The feature bass player of the week is Evan Veenstra from Canada, www.evanveenstra.com
We interviewed Evan where we asked about his basses, gear and influences, which is below. After the interview is a video of Evan playing using piccolo strings (a very cool sound!)
What is the main bass guitar you play, and why do you like it?
My main gigging bass is my Lakland, but my #1 is an MTD KZ5, which I tune tenor. The vast majority of the time I spend shedding, and writing is on that bass. I found it in a music shop while in college, and it was the only time I have ever made a large purchase on the spot. The bass has an incredibly playable neck, plenty of access to all 24 frets, and had the sound I was looking for at the time. After playing countless basses, including many custom shop ones, I realized that you can’t put a price on a really good neck/fingerboard, and after leveling and crowning the frets I can safely say that, for me at least, it plays better than any bass I have ever had my hands on! With that I mind I have since installed hipshot ultralight tuners, strap locks, new knobs, a hipshot A-Style bridge, and RMC piezo saddles and preamp in it. It is my dream solo bass, and speaks beautifully when playing chords and melodies.
How many bass guitars do you own, and does each serve a specific purpose?
I have four working basses, and a few that hang on the wall.
My #2 bass is the Lakland 55-01, which I tune standard. After having huge success with my factory MTD, I thought I would try my hand at modding another high end (but not high price tag) factory instrument to act as my work horse bass. Luckily I found success again! It’s neck lends itself greatly to groove playing, and the bass’s pickups close proximity to the bridge gives it an awesomely fat sound. Since purchasing it I have installed Nordstrand DC pickups with a single coil, series, parallel switch, and an Aguilar OBP-3 preamp.
My #3 bass is a Warwick Corvette Standard. It was my first ‘real’ bass, and with the Lakland and MTD in the picture, I figured I would try tuning it piccolo. The MEC pickups have a particular, and very attractive sound for piccolo. I have since written a few pieces for piccolo, and the instrument has become an integral bass in my arsenal once again!
My #4 bass is my Ibanez Mikro 5, which I tune tenor, and use as my traveling axe. I have always loved the Ibanez Mikro series. Just the thought of a $200 bass that fits in the overhead compartment of any airplane, and has a super playable neck blows my mind. The low B on the Mikro 5 stands up surprisingly well, but certainly isn’t as tight as I would like it to be, which is why I tune mine tenor. I have yet to replace the pickups on it (which I plan to do as soon as I pick worthy replacements), but did refinish it. A few days after getting it in the mail I took it apart, removed all the paint, and did some spray paint stencil work on it.
My other axes are:
A B.C.Rich Warlock that I have spray paint, and lit of fire. It still plays, but is better off as a wall ornament.
A Lightwave (I think it dates to just a year or two after they started building them) which is a great novelty, but has some electronics issues, and is also currently serving as a wall ornament.
And a frankenstein bass that I created out of parts from a cheap electric, and a cheap bass. The poor thing never stood a chance……
Do you feel piccolo strings are better for stage or studio, and why?
I feel that any bass tuning can be useful on stage or in the studio if the application is right. I recently spent five weeks in Dallas performing with local artists the Skinny Cooks and Reinventing Jude. Both groups already have bassists, so I sat in acting as a lead bassist, playing my Mikro. The tenor is tuned high enough that I feel it sits well between another bassist and a guitarist. With a distortion, looper/delay, and a wah pedal, I found I could get a very interesting and unconventional dirty lead sound. Ultimately I hope to grab another Mikro, and tune it piccolo.
What amplifier/cabinet setup do you use for stage play, and why?
For the past few shows I strictly went DI. I don’t travel with an amp, so it was just more convenient this way. I found that going through the board really cleans the signal up, which is very convenient for harmonic, and melodic bass playing.
Who are your main musical influences?
My largest bass influences are Victor Wooten, Jaco, Janek Gwizdala, Chuck Rainey, and Paul McCartney. I have always been a huge fan of many guitarists, such as Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Steve Vai, and Pat Metheny, as well as other artists such as Stevie Wonder, and Michael Jackson, and I feel that they have also largely influenced the way I approach bass. Some bands that have influenced me greatly are The Beatles, Radiohead, Steely Dan and Bela Fleck and The Flecktones.
Are you currently in a band?
At the moment I am working on writing music for a project with multi instrumentalist Nigel Newton. The project is currently under wraps, but will hit later this year. I recorded lead bass on a Skinny Cook’s track off their new EP, and I hope to record with Reinventing Jude in the near future. My largest ongoing project is working on a solo bass album, which I also hope to finish this year.
Video of Evan using bass with piccolo strings
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I heard Stanley Clarke playing this style when he was with Chick Korea on a 1976 tour. Bit surprised he was not mentioned seeing as he started it, check out !School Days” he uses it on 3/4 tracks. Very nice solo.
Stanley is one of of my largest inspirations. I felt that there were far too many bassists to mention, so I kept the list short. But he definitely deserves a mention, so thank you for that!
Proud of my family!