley.

what? even MORE of a reason to see them live?

i think he is currently touring for Beck right now

[myrockinbass]

I think he's finishing up a new beck album

[Craig Garfinkel]

I had the opportunity to hang with Justin a fair bit at a NAMM show a few years back. Not only is he a great player, but he's very down to earth and a joy to be around. A great, great cat. This is not the least of the reasons he's so successful. If you ever run into him don't be shy...he's the kind of guy that really enjoys hangin' with his fellow bass players.

Yes, he's very much into "retro" instruments (one of the quotes I remember..."I'm all about flatwounds"), but he's also into using effects in varying combos to achieve modern tones. Very innovative.

[moogboy]

Originally Posted by myrockinbass

I think Justin is one of the best/ most versatile and creative bass players of my generation. He has managed to find work in great bands (many years with BECK, IMA ROBOT, and GNARLS BARKLEY) but as a go-to LA session bassist (GARBAGE, AIR, TORI AMOS, MACY GRAY, THE MARS VOLTA, THE BLACK EYED PEAS, THE DIXIE CHICKS, PINK, ROB THOMAS, MARIANNE FAITHFUL, DAVID BOWIE, NELLY FURTADO, COURTNEY LOVE, ETC....). I just can't think of somebody in the last 30 years who has put his stamp on so many current artists.
I saw him play live last night at the BECK/TOM PETTY concert, but I was sooooo far away I couldn't really "see" him. Sounded great though. Justin Meldal-Johnson=Bass God for our time!!!

I just wanted to share in case you didn't realize that at least one of our low end brothers is "living the dream"!!!

what is that bass next to the Jazz type bass in that Photo? its the second one in.

[The Lurker]

Originally Posted by moogboy

what is that bass next to the Jazz type bass in that Photo? its the second one in.

it's an 8-string Hellcat (4x2) that Schecter built for him.