Discussing my MTD 535 with Michael Tobias...

Here's the second of three video blogs compiled from my recent hang with bass builder extraordinaire Michael Tobias!

This episode features my main 535, #252, that I acquired back in 1997. It's been my primary bass ever since...what an AMAZING instrument.

If you haven't had a chance to check out the MTD (Michael Tobias Design) basses yet, I definitely encourage you to do anything you can to do so! Visit MTD at www.mtdbass.com...

Final Tracking Days for Lincoln Brewster's New Project

I'm on my flight home from Sacramento after the final trip up here to Linc's studio to work on the new album ("Today Is The Day"). As of completion of our work last night (well...2:30 this morning, technically), it has been just over a total of 36 days spent up here in Northern California since work on this project began back in the fall (only about 3 of those days were spent tracking bass, with the vast majority being serving as a sounding board/creative consultant/punch-in'er-and-out'er/extra set of ears).

The project is sounding really great. I'm so stoked to have been involved, and am really excited to see how the CD is received. The early buzz is that this is some of the strongest material Linc's ever done.

I'll be hopefully posting a few audio snippets in the near future to give you an idea of what sort of stuff we've been tracking. It's actually looking to be a really diverse mix of music, with some classic LB hooky & highly accessible stuff (that should do well on radio) interspersed with some truly crazy playing. There are a couple of musical excursions we took that should prove lots of fun for guitarists and bassists.

For now...I'm just needing some sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeep. :^)

Blessings- Norm

The New MTD J5 Prototype...

In the green room before our concert in Albany, NY, on April 13, 2008, I had a chance to sit down and talk shop with renowned luthier and overall good guy Michael Tobias.

In this video blog, we discussed the MTD J5 prototype that is my primary bass for my work with Lincoln Brewster.

Look for an upcoming vid blog featuring my MTD 535, as well another where Michael gives us a guided tour around the MTD shop!

Enjoy...

Deserted in Denver...

How does that phrase go? "Blessed are the Flexible, for they shall not be broken?" Something like that.

Anyway, we encountered some challenges with travel this week...



It's fun to look back and laugh, but it actually was a bit stressful! Thankfully, the 4 that made it on the flight are the 4 that used to comprise the entire team (Linc plus drums, bass and our FOH guy) about a year ago...so it was back to the Fearsome Foursome (that's what we decided to call ourselves to bolster our confidence...it sounded better than calling us the "Do-We-Remember-How-To-Do-This-With-Just-The-Four-Of-Us" Gang). :^)

Blessings- Norm

Clinic in Castle Rock / Lincoln Brewster Dates

Did a clinic last night in Castle Rock, CO (approximately 1 hour drive from Denver), and had a blast with the approximately 20 people who came (including Dennis, all the way from Nebraska, 4-5 hours away!). The smaller group allowed for a cozier vibe, and everyone seemed to have enjoyed themselves. Big thanks to Jeff Holcomb and The Rock in Castle Rock for hosting the clinic!

I flew in to Colorado yesterday to do the clinic, and the band is flying in today for a concert tonight at The Rock. This will be our first time playing together in about 3 weeks (took a break for Easter, plus a couple of us took a bit of time off), so hopefully we still remember the tunes. :^) I left a voicemail for Linc last night telling him that he needed to bring his A-game, as I'd talked him up to all of the clinic attendees (many of whom will be coming tonight)!

Tonight is the first date of a run that takes us to Iowa tomorrow, Chicago on Friday & Saturday (the final date of the Dare2Share tour we've been on since the fall - BUMMER...it's been a blast), and Albany, New York on Sunday.

The band flies home Monday, but I'll be spending an extra day with Michael Tobias re-shooting some video I shot at the NAMM show this past January for upcoming blogs (the NAMM footage didn't come out due to loud guitar noodling in adjacent booths...can you imagine?...what a shocker). :^) Look for future video blogs with Michael, the master luthier himself.

OK...better get ready for soundcheck.

Blessings- Norm

"Just In Time"

Fun story surrounding a Lincoln Brewster concert in Springfield, Missouri, back in early February (way back in the days before this blog!).

Bad weather in the midwest diverted the band’s flights to St. Louis. After spending the evening in St. Louis, we drove 3.5 hours to Springfield…only to discover that none of the gear (which was scheduled to arrive directly from Dallas ahead of the band) had shown. A run to the local Guitar Center salvaged the gig, as both Lincoln and I played the concert on instruments literally right off the shelf.

There was no time to try to dial in the set-up on the bass, so it was all smiles during the set as I admired the ¾” clearance between the strings and fingerboard. I went for a couple of my normal licks during the bass solo and discovered en route that the new bass lacked several frets compared to my MTD J5. Oops. :^)

The band’s gear DID arrive in Springfield just in time the following morning to drive 3.5 hours back to St. Louis for the Dare2Share event at the Scottrade Center. It was an emotional reunion for both Lincoln and I and our respective instruments…

A Gift from My People to Yours...

Yes, I'm half-Japanese, and spent most of my childhood in Japan (excepting 5 years in Hawaii).

When I watch this, half of me cringes (presumably the American half!)...and half of me thinks, "once the string section kicks in, it's actually kinda cool."

Enjoy...Norm