Author Topic: Jan Olaf-Strandberg (Read 3041 times)

dnburgess · « **on:** June 01, 2005, 07:23:14 AM »

From an interview at: http://www.bassplayers.co.za/interviewjan-olof-s.html

For basses, lately, I?ve been using my Fodera 5-string with a Zebra wood top and ebony fret-board. It?s from 1990. The bass plays really well and sounds good. It sounds a bit like a HOT jazz bass with sustain. I also use an Alembic Series-I five string with a Burl Walnut Top and an Alembic Series II six-string with a Burl Walnut top as well and an Alembic Signature four string fretless with a Cocobolo top. Actually the Alembics have been used on all of my recordings. In the future I am planning to use the Fodera more as it?s a more flexible bass for studio and live jobs and the sound is more traditional. The Alembic however, sounds incredible when everything is set right, its just a bit more complicated to work with. On the new CD, there?s a track called Progressive where I play the low bass part with my Fodera and then solo over that with my Alembic Series II. It worked out really well because the sounds were completely different. Then I have a custom four string bass with Alembic Series I electronics and with a Burl Maple back and Top, an MTD custom Shop five string with a Burl Maple Top and Ebony Fret-board.

David Houck · « **Reply #1 on:** June 01, 2005, 08:05:18 AM »

Cool! Here are some pictures.

adriaan · « **Reply #2 on:** June 01, 2005, 09:19:13 AM »

I remember him doing an EBS/MTD clinic in The Hague about 2 years ago. Lots of technique, but I won't comment on musical merits - it was certainly not the right ambiance for anything special so that wouldn't be fair. He does have a nice collection ...

jorge_s · « **Reply #3 on:** June 02, 2005, 05:42:43 AM »

My wife is Finnish. In the past, whenever we went to Helsinki we dropped by Jan's bass shop. I haven't been to Helsinki in a while I don't know if he still works there. Anyways, he is a super nice guy. He was someone that really turned me on to Alembic. He showed me details in the construction that set them apart from other manufacturers. Besides this, he has monster chops. I was very hesitant to try any instrumets out being in the presence of such a player. The last time I saw him he was going to a recording session with Stanley Clarke and Armand Sabal-Lecco. He mentioned to my wife in Finnish that perhaps we could stop by. Unfortunately we were leaving back to the U.S. the same day.

dela217 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 02, 2005, 07:04:18 AM »

Jorge - When you get a chance give me a call!

722-1856

Michael

jacko · « **Reply #5 on:** January 19, 2011, 04:43:59 AM »

Thought this thread deserved a bump. I've been 'chatting' with Jan-olof this week and he's updated his website. There's some nice pics of his Alembics alongside the rest of his collection including his Neuser custom and a very nice pair of Signature acoustics by Rauno Nieminen. Even more exciting is news that his new CD will be released next month. I have several of his recordings already and they're always getting airtime.

Graeme

funkyjazzjunky · « **Reply #6 on:** January 21, 2011, 11:33:35 AM »

He is a great guy and those custom Series II basses are two of my all time favorites

VMG

jos · « **Reply #7 on:** January 23, 2011, 01:41:37 PM »

HI Brothers! Thanks!
It?s funny that after 20 years I still discover new sounds from the Alembic basses. They surprise me all the time with the flexibility in sound. Usually I do not change the sound on my bass that much but this time I just wanted to experiment more with the Q switches and the filters and liked it a lot.
I did play the Alembic basses on every track except on one where I did use the acoustic bass guitar. I did also find out that even if the series one and series two basses are really great sounding instruments, there is a place for the Distillate (now called Europa) and the Signature basses too. At least I did use them on my recording and loved the sound, very different from the series basses, but really great instruments!

All The Best,
J-O-S

skyboltone · « **Reply #8 on:** January 23, 2011, 08:36:30 PM »

Object not found Dave Ah, never mind. Ancient post.

(Message edited by skyboltone on January 23, 2011)

jacko · « **Reply #9 on:** January 24, 2011, 04:13:06 AM »

He has a new site Daniel. here's a new link.

Graeme

jacko · « **Reply #10 on:** April 29, 2011, 08:37:45 AM »

I've spent the past couple of weeks istening to J-O's new album 'At the Seasound' and I have to say it's a superb piece of work. Naturally there's loads of Bass but it never takes over the mix, in fact, Id' say it's one of the most musical bassplayer led recordings I own. Jan-Olof's compositions are very inventive and he's put together an awsome band - his main drummer in particular - Jartas Karvonen - is superb. One or two tracks have Paul Jackson singing and I have to say he has an excellent voice and he gets to showcase his Bass chops too. Jan-Olof's playing is as fine as ever and his Alembic tone really cuts through beautifully. One of his songs - Dominique - has the best fretless tone I've heard - What bass and strings J-OT? The compositions are so diverse there's probably a tune on here to suit everyones taste. There are some live recordings on CD2 aswell as video. All in all, a fantasic package that I'd recommend to anyone.

edit. there are a whole bunch of videos on his website.

Graeme

(Message edited by jacko on April 29, 2011)

artswork99 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 29, 2011, 08:42:13 AM »

Thanks for the review Graeme!

jos · « **Reply #12 on:** May 02, 2011, 12:45:45 AM »

Thanks Graeme! It’s nice to hear that you did like the CD.…. this time I was smart enough to start the recording session after our summer tour instead of in the beginning of the tour! 70% of the recording is studio live with a few overdubs. We did it like in the old days and were very happy that we did so. I had a bunch of basses with me but ended up playing Alembic on every track (except the tracks where I did play the upright or acoustic bass guitar) I must say that I am addicted to the Alembic sound!!
Since 1995 I have only been using the Alembic Signature long scale for the fretless work. I did try several other basses as well, some really good ones, but for me the Alembic did work the best. I like the growl, punch and great sustain that the Alembic basses produces. For the song Dominique I did use the Elixir 45-105. I think those strings produces a nice fat midrange and a great bottom end as well.
I do not like Elixir’s for all of my basses because I do miss some “punch” in those strings sometimes, but for fretless its fine. I did use the back pickup and then rolled the tone control halfway. My bass has a big body so it has great bottom end.
For pre amp I usually use what they have in the studio Millennia, Avalon or something similar but I also carry my Alembic F-1X pre-amp with me because many times I record in small studios and do not know what they have to offer.
But again, many thanks!!

Jan-Olof

hb3 · « **Reply #13 on:** June 05, 2011, 02:39:35 PM »

Hi Jan-Olof,

Are you still there?

I watched some of your videos, and they're truly lovely. Bass is such a beautiful instrument; I keep telling myself to play my Alembic more, but I'm taken up w/ my piccolo bass...

But I was wondering if you could tell us what scales you like playing? Some of them seem sort of Spanish sounding.

jos · « **Reply #14 on:** June 06, 2011, 10:27:43 AM »

Hi Hugh!

Noting special there with the scales! I guess the Spanish kind of sounds come from the Phrygian scale. Starting from E its E, F, G, A, B, C, D that?s what Stanley and Al is using with RTF from time to time.
I also like to use E major over C#m9 sometimes, just to get a more ?positive? sound. I like the pentatonic scales too and use them quite much but its also nice to improvise with just a simple major scale like E major E, F#, G#, A, B, C# D#...and of course passing tones are always great to use too. In general I do not think too much about scales except if it?s mentioned in a composition! You should ask Jimmy Johnson about the scales he is a master improvisator and knows about those things!
Actually I am working with a jazz trio right now and bass solos on about every song?? that is really challenging ??.to make them say something and make them sound like music!!
But anyway thank you for asking!!

All The Best,
J-O-S