MJM1968 + Musician in Hudsonville, MI

SEEKING

ABOUT

I am a guitarist / bass guitarist of over 40 years. I have also been teaching guitar and bass guitar for 25+ years. I play drums as well, and have lead and backing vocal abilities. I was born and raised in Kentucky, and have been living in the Grand Rapids area for 21 years.

Hunting is another passion of mine, and I am generally found hanging out in trees and swamps throughout Northern Michigan from October thru December. In real life, I am a carpenter by day.

Video 1: Added a new video, showing a few jams with some favorite tunes. I will be adding more videos as I learn this video editing program a little better...I can be reached via email (I know that there are a number of local musicians out there whom I would LOVE to talk with, but can't without the Premier Membership)... moralesm2112

Video 2: A video of our former band, FM, performing (I sing / play lead on this cover of Comfortably Numb) in Battle Creek.

Video 3: A video of our former band, FM, rehearsing a cover of Fooled Around and Fell in Love.

Video 4: A video of another former band, The Factory, performing Boston's "Foreplay / Long Time". Not the best video quality, but I'm the guitarist on the left...

Video 5: This is a totally solo, multi-instrumental cover of the Pink Floyd classic. Special thanks to Carolyn Peterson for lending her amazing backing vocals and to Robert Reister at Fast Trax Studio in Jenison, Michigan for his audio and video magic!

Video 6: This is another FM cover of a Doobie Brothers classