Garry Gary Beers celebrates new line of G.G.B. Basses

Bassist Garry Gary Beers displaying several of his new
G.G.B. Basses at the 2024 NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA.

Writer Robert Kinsler and photographer Bob Steshetz recently got to spend time with famed INXS bassist Garry Gary Beers during the 2024 NAMM Show. Beers has just launched G.G.B. Basses, an incredible line of standard, fretless and even 5-string bass guitars available to own.

Bassist Garry Gary Beers holding an Olympic White over
Lake Placid Blue XS-1 instrument. 

As a founding member of celebrated Australian rock outfit INXS, bassist Garry Gary Beers helped chart the groundbreaking band's career through a parade of hit singles and albums in the 1980s and 90s; indeed INXS has sold more than 50 million albums making it one of the most successful Australian acts of all time.

INXS pictured in a publicity shot in 1983.

Throughout INXS' incredible career, Beers was able to showcase his talents fusing rock, soul and funk stylings. In developing his new line of G.G.B. Basses, Beers is allowing other musicians to benefit by playing an instrument able to deliver on stage or in the recording studio. His colorful basses also capture the rich history of the bass guitar and some of the world's great players who inspired him and countless others.

And it's best not to confuse Beers' line of self-designed instruments with a so-called "signature" instrument where another manufacturer uses the fame of an artist to market their own line.

"It's more than a signature (bass), I build the things," Beers said. "I design them and I built all the prototypes and I have a company in Carlsbad, California that handles the (manufacturing of) basses for me now... it's a culmination of my 50 years of playing bass."

"They have for me what I think is for me the most exciting pickup out there. I started designing it (the "Quad" pickup) in the late 1990s in Australia and continued it when I moved here (Beers lives with his family in Southern California)." 

Beers noted that he actually began designing what would be the perfect bass in the early 1990s. The perfect bass is not only balanced and comfortable to play, but is stylish and sounds phenomenal. Beers' patented "Quad" pickups and timeless custom color choices were among the final key elements in what makes his G.B.B. Basses so special.

With his "Quad" pickup, a single bass guitar can create "five different bass sounds." This means a bassist can use a single instrument on stage rather than having different instruments on hand depending on the style of music or song they are performing.

Beers noted his favorite and most influential bass player was James Lee Jamerson, who was an uncredited bassist who performed on most of the Motown Records hits in the 1960s and early 1970s. 

"That Motown style is what I tried to put into my playing."

In addition to his launch of G.G.B. Basses, Beers has continued to make music. His latest top-tier project is AshenMoon, a band he formed with wonderful Australian singer Toby Rand (Juke Kartel, Rockstar Supernova) in the summer of 2019.

To learn more about Beers' G.G.B. Basses and AshenMoon, visit Beers' website HERE.

Five-time GRAMMY winner Chris Lord-Alge to present at TEC Tracks session at NAMM on Thursday, Jan. 25

The NAMM Show arrives in Anaheim, CA this week. I hope to see many of you there...Robert Kinsler

Chris Lord-Alge

Five-time GRAMMY® winner Chris Lord-Alge to present at TEC Tracks session at NAMM on Thursday, Jan. 25

 

Anaheim, CA, January 23, 2024 — Chris Lord-Alge, five-time GRAMMY®-winning producer, engineer, and mixer, will be presenting a TEC Tracks Session at The NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA, Thursday, January 25, 2024, from 4 to 5 p.m. PST. Titled “Chris Lord-Alge on commanding your career: wisdom from five-time GRAMMY® award-winning mix engineer on succeeding as a producer/engineer,” the session will take place in Room 204B at the Anaheim Convention Center.

In the dynamic and competitive world of music production and engineering, the ability to command your career is essential for success. At this TEC Tracks Session, Chris Lord-Alge (whose credits include Bruce Springsteen, Green Day, Muse, Pink, Dolly Parton and dozens more) will share invaluable words of wisdom on navigating the industry and building a thriving career. This session is a comprehensive guide on how to command your career based on his insights.

Topics will include:
• Getting clients and networking: building a strong network within the industry.
• Communication/professionalism with clients.
• Creating your rules/define boundaries.
• Collecting money: How to establish systems and guidelines that are clear.
• Scheduling: Including time management and setting realistic timelines for projects.
• Artist relations: Dealing with the artist, including understanding their vision and creative.
• Manager relations: How to deal with the manager.
• Social media: Strategic presence, community engagement.
• Transfer of mixes: When, where, to whom and how.

