The Guitar Lounge

One of my biggest influences, Jaco inspired me to be an amazing bass player when all I wanted to do was play guitar. All through High School and JC I was asked to play bass in jazz bands because I could play standup and more so fretless electric. My first bass was a fretless Peavey Foundation fretless. I played in metal bands with it, I played jazz and I even played in the pit orchestra. Years later I built my own Jaco-inspired fretless. I played in an all-original jazz trio for a decade and a half. Fretless bass is a part of me and I owe that all to Jaco - and my parents who surprised me with a trip to the local guitar store when I was 13 to buy that Peavey. Part of me wishes I still owned it. Of course it never has the soul of my quilt-top, ash-bodied right hand.

My favs: “Kuru/Speak Like a Child” - the riff isn’t jaws to play but the stamina to play it at tempo for like 8 min straight is crazy hard. Oh and “Portrait of Tracy” because of natural harmonics and genius.

Yes, that’s me in 1994 at the Kent Ridge High School talent show playing my Peavey Foundation. My neck still hurts from head banging.

This is one of my personal instruments. It was given to me by a friend in the mid ‘90s and has been sitting at my parents’ house for over 25 years. Until I recently did the research, I didn’t know what it was. Turns out it’s a rare 1965 Yamaha FG-150 green label. They only made the green label in Japan for the first year of production. Afterward they changed to the coveted red label that continued into the early ‘70s.

Mine got a setup and bridge repair with a custom compensated bone saddle. I’ll tell you, my 15-year-old self didn’t appreciate this at the time. This thing sings.

Did you know I do guitar repair, too. Just had this well-loved Washburn D12BR on the bench for a setup and bridge repair. It’s happy and healthy and ready to make some more music.

One-on-one guitar, bass and music theory lessons in Spokane Valley. Learn guitar by playing your favorite songs. Email me at [email protected] to schedule a lesson.