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Fly Guitars Interview: Justin Meldal-Johnsen - part 4: trivia

Introduction | Gibson basses | Other equipment | Trivia


Trivia

FlyGuitarsNow on to the bonus round of silly but revealing questions

FlyGuitars Roundwound or flat?
JMJ Both

FlyGuitars Maple or Mahogany?
JMJ Both

FlyGuitars Active or passive?
JMJ PASSIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FlyGuitars Mud, thud or piano?
JMJ Mud

FlyGuitars Pick or fingers?
JMJ Both

FlyGuitars Ebony, Maple or Rosewood (please do not put down Wenge)?
JMJ Maple and Rosewood

FlyGuitars Digital or analogue?
JMJ Both. At the same time.

FlyGuitars Coke or Pepsi?
JMJ Coke!

FlyGuitars Cat or Dogs?
JMJ Cat

FlyGuitars VH-1 or MTV?
JMJ VH-1 is the only one that plays videos now, right? So VH1.

FlyGuitars Meat or potatoes?
JMJ Fish!

FlyGuitars Do you treat your basses as fine pieces of furniture (coffee table) or as tools?
JMJ Tools, but furniture if the value is over $2K. :-)

FlyGuitars Internet or boob tube?
JMJ Internet.

FlyGuitars Do you like basses with figured wood (flame/ curly) or do you like them with Plain Jane grain?
JMJ Plain Jane!!!!

FlyGuitars BEAD or CBGB?
JMJ CBGB!!

FlyGuitars Teletubbies or Sponge Bob?
JMJ Tubbies! 'Cuz that's what my baby girl likes.

FlyGuitars Thank you now back to more serious issues. What is your view of the current music industry situation as far as the death of CD sales/stores due to I pods and picking choosing single songs?

JMJ Inevitable. More changes are coming, get ready. But people still like music, so I'm not horribly distressed about it. Especially live music.

FlyGuitars Do you think that with today's technology and the fact that anyone can be a musician who owns a laptop or a MySpace account, that it dilutes music, or do you think it makes music better?

JMJ Dilutes it. There's too much quantity and not enough quality. I get way to many shitty demos (or Myspace page links) these days that end up depressing the hell out of me.

FlyGuitars Bands are getting dropped right and left by their labels, what does it take to make it in today's music industry?

JMJ Don't suck, don't be trendy, and persist.

FlyGuitars Do you find LA the center of the rock music industry?

JMJ Yeah. London is its own center, though.

FlyGuitars Thanks again I hope you enjoy the site in the future.

JMJ Absolutely! You guys do a great thing.

Justin with Alex Ebert, vocalist with Ima Robot
Justin with Alex Ebert, vocalist with Ima Robot
A selection of Justins basses
A selection of Justin's basses - Wal, Fender, Guild, Gibson, Rickenbacker and Hofner are all represented
Justin the bassist
Justin the bassist
Justin at the mixing desk
... and Justin the producer

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

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Bass guitar string mute From 1966 Gibson Thunderbird

Bass guitar string mute From 1966 Gibson Thunderbird

Cumming, Georgia, 300**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

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This bass guitar string mute is a must-have for any Gibson Thunderbird owner. Made in 1966, this mute is a rare find for collectors and musicians alike. It is designed to fit perfectly on your bass guitar and provides a unique sound that is sure to impress
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Used 2022 Gibson Non-Reverse Thunderbird Bass, Faded Pelham Blue

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With thunderous Gibson sound and style jam-packed into one of the most infamous bass models of all time, the Gibson Non-Reverse Thunderbird Bass will have you soaring on stage. Built in America in 2022, this awesome bass has a mahogany solidbody, a matching rounded-profile neck and an Indian rosewood fingerboard. The dual Thunderbird pickups have a powerful, gritty tone, each with individual pickup controls and a master tone to round out and stabilize your sound
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1976 Gibson Ripper L9-S Vintage Bass Ebony Black

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Multi-instrumentalist Rex Brown is well-known for his work with legendary metal bands Pantera, Down, and Kill Devil Hill, and his hard-rocking solo album, Smoke on Thisâ??¦ His mint Gibson Rex Brown Signature Thunderbird bass features a mahogany neck and body, and gold hardware with a Hipshot bridge and tuners (including a Drop D Xtender). A pair of powerful Rexbucker T-Bird pickups provide plenty of output and low-end punch. The master tone control is equipped with a push / pull switch that ... more
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This vintage Gibson L9S RIPPER electric bass guitar is a rare find for any musician. Made in the United States in 1976, this guitar features a solid body type with a natural wood / clear body color. I inherited this bass and I am not a very musical person. I know it is in good shape and in working order. I will provide more pictures upon request. Serious inquiries only please
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Gibson Ripper (L9-S) Bass Guitar with Seymour Duncan.
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Up for sale, a 1975 Gibson "The Ripper" L9-S bass in 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case. One of the more unique and versatile Gibson basses ever produced, the Ripper comes equipped with its original pair of Bill Lawrence designed "Super Humbucker" pickups and a four-way rotary switch for series, parallel, and out of phase pickup settings
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1965 Gibson Thunderbird IV Bass in Pelham Blue oh-so rare & cool you need it !

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These 2nd issue ??Non-Reverse?? Thunderbird??s & Firebird??s were so far ahead of time & very few were ever made comparatively to Fender??s P & J Basses. Most all T??bird??s were available in a Sunburst finish. But some were ordered in their select Custom Colors. This particular example was ordered in Gibson??s most luv??d optional color of Pelham Blue all over its neck & body. Very little yellowing but she??s has plenty of playtime wear. These tend to get funky from playing in ... more
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1974 GIBSON GRABBER  /  RIPPER BASS CASE - made in USA

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+ strap that holds case open is gone
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+ black tolex, has a lot of wear & rips
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1987 GIBSON BASS IV - Made in USA - THUNDERBIRD PICKUPS

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COLOGNE, GERMANY

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1987 GIBSON BASS IV - made in USA :
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Gibson Thunderbird non reverse Inverness green

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