STEINAR of HONCHO
So give me some background history (married, where from, what beer do you prefer? etc.)
I Was born 22.of may in 67 (The summer of love..) in a small place called Voss in the western part of Norway. After a short career as a soccer-player in my youth, I picked up playing when I was about 14.
I am unmarried, no kids, but live with a beautiful woman and her little daughter.
I don't drink alcohol or do drugs, I'm a coffee and cigarette kind of guy.
How long have you been playing bass? What made you start?
I've been playing since I was 14, so I've been playing for a few years now…The reason I've started, was the whole punk-scene, everyone should pick up an instrument and start playing.
Big influences those days was Dead Kennedy's, Bad Brains, Sex Pistols.
What kind of bass and amps do you use, and why?
I have owned a lot of crap basses, not worth to mention, the basses I use now is a Wasburn XB 925, and a Fender Standard Jazz Bass®v . both are five-strings, I like to get really low.
The Washburn have Bartolini soapbars, VERY active, so I blew my amp so many times that I have to buy me a bass with passive pickups. I really like the old Jazzbasses, but I bought a new one, because I'm so used to playing five strings.
I use a Carvin RL 600 with one RL 210 and one RL 18. The amp is very loud, to an reasonable price. The amp is very adjustable, you can get exactly the sound you want.
What kind of strings do you use, why? How long do you go before you change em?
I Don't really have any favorites, but I use the five-string sets made by Carvin.
I change them when they brake!!
Have you come to a point where you can request any gear you want (amps,
guitars, etc.) any sponsorships? You know does Rickenbacker or Fender offer any equipment yet?
Are you kidding me?!! We're not Metallica!! No, we're not that big yet…
How do you write your music on bass or guitar or what?
50/50 I think, if I write at home I use guitar, at the rehearsal I use bass.
What is the average time it takes you to write a song, from beginning to end?
It depends, sometime 10 minutes, sometime a couple of weeks…
What bands have you been in? What band would you say you sound most like? If you could play in any other band for a day who would it be?
I have been in several "not worth to mention" Punk/Hardcore/Metal bands you guaranteed not have heard about!!
I think Honcho sounds like a mix between …I don't know…Sleep and Black Sabbath…??
Dreamband for a day?? Soungarden,
Do you try to make your bass lines really tough for every song or do you
go with simple sometimes?
When I make bass lines I focus on groove and dynamic, that's the key to make great music.
Do you use a pick? If yes why? If no why?
I don't use a pick, just my fingers, I think it's make the music "warmer", when I use my fingers I feel more in contact with the instrument.
How do you get ready for a show? Any warm-up routines?
No, not really. I usually get a good meal, then relaxing. Then I try to memorize the songs before the show.
What's the best thing about being a bass player? What's the worst?
As a bass player people seem to think of you as a reliable guy. Worst…you don't often get the chance to make 10 minutes solos .(thankfully)
When your dialing in your amp how do you know when you've got the sound your looking for, do your band mates have any impute on that?
when your ears starts to hurt, its usually right…
Who's your favorite bass player and band?
My all time favorite bass players: John Entwistle- The Who Jean-Jacques Burnel - The Stranglers Stuart Marrow - New Model Army Scott Reeder - Kyuss/ Unida
My favourite bands: Soungarden, Led Zeppelin, Monster Magnet, Kyuss, Deep Purple, Free, The Smiths, Fu Manchu, Black Sabbath, Mountain, Grand Funk Railroad…the list is endless…
What cd's are in your cd player right now?
Che-"sound of liberation", Monster Magnet-"God says No", QOTSA- "Rated-R", Captain Beyond-"st", Various Artists "Greatest Hits vol.1".
Last question, what does a bass player want for Christmas?
A Ampeg Sv 4 pro.
