Martin Mendez is one cool guy

squiresuzuki · #1 10-18-2011, 07:22 PM

Seriously.

1. He's in Opeth.
2. He's chill as ****.
3. He plays a 4-string Jazz bass in a death metal band.
4. His side-to-side headbanging is pure badass.

Reference

Godfather · #2 10-18-2011, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by squiresuzuki

4. His side-to-side headbanging is pure badass.

gscroggin · #3 10-18-2011, 07:47 PM

HUGE Opeth fan here! What do you think of the new album? Is it me, or does it have this 60's-70's vibe throughout? I'm not saying that in a bad way, just an observation. It's like something started with Ghost Reveries, this slight 70's prog rock thing, continued on Watershed, and then really came out now in Heritage. In all honesty it's not my typical cup of tea, but Mikael and the dudes really make it work somehow.

**BassIsFun17** · #4 10-18-2011, 07:50 PM

I freaking love Opeth's new album! its one of my new favorite pieces to listen to. I love all of the other Opeth album too though, i just think this step they have taken, is going to open up a whole new fan base for them. My conclusion, Mikael is one smart mother****er, and he knows what he wants to play, and he really take his music seriously.

the_hook · #5 10-21-2011, 07:28 PM

I tried to listen to Opeth before because of all the good press around the band (and they do Prog), but I hear guttural vocals and I turn it off.

I just read in Prog magazine that their Heritage album is more up my alley (70's type Prog Rock) and so far I'm digging it.

Then I put on the song The Lines In My Hand...and kablamo! The bass kicks in and it's awesome. Now that is some serious @$$ bass tone! And what cool East Indian lines he put in there.

Very cool, I'm going to check out more of Mendez's work. Any suggestions?

Anyone know if he's using a certain pedal to get that tone? I know he uses a 4 string Fender Jazz bass, don't know what amps though.

Epitaph04 · #6 10-21-2011, 07:31 PM

He also plays a 5er.

chris lykins · #7 10-22-2011, 11:53 AM

Huge props to Opeth!

Diplowmatt · #8 10-22-2011, 11:57 AM

Opeth - Martin Mendez Bass Gear Rig and Equipment

Don't know how accurate that is.

DeliriumTremens · #9 10-23-2011, 06:50 PM

He played a sunburst Jazz all last night when I saw them. No Marcus Miller in sight

**tommyr01** · #10 10-23-2011, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeliriumTremens

He played a sunburst Jazz all last night when I saw them. No Marcus Miller in sight

That was a great show last night. I m a huge Opeth fan...first time seeing them live.. Martin is an excellent player !!!!!

chris lykins · #11 10-24-2011, 04:01 PM

I saw them this weekend and they sounded perfect as usual. I was sad not to hear any of their older songs featuring the growl vocal style. I knew they were going to do this but that eliminated alot of great material!

tink9975 · #12 11-02-2011, 11:13 AM

I saw them last night, had a great view of Mendez and his pedal set-up.
Hardwire Tuner, Volume pedal, Hardwire Chorus pedal and a Blackstar HT-Dual tube distortion pedal.
The Blackstar was used on the new album and He was changing channels going from clean to light od to heavier distortion on all of the songs they played from the new album. No amps in sight, so I can't help with that.

Despite the lack of songs with harsh vocals, the show was plenty heavy. The mix was fantastic, though the bass could have used a little more low end.

Since it was the last date of the US leg of the tour, we had a special encore, Mikael and Axe from Opeth came out with the 3 guys from Katatonia and did two Bloodbath songs, one I didn't recognize, and then Eaten. Mikael's growls were great, its definitely not voice problems that prompted the setlist decision.

rulyongo · #13 11-02-2011, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tink9975

I saw them last night, had a great view of Mendez and his pedal set-up.
Hardwire Tuner, Volume pedal, Hardwire Chorus pedal and a Blackstar HT-Dual tube distortion pedal.
The Blackstar was used on the new album and He was changing channels going from clean to light od to heavier distortion on all of the songs they played from the new album. No amps in sight, so I can't help with that.

Despite the lack of songs with harsh vocals, the show was plenty heavy. The mix was fantastic, though the bass could have used a little more low end.

Since it was the last date of the US leg of the tour, we had a special encore, Mikael and Axe from Opeth came out with the 3 guys from Katatonia and did two Bloodbath songs, one I didn't recognize, and then Eaten. Mikael's growls were great, its definitely not voice problems that prompted the setlist decision.

What basses was he using? Is he still playing Sandberg?

tink9975 · #14 11-03-2011, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rulyongo

What basses was he using? Is he still playing Sandberg?

no, just 4 string Fender Jazz basses. he had 2 or 3 onstage, but really just played the one sunburst.