Hey faithful Tidewater bass Explosion readers! Since I've interviewed so many great players, I thought I'd begin a short series with Luthiers. Today we're going to chat with Florida-based builder, and bassist, Mark Vinciguerra. Mark builds incredible looking 4, 5, and 6-string bass guitars with an eagle eye for detail, comfort, and playability.
TBE: What's happenin', Mark? We've met only recently but we've become fast friends… I'm really pleased about that. Let's begin by hearing how you ended-up as a Luthier. Also, please tell our readers about your upbringing, and the current status of your career – as a player, as well as a builder.
MV: Brent, first of all thanks for the opportunity to share with your readers and for all of your encouragement! It all started when I flunked out of wood shop in high school (lol, I hope my old shop teacher is reading this)!! I really did want to build a guitar in wood shop but I got stuck building a spice rack or something… and it was horrible! I never have had much knack for building things, and that's how I know Luthiery is a gift.
I give all glory to God, because I know this is above me... Anyway, my mother was a single-mom, and she was very supportive of my musical gift, and she always thought I would end up doing something with my hands - because I would take everything around me apart! She was a little worried at first though… because the "puttin' together" part came much later! (laughter)
She bought my first electric guitar for $25 (a Les Paul copy) when I was about 10, and it was, well, you can only imagine... But you can see that it was through necessity that the guitar mechanics came to me… 'Cause' that wasn't the last junkie guitar I ever had!! I had to keep working on them to make 'em play well. At about 19, I got a used Fender Squire P-bass, and that's about the time a drummer friend of mine introduced me to Smooth Jazz. Marcus Miller (with David Sanborn) and Jimmy Haslip (with the Yellowjackets) just Messed Me Up! So started my quest for tone! I then put an EMG P/J set into the Squier. Then came the 5th tuner and a 5-string bridge! I was getting closer… But now I didn't have enough frets! So, I ordered a Carvin Koa 5-string. Nice bass (I still own it, but it is now a 22mm 4-string)... But it never fit me well. So, I bought a band saw, and some alder wood, and made my first prototype in 1994 and over the next several basses evolved the "Archer" model. And, yes I'm still on my quest for tone…
TBE: There must have been a "light bulb moment" as far as building your own instruments. Tell us about that, please?
MV: Well, There are 2 that stick out at me... The first was how my headstock came about. I was in the design phase of my first electric guitar with my best friend, Chance James, because he asked me what kind of headstock my instruments would have. Well, up to this point all of my basses had Moses graphite necks, so I hadn't even thought about it… So, he started to describe what he was seeing in his head, in a very detailed and descriptive fashion, and I got it! It would be awesome! So, I made what he described to me and when I showed it to him, he absolutely loved it! But, he said, it looked nothing like what he was thinking about!! Could it be God?!? Without him I would probably have some old "run-of-the-mill" looking thing on my basses! Thanks Chance!
The other moment was when my good friend, (late) Luthier Greg Curbow, told me to stop building instruments, "like a repairman"! He was always right to the point! Rest his soul. He said to, "start with the strings and build down from there"… doing everything, "tight and purposeful… with no need to fix it in the mix!" Greg took me under his wing and taught me his neck construction techniques and tooling secrets that have changed my life, and my basses!
TBE: Speaking of building basses, you have a soon-to-be well known player who's playing your instruments! Who's that, and how did that happen?
MV: Well this is the guy I mentioned earlier, my best bud Chance James. He currently resides in the Nashville and is working with Ronnie McDowell and his son, Ronnie Dean (drummer). Well, Ronnie Dean and Chance's band "Nashville" is currently being signed by Curb Records! Yeah! Way to go Chance! I am already working on another guitar for him for the tour, and I am so happy for him!
TBE: Congratulations Mark! Oh, and congratulations Chance! Let's pause from questions about Luthiery… Let's talk about playing the bass! What is your favorite environment to play in, and what type of music do you find yourself most involved in these days?
MV: I love to Worship! If its anointed… that's when I'm in my element. I play with a local black gospel group called God's Examples. We are currently in the studio working on our second release. I've been doing some session work in Orlando, which is a blast! I'm also thinking about recording a solo bass CD in the near future.
TBE: What type of bass sound are you going for in your personal approach?