About Chris Lord-Alge
Chris Lord-Alge, a five-time GRAMMY®-winning producer, engineer, and mixer, has left an indelible mark on the music industry through his illustrious career. A recent recipient of a CMA award for Single of the Year with Keith Urban, Chris’s influence extends far beyond borders. His production and engineering prowess have contributed to projects garnering over 15 ARIA Awards in Australia and numerous Juno Awards in Canada.

Notably, Chris clinched an Emmy® Award while collaborating with Cher and worked alongside Phil Collins on an Oscar®-winning song for the Disney movie Tarzan. His multifaceted career, spanning decades, encompasses a diverse array of musical genres. From iconic collaborations with Sugar Hill Gang to contemporary artists like Shinedown, and from legends like Bon Jovi to crooners like Michael Bublé, Chris has navigated the music landscape with unparalleled versatility. His portfolio extends from working with James Brown to Green Day, Krewella to Keith Urban, Tina Turner to Tim McGraw.

Chris Lord-Alge's impact transcends the studio. His CLA brand has produced best-selling audio products and plugins, solidifying his influence in the tech side of the industry. Additionally, his role as an educator through seminars with Mix With The Masters, NAMM and other platforms has made him a globally sought-after brand. His unwavering commitment to music and the audio community is not just a career; it is his life.

Yamaha to Take Center Stage at NAMM 2024 with New Innovative Products and Dynamic Performances

With NAMM 2024 just over a week away, we are beginning to get major announcements related to the highly anticipated show coming to Anaheim, January 25-28, 2024...Robert Kinsler 

Lindsey Stirling will perform on the
Yamaha Grand Plaza Stage in Anaheim
on Friday, Jan. 26.
Photo credit: Kelly A. Swift

Yamaha, the world’s largest manufacturer of musical instruments, has announced its exhibit at The 2024 NAMM Show, the largest global music trade show being held in January at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. For the third consecutive year, Yamaha will transform the third floor of the Anaheim Convention Center into an immersive playground of its latest musical instruments, technologies, and more.

 

Yamaha will introduce innovative, breakthrough products at the show across multiple musical categories, including guitars, drums and percussion, and keyboards, while also offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view an iconic piano played by rock icon Prince!

 

“The Yamaha team is excited to bring a fantastic experience to everyone attending the NAMM Show and those who want to be there. We’re launching fabulous new products to help you make better music and have a tremendous lineup of artists performing at our booth stage and the Yamaha Grand Plaza Stage,” Tom Sumner, president of Yamaha Corporation of America. 

This year, Yamaha will present three nights of music on the Grand Plaza Stage, starting with our Night of Worship on Thursday. On Friday, Yamaha will host "An Evening With" featuring famed violinist-composer Lindsey Stirling. An electronic violinist, dancer and actress, Stirling has earned four Billboard chart-topping albums and two Billboard Music Awards.

On Saturday, Jan. 27, the Yamaha Grand Plaza Stage will feature acclaimed singer-songwriter/keyboardist Jon McLaughlin and Friends, as the American singer/keyboardist brings his blend of pop, rock, and soul sounds to the stage. 

 

In addition to the new product debuts, Yamaha will showcase, for the first time ever, the piano that was customized for Prince for his Piano & a Microphone solo tour. This one-of-one purple piano is normally housed at Paisley Park in Chanhassen, Minnesota, however, it will be available for viewing at the Yamaha booth lobby during regular The NAMM Show hours (Thursday-Sunday). It has never been displayed for Prince fans previously.

 

“Much like Prince, Yamaha has a timeless legacy that continues to inspire new and aspiring musicians across the globe. Partnering together to display this one-of-a-kind piano that was custom-created for Prince by Yamaha was an opportunity that couldn’t be passed up,” said Prince’s former attorney, manager and friend, L. Londell McMillan. “We look forward to giving NAMM attendees a truly unique, intimate chance to view this legendary instrument for the first time.”

 

"We are thrilled to be celebrating our January return to NAMM! Our Concerts on the Grand are always a highlight, and this year, we're honored to be hosting even more remarkable musicianship with three back-to-back nights of amazing live music. There's truly no better way to kick off 2024," says Chris Gero, vice president and chief artist relations executive at Yamaha Artist Relations Group.

The music on the Yamaha Grand Plaza Stage will be mixed and curated by the company's award-winning commercial audio gear, including the Rivage digital console line. Every note will be articulately amplified through NEXO speaker systems. NEXO is a Yamaha company.

 

Across the globe, Yamaha uniquely offers musicians of all ages instruments to create music and professional audio and recording solutions to ensure every performance is heard in its truest form.

To experience everything Yamaha has to offer at The NAMM Show, visit booth #300DE in the Anaheim Convention Center from January 25 - 28, 2024. For more information, please visit usa.yamaha.com.