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Adam Blackstone
Model(s) Used:
ATK
Band:
Eminem, Kanye West, Janet Jackson
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Ibanez: What basses are you currently using?
Adam: I'm using the Soundgear SR905. It's an awesome bass. I can do so much with it, versatility-wise. I've been playing Latin gigs with it, pop, R&B gigs, gospel gigs; I can get so many different tones out of the active eq that's in it already.
I used the SR905 when I went out with the Roots on the OK Player tour. I'm currently on tour with platinum r&b artist Jill Scott?her album's out now. I'm using the SR905 on that gig, along with an Ibanez Gary Willis 5-string fretless.
Ibanez: Why a 5-string as opposed to say a 4-string, or even, these days, a 14-string?
Adam: I pretty much play 5-string just because that low B is where I'm at. That's where I make my living?just holding the bottom down and just groovin'. It's not all about chops when you're on stage. It's mainly about backing artists up. You just want to groove and be in the pocket. That's how I get around and get some work.
Ibanez: A lot of people think the Soundgear is designed for chops wizards because of its narrow neck.
Adam: Yes, but it's also good for holding the groove, With the neck, I can get around to do the grooves faster, from a 6/8 right into a 4/4 funk groove, anything. Instead of me going up the neck, I just concentrate on the bottom of the neck where the low notes.
Ibanez: Besides the Soundgear SR905 and the Gary Willis model what other basses have you played in recent years?
Adam: I was playing a Lakland, and I've also played a Fender Jazz, of course.* One of the things that I like about the Soundgear is that you can you can make it sound like whatever you want it to sound like.
Ibanez: You must get the right sounds because it seems like you're always working. What have you been up to lately?
Adam: Besides touring with Jill Scott, I've been in the studio with Columbia recording artist Vivian Green. I just finished mixing a couple tracks that I produced on her sophomore album that's coming out, hopefully, in January of 2005. We'll be doing Ellen Degeneres, Jay Leno, Conan O Brien, all that good stuff coming up?her record release date is only in a couple of weeks. I just played on Regis and Kelly; I played the Ibanez on there. I just did the BET Awards with Jay-Z. The band consisted of me, Kid Rock, Dave Navarro, Sheila E., and ?uestlove from the Roots on drums. That was awesome!
Ibanez: You play a lot of TV studios. What's that like?
Adam: It's cool, it's cool. But you've got to bring your own false energy sometimes. Because on TV they make it look bigger, a lot more huge than it really is. We did Sharon Osbourne; I played the Ibanez on there with Musiq (SoulChild). That studio was very small. We did Regis and Kelly; that studio was very small. I did Wayne Brady, and that studio was very small. But when you watch TV, you'd think we're playing in this big Madison Square Garden arena. It's another testament to the bass that I can get different types of sound in different areas. Whether I'm just going through in-ears or going through monitors or going through my rig, I can get the same clarity out of it.
Ibanez: Any final thoughts on the Soundgear or anything else?
Adam: Yeah. The tone and clarity of the Soundgear itself is important, but it also has to do with the touch of the player. Everybody can sound different on the same instrument. There are many different Soundgears out there so just find the one that fits you best.
*"Fender" and "Jazz Bass" are registered trademarks of Fender Musical Instruments Corp. "Lakland" is a trademark of Lakland Musical Instruments.
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