Reader Spotlight: Con Maikantis

Con MaikantisMeet Con Maikantis, a bassist who started out on keys at a young age, making the switch thanks to an opportunity to join his father in a band. Con is No Treble’s reader in the spotlight for the week of July 27, 2015. Here’s his story.

Bio:

I started playing keyboards at the age of 10 to 17 years of age. My father was also a keyboard player in a successful band at the time. We would jam together at home covering top 40 tunes and Greek pop tunes. My father wanted to start a new band, so I put my hand up and said I want to play bass. I’ve played in all sorts of bands, ranging from funk, latin, rock, jazz and top 40 bands. From my mid teens, my father would take me out to watch several bands, so my love for music grew stronger.

Location:

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Day gig:

I currently work as a warehouse manager and private bass teacher.

Years experience:

I’ve been playing bass for 24 years.

Bands & Gigs:

I am currently in a top 40/wedding band that plays a variety of styles of music, a jazz trio and a 14 piece latin band in Melbourne.

Gear:

  • Bag End cabinets
  • Markbass amps Cabinets
  • SWR mo bass amp
  • Crown Amplifiers
  • Boss GT 10 B bass effects
  • 6 String custom Peavey Cirrus Fretless and Fretted
  • 6 String Zon Legacy Elite Special Bass
  • 6 String Tobias bass classic model

Why I play the bass:

I switched to bass when I first heard Jaco Pastorius on his first solo album. The beautiful melodies that were coming out of the fretless bass just blew me away. I also became very interested in Michael Manring’s approach to the bass, and the sounds that came out of the bass. Michael has been my mentor for a few years now.

My bass superpower/claim to fame

In my early 20’s I had the opportunity to play with several pop singers from Greece. I also got to play with my favorite clarinet player, Vasilis Saleas. We played at a wedding at Melbourne’s casino. He was giving me the thumbs up during the night, and when I started slapping the bass, I caught him smiling. I knew at the time I was onto something.

My influences

My influences are Jaco Pastorius, Michael Manring, Ric Fierabracci, John Patitucci, Mark King and James Jamerson.

More on the web:

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