MV: Yours (much laughter)!! Man, that sound you get on your song "Hymn", is off the chain! (Editor's note: THANKS!) …As I said earlier, I am still on the quest for tone. Humorously, just when I'm sick of my sound… somebody comes out of the woodwork and tells me how they love my sound!! My current live rig is an SWR SM900 through a Goliath II (4x10) and a Triad II (15, 10 & horn), with a TC Electronics G-force for verb and delay, and a Lexicon Jam Man… for fun!
My main bass is a fretted V.C.S., Vinciguerra Custom Shop (www.vcustomshop.com) Archer Elite 6. The body has a Paduak core sandwiched with walnut veneer, and it has a quilted maple top and back with an oil and wax finish. The neck is a custom made Moses Graphite with an angel inlay. Electronics are all EMG: DC/DC, BTS pre-amp, and a custom EMG EQ sculpting circuit I call "The Love Switch"! It's a beast!
TBE: Define "ministry" and how that affects your world as a player as well as builder?
MV: Man… it is so cool that you asked me that! The last time I did an interview with my local newspaper, and the guy kept trying to steer me away from the "Christian stuff"! He didn't want it to sound too, "hokey". Of course, I just kept telling him what the Lord has done, and is doing, in my life because it's such a huge part of me! When the article came out, the only reference to God was, "I played bass at my church, where I was saved fifteen years ago"! So thank you. I believe that, as a Christian, your whole being should be about the great commission: to reach the lost. I really enjoy talking about the wonder of God to musicians. Personally, all I have to do is pick up a piece of quilted maple to see the wonder of the Lord! Did you know scientists have studied how and why some maple trees develop figure (quilting, flame etc), while others don't? Science hopes to re-create farm figured maple trees for profit! It's just not gonna happen, man! It's a God thing!!
TBE: What are you hoping to accomplish this year?
MV: I am hoping to finish 6 instruments that are not sold. There are a couple of guitar shows and other events I would also love to attend this year.
TBE: I understand there's a possibility of you coming to see us at Tidewater Bass Explosion in September (09/16/06). Is that a real possibility? Are you going to bring a couple basses for us to check out?!?! Talk to me, Mark!
MV: Yes, That is one of the main events. "If the creek don't rise", I will have a few instruments at Tidewater Bass Explosion, but I am hoping t build 6 for the event.
TBE: This is exciting news, man! Talk with us about the types of instruments you build.
MV: I have 3 bass body shapes and 4 different styles of 4,5, and 6 string basses. I have plans to start some 7's, 8's, and even a few 9's soon! I use all types of domestic and exotic woods for the bodies. The Ultralam and Ultralam light neck model materials really make a bold statement! The Ultralam is face grade birch veneer that is dyed and saturated with a phenolic resin - before its pressed and cooked. So, the neck sounds like graphite… but not as brittle as graphite instruments in the higher register. The Ultralam light is face grade maple veneer that is dyed black, glued, and pressed. So, it is much lighter than the Ultralam, much stronger than maple, and has great tone… and a very cool look!
TBE: What type of player is your "perfect" customer?
MV: I guess the "perfect" customer would be the player that is going use their new bass as a sword to fight back the kingdom of darkness!
TBE: Do you have any prayers we can ask our readers to pray about with you?
MV: The perfect playing gigs maybe!! My gifts have never had to support my family, as I have always worked a job. I am blessed to have run a Christian based industrial fluids distributorship for the last 12 years, and it has more than adequately maintained my household. But my heart's desire is to play and build basses for my career.
TBE: AWESOME! Its time to let you get back to work, Mark. Do you any closing thoughts for our readers?
MV: Yes, Keep on playing! Anyone who is gifted musically has a unique gift. Don't compare yourself with other players, or ever think, "I'm not as good as so-n-so"! Instead, listen and glean little nuggets from everyone's playing to develop your unique gift and your unique voice.
Well said, man. Aren't we all on a quest for tone? All right, folks! Get to Tidewater Bass Explosion and play a Vinciguerra bass guitar! All of us at TBE hope you find a Vinciguerra you can take home for your very own! Check out Mark at www.vcustomshop.com or call him @ 386-325-0288 or Fax 386-328-2716. You can also check out Mark's band at www.godsexamples.com, or write to him at mark@vcucustomshop.com.
Brent-Anthony Johnson
