2 Disc Set! Audio CD & Video DVD combo

Project M features an audio CD and a companion nintey-two minute video DVD. The CD showcases outstanding musicianship and virtuosity by Michael Manring, Grant Stinnett, Rob Gourlay, and Jim Stinnett performing ten original compositions. The Making Project M DVD features interviews with and demonstrations by each band member as well as an extensive interview with premier lutheir Chris Stambaugh. Chris illustrates his methods and concepts using photos of his beautiful work. Chris also offers a detailed chronology of the design and construction of the "Shark," "Sea Turtle," "Salmon," and "Trout."

A highlight of the video is a fun, behind the scenes look at the recording process in studio.

Three special featurets are included: Going To Michael's, Going To Stambaugh's, and Chris Plays Bass.

Price: $15.00 Add To Cart

We've had numerous questions about who plays what on the CD. This should clear up some of the mystery.

Track 1 –  Mr Gordon by Jim
Jim begins and plays rhythm bass throughout on his Hagstrom 8-string he got from Mike Gordon.  Now you know whom the title refers to.  Grant plays screaming ebow on his 7-string Fodera.  Rob enters and doubles the melody playing his Fodera, Matt Garrison model, 5-string high C.  Michael joins for the break down riff and then solos the tune out playing his Zon Hyper Bass Junior. Tom Arey joins the Msters for this tune and lays down a strong drum groove.

Track 2 – En Chinga by Michael
The intro has all four basses in unison or octave.  Michael is playing Hyper Junior bass.  Rob plays his Rob Allen MB5, fretted, with high C.  Grant is on the Stambaugh Sea Turtle bass- 5-string, high C.  Jim is using his Rob Allen MB5, fretted, with high C.
Grant and Jim play the melody in unison.  Rob plays the bass line while Michael comps. The solo order leads off with Rob taking the first and Michael playing the second solo.  Jim plays bass line for Rob solo and Rob plays bass for Michael solo with Jim comping.  Michael plays some background ebow for the solos.  The out head is back to the same texture as the first, Grant and Jim playing the melody in unison.  Michael doubles the melody the last time, two octaves higher, using his Hyper bass.

Track 3 - Companion’s Journey by Grant & Jim begins with Grant finger picking his Fodera 7-string Emperor II.  Grant plays this arppeggiated style throughout.  Jim is next with a doubled bass line played on his Rob Allen.  Grant overdubs some very ethereal and haunting ebow lines.  Jim and Rob the melody on Trout and Fodera respectively.  During the A sections Michael adds a bit of ebow.  Both B sections feature Michael playing Hyper Junior.

Track 4  - Piscatorial Dreams by Jim
This song set a Guinness Book World record.  All four bass players actively manipulated their d-tuners at the same time!  We all tuned our basses: low D, A, D, A, (D). The song starts with an intro of Michael grooving along with a computer generate drum track. The form of the song was a simple, ensemble plays quarter notes with everyone flipping on beat 4 of every other measure, then each member solos, then back to ensemble, etc.   Michael takes the first solo playing Hyper Junior.  Second solo – Rob and his Fodera.  Next up is Grant soloing on his Stambaugh Turtle.  The last solo is Jim playing his 4-string fretless Stambaugh Salmon.

Track 5 - Money Talks by Grant
Grant begins and plays the basic groove through out using his Chris Stambaugh “G$” custom made four string bass. As you can hear, this bass was designed and built for slapping and popping. The second entrance is Michael playing his style of “popcorn” on his Zon headless, fretted “little bass.”  He gets this cool sound by sort of strumming and picking with his fingers, basically imitating the use of a pick. Jim and Rob play the melody.  Jim is using his Stambaugh Trout and Rob uses his Fodera, Matt Garrison model bass. First solo is Michael playing his Hyper Bass.  Second solo is Rob on his Fodera.

Track 6 – Blessed One by Rob
Rob holds down the rhythm finger picking on this one using his Fodera.  Grant plays a harmony finger style ostinato on his Turtle.  Jim and Michael play the melody in octaves.  Jim plays the melody on his Rob Allen and Michael on Hyper Junior. Michael plays the only solo with Jim accompanying on the Rob Allen bass line.

Track 7 – Lambent Flame by Grant
This song has Grant overdubbing numerous tracks using his Turtle – the ebow lines, the fast arpeggios, the rhythmic popping and clicking, the tapping, the synth sounds, etc.  Jim adds the low bass line using Grant’s Fodera.  Jim, Michael, and Rob play the solos in that order.  Jim uses the Salmon.  Michael uses Hyper Bass Junior, and Rob uses Fodera. Tom Arey again lays down a powerful groove on drums.

