GibsonBass Interview: Justin Meldal-Johnsen

Justin explains his role as bassist, producer, and musical director for some of Americas finest acts. By John Fertig
Introduction | Gibson basses | Other equipment | Trivia

Part 4 - Trivia

Justin with Alex Ebert, vocalist with Ima Robot

A selection of Justins basses - Wal, Fender, Guild, Gibson, Rickenbacker and Hofner are all represented

Justin the bassist

... and Justin the producer

GibsonBass Now on to the bonus round of silly but revealing questions

GibsonBass Roundwound or flat?
JMJ Both

GibsonBass Maple or Mahogany?

JMJ Both

GibsonBass Active or passive?
JMJ PASSIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GibsonBass Mud, thud or piano?
JMJ Mud

GibsonBass Pick or fingers?
JMJ Both

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

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

GibsonBass Coke or Pepsi?
JMJ Coke!

GibsonBass Cat or Dogs?
JMJ Cat

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

GibsonBass Meat or potatoes?
JMJ Fish!

GibsonBass 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. :-)

GibsonBass Internet or boob tube?
JMJ Internet.

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

GibsonBass BEAD or CBGB?
JMJ CBGB!!

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

GibsonBass 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.

GibsonBass 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.

GibsonBass 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.

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

JMJ Yeah. London is its own center, though.

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

JMJ Absolutely! You guys do a great thing.

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 GibsonBass interviews