basses

Patricia Bartolini and her husband William formed the Bartolini Pickup and Electronics Company in 1973 largely based on the acoustic research both had conducted over a range of several years. Their research led to developments in design of innovative pickups especially for the guitar and bass. Patricia has authored several studies in peer-reviewed journals on acoustic science and has given college lectures on the subject. Along with her husband, Patricia is often seen at music industry events such as the NAMM Show providing her thoughts on the recent research of acoustics, which she kindly offers to all those who seek her advice. 

William Bartolini and his wife, Patricia, are among the world’s foremost experts on the science of acoustics. Their early publications on the subject in the 1960s and 1970s have since become standard reference materials on the subject of waveforms and acoustic sound patterns. Their names are equally well known for their innovative line of guitar and bass pickups and electronics. The Bartolini Pickup and Electronics Company began in 1973 and has since developed products played by a host of endorsees including the Novax series played by John Mayer and the MTD bass played by Lou Reed. 

Christian Benker has been an influential leader in the German musical instrument manufacturing industry. With fresh ideas and marketing skills he helped Hofner reinvent itself during the 1950s and 60s. Christian worked alongside Mr. Hofner, the inventor of the widely popular Beatle bass and Mr. Hofner’s daughter, Gerhilde, who Christian would later marry. The couple worked together to keep the company growing and producing innovative projects.

Gerhilde Benker served as president of Hofner Music, a firm founded by her grandfather Karl Hofner in 1864 in Eger, Germany. Her father, Walter, was the inventor of the Hofner bass, which has been known as the Beatle Bass ever since young Paul McCartney began playing the instrument. The endorsement of the electric bass by the top band in the world created a craze and demand for the bass that was unparalleled. While Paul was still playing the Hofner bass in the early 2000s, Gerhilde noted that she has yet to meet the former Beatle in person. The company has also introduced several other innovative products such as their hollow body guitars and unique pick-ups.  

Max Bennett is among the jazz world’s most percussive bass players. With a strong knowledge of drums, he explored and helped design the rhythm of jazz of the 1970s and 80s in the pre soft jazz era, a style he refers to as cool-whip. With his group, LA Express, he was able to showcase his own compositions and intertwine his artistic creativity within the bass parts, which helped drive the rhythm of the song as much as the drum part. His many contributions to the music products industry include being an endorser for MTD Guitars.
 

Joe Cardinale played jazz bass in clubs and theaters all around New England. He created his own trio and studied at what would be Berklee College of Music. He joined the wholesaler Harris-Fandel in the pre-Beatles era and witnessed first hand the impact the British Invasion had on the industry. Along the way Joe remained passionate about music and music making. In 1986 he formed Joe Cardinal Sales and picked up lines such as G&L Guitars and Jupiter band instruments.

Ron Carter’s name is listed in every jazz encyclopedia as a major influence on the bass.  He recorded and performed with many of the greatest players in modern jazz and spoke with great detail about the instruments he uses and the style he has developed.  At the end of the interview he listed what he feels are the three most important things for a young bass player to consider: practice long and hard, get to know your instrument, the strings you play and all other parts of the sound you make, and listen to other bass players.  

John Clayton loves music! Since the age of 16, the future Grammy winner enjoyed being able to express himself with his music. He studied with Ray Brown before becoming the bassist for Henry Mancini while he was still a teenager. He toured with the Monty Alexander Trio and the Count Basie Orchestra before taking the position of principal bass in the Amsterdam Philharmonic Orchestra in Amsterdam, Netherlands. After returning to the United States he helped form the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra with his saxophonist brother Jeff and drummer Jeff Hamilton. John has also recorded and toured with Diana Krall, Whitney Houston, and Dee Dee Bridgewater as well as providing private teaching sessions. 

Bill (the Buddha) Dickens became a performer/inventor when the speed of his funky bass lines allowed him to do more than the traditional four string electric bass would allow. Working with Cort Guitars, the Dickens model was designed by Bill and the Cort engineers to get the most out of his talents. As the product sold, it was clear the ideas he had for a 6 and 12 string bass were also desired by many other players and soon a full series of Buddha basses were manufactured. 

Fred Douglas recalled picking up his first Fender Precision Bass when he was hired to record as a member of the Pacers. The Pacers were the band behind the “wild man of rock and roll” Sonny Burgess. The band recorded early Rockabilly songs for the Sun label out of Memphis, years before Elvis Presley started in the very same studio. Fred remained with Sonny for all of the Pacer’s Sun recordings and related tours, in fact they opened for Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis and the pioneer of the Rockabilly sound, Carl Perkins. Fred’s bass playing can be heard on a number of Sonny’s hits, including “Fannie Brown.”