Justin Meldal-Johnsen Archives

Justin Meldal-Johnsen brings loads of old school tone to this SNL performance of St. Vincent’s “The Melting of the Sun.” Armed with a Hofner and a keen melodic sense, his playing perfectly supports the song’s direction.

After previewing it at the Summer NAMM Show, Fender is now shipping the Justin Meldal-Johnsen Road Worn Mustang Bass. Modeled exactly after the Beck bassist’s own 1966 Daphne Blue Mustang, the short-scale bass features a maple neck, a road worn finish, and a custom-spec pickup. “As a player and producer, I feel strongly about the unique timbre, functionality and pure...

Fender debuted five new signature models at the Summer NAMM show this year including one bass: the Justin Meldal-Johnsen Road Worn Mustang Bass. The session ace, who has worked with artists ranging from Beck to Nine Inch Nails, teamed up with the company to create an instrument based on his personal ’66 Daphne Blue Mustang Bass. The short-scale bass is...

I got the chance to see Baby Driver last weekend, which was an excellent movie with an even better soundtrack. (And hey, Flea was one of the actors!) Without giving away any spoilers, Beck’s song “Debra” was featured, which reminded me of just how great the bass line is on this groovy tune. In this clip from 1999, Beck performs...

Garbage has released its sixth studio album, Strange Little Birds, the group’s first since 2012’s Not Your Kind of People. The band, which released its eponymous debut in 1995, has retained its original personnel throughout the years: Duke Erikson, Butch Vig, Steve Marker and vocalist Shirley Manson. All the members play a variety of instruments and produce. Vig, perhaps most...

There comes a time in every fans life when they get wind of their favorite artist coming to town. You hear an advertisement on the radio or stumble upon a billboard and decide that the show isn’t something you want to experience, but something you have to. I spent a good portion of middle school listening to Beck, singing along...

Justin Meldal-Johnsen took to Twitter to make an announcement about his 2014 plans. The bassist/producer will be spending more time performing with Beck and a bit less time in the studio. “Nostalgia aside, I have a little announcement to make which hearkens back to my past a bit,” he wrote. “Starting now, I will be spending most of my time...

Fans of Beck’s 2002 classic album Sea Change will feel right at home with the intimate psychedelia of , which reunites the singer/songwriter with the band that backed him in the studio and on the road from 1996-2000 and 2003-2003. The players on Beck’s 12th studio album include bassist Justin Meldal-Johnsen (also known for work with Nine Inch Nails, Air,...

Malekko Heavy Industry has introduced the Justin Meldal-Johnsen Signature Diabolik harmonic analog fuzz pedal. The pedal is based on the Malekko’s B:assmaster circuit but is housed in a more compact chassis. Diabolik features a preset harmonic spectrum setting that the company says gives “crisp octave overtones and a very aggressive tone setting.” Its controls include a Fuzz knob, a Clean...

Justin Meldal-Johnsen will be hitting the road with Paramore during their upcoming holiday tour while bassist Jeremy Davis sits out to be with his family while his first child is born. “Maybe you’re wondering how the heck we’re gonna play shows without Jeremy slapping the funky funk out of his bass? Don’t worry… we took care of it,” the band...

Last week marked the final show by Nine Inch Nails. Trent Reznor and band mates, including bassist Justin Meldal-Johnsen, rocked out in Los Angeles at Wiltern Theater for a full house of more than 2,200 fans. It’s been 20 years since Reznor released his first album. Reznor took Meldal-Johnson, guitarist Robin Finck and drummer Ilan Rubin through a 3 hour...

Aguilar Amplification has just announced Nine Inch Nails bassist Justin Meldal-Johnsen has joined them as an endorsee. Justin’s rig consists of Aguilar’s DB 750 and AG 500 amplifiers with DB 412 and DB 810 cabinets, the AGRO distortion preamp and the Tone Hammer preamp/D.I. Justin shares, “I did a shootout during spring Nine Inch Nails rehearsals with plenty of other...