Reader Spotlight: Bob Bartram

Meet Bob Bartram, a bassist from Baltimore, Maryland and our player in the spotlight for March 1, 2011.

Bio:

I’m a bass player from Baltimore, Maryland who has been playing local gigs with various bands for quite a while now. I work full time and am a husband and father of two, so this is definitely a hobby. I can’t think of a better way to spend my limited spare time!

Location:

Lutherville, MD, USA

Day gig:

I drive a commercial truck, locally.

Years experience:

25 years. I am 40 and started when I was 15.

Bands & Gigs:

I play for the Pink Floyd tribute band Several Species, based in Baltimore. We’re an 11 piece band that goes all out with lasers and quad sound to emulate an authentic Floyd show as accurately as possible. We’ve been doing this since 1996 and have played some big venues here, up to 3,000 people. We’ve played gigs in Maryland, Delaware, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

I also play bass for the LutherVillains, a newer 4 piece band that plays classic and modern rock covers locally.

Gear:

• Schecter Custom 5 LH bass
• Schecter Studio 5 fretless LH bass
• Yamaha BBN4L LH bass
• Dean Edge 4 LH bass
• Line 6 Basspod XT Live
• Markbass Jeff Berlin 1 x 15 combo amp (300/500w)

Why I play the bass:

I bought Rush’s Moving Pictures album new in 1982 (yes, on vinyl). I was 12. Right off the bat, Geddy Lee’s awesome bass lines jumped right out at me, and I knew I wanted to play the bass. Shortly after that I discovered the Who and Pink Floyd. John Entwistle and Roger Waters caught my attention immediately.

My bass superpower/claim to fame

For the first 20 years of my playing career I would play right handed bass guitars upside down. Around 2005 I decided to stop doing this, sold all my right handed stuff, and learned how to play strictly left-handed basses.

The transition took about 6 months, but it has really opened up new possibilities for me and now I can play a lot better. I can still play upside down though, and people get a kick out of it!

My influences

Les Claypool, Jaco Pastorious, Roger Waters, Victor Wooten… Too many others to list. I believe you can learn new things from everyone you watch. Victor Wooten said this, and I have taken it to heart.

Videos:

Muppet Show Theme Song (Bass guitar 2-hand tapping)

Check out more of Bob’s videos on his Youtube channel.