Track 8 – Grok by Grant
This is a duo setting for Grant and Michael.  Grant begins with erie chords played on his Fodera.  Michael sets up the groove playing Hyper Junior.  Grant plays the melody on his Turtle.  Michael overdubs a solo.  Grant finishes with chords played on Fodera.

Track 9 – She Sleeps by Michael is a beautiful waltz.  Michael starts the melody playing Hyper Bass Junior.  Grant comps chords on the Turtle throughout entire song.  Jim plays bass line using Rob Allen bass.  Rob picks up the second half of the melody playing his Fodera. Jim plays the first solo on his Rob Allen.  Rob and Michael play bass line.  Michael takes the second solo with Jim now moving to bass line.  The out melody is the same as the first time.

Track 10 – Final Voyage by Rob

This song has Michael and Grant each playing ebow for the melody, in harmony.  (possible world record)  Rob plays the bass / picking part.  Michael plays the only solo, a thoughtful line accompanied by Rob.  The out head is as the first, duo ebow melodies.

The Instruments

Grant’s Basses
Stambaugh - G$ model
4 string
32-inch scale
WalnutTop
Mahogany body
3 piece Ash neck thru with Bubinga stringer
Birds eye maple fingerboard with G$ logo at 12th fret
Matching walnut headstock
Hipshot D-tuner on E string
Bartolini soap bar pickups
Demeter 3 band preamp
???? bridge
Curt Mangan strings  (40-95)

Stambaugh – Sea Turtle
5 string, high C
33-inch scale
Chechen Top
Mahogany body – custom Shark shape with d-tuner tail
5 piece Ash neck thru with Bubinga stringers
Macassar Ebony fingerboard with G$ logo at 12th fret
Matching Chechen headstock
Sea Turtle inlay - Okinawan sea sna
Hipshot D-tuner on all 5 strings
Aero pickups with Ebony covers
Audere 3 band preamp
???? bridge
Curt Mangan strings  (30-95)

Fodera –7-string Emperor II
7 string high F
35-inch scale
Bubinga Top
Walnut body
5-piece maple neck thru
Ebony fingerboard with abalone inlay blocks
Matching bubinga headstock
Aero duo coil pickups
Pope preamp
Fodera bridge
Curt Mangan strings  20-120

Jim’s Basses
Stambaugh - Trout
4 string
30-inch scale
Eucalyptus Top
Walnut body – custom Shark shape
3 piece maple neck thru with Bubinga stringer
Macassar Ebony fingerboard with rainbow trout inlay at 12th fret
Matching eucalyptus headstock
Aero duo coil pickups
Bartolini 2 band preamp
???? bridge
Curt Mangan strings  (40-95)

Stambaugh – Salmon
4 string fretless
32-inch scale
Chechen Top
Mahogany body – custom Shark shape with d-tuner tail
5 piece Ash neck thru with Purple Heart stringers
Macassar Ebony fingerboard
Matching Chechen headstock
Hipshot D-tuner on all 4 strings
Aero pickups with Ebony covers
Bartolini preamp
???? bridge
Curt Mangan strings  (40-95)

Hagstrom 8-string
1968
8 string
30-inch scale
Curt Mangan strings

Rob Allen MB5
5 string fretted, high C
34-inch scale
Koa Top
Alder chambered  body with tortoise binding
Walnut neck
Rose wood fingerboard
Matching Koa headstock
Fishman piezzo pickup
Fishman preamp
La Bella tape wound strings

Rob’s Basses
Fodera, Matt Garrison 5-string high C
35-inch scale
Chestnut Burl Top
Wenge pickup covers and ramp
Curly maple center block neck thru
Ash body
Ebony fingerboard
Matching headstock
Aero duo coil pickups
Pope preamp
Fodera bridge
Fodera/Hipshot Xtender
Fodera strings 

Rob Allen MB-2F 5
5 string fretted, high C
Mandolin Frets
34-inch scale
Walnut Top
Ash chambered  body
Goncalo Alves fingerboard
Matching  headstock
Fishman piezzo pickup
Fishman preamp
Hipshot ultralight tuners
La Bella tape wound strings

Michael’s Basses
Zon Michael Manring Hyperbass III
Composite neck
Three-octave fretless fingerboard and heel-less extended cutaway
Bookmatched curly maple top laminated to a poplar body
Custom quad Bartolini pickup
Zon preamp
4 Hipshot Extender Keys
Custom re-tuning bridge

Zon VB-4
Composite neck
Ash Body
Buckeye Burl top
Bartolini picks and preamp

Zon Sonus Elite Special 4
Composite neck
Three-octave fretless fingerboard and heel-less extended cutaway
Ash body
Bubunga top
Bartolini pickups
Zon preamp
4 Hipshot Extender Keys

The Ebow
D'Addario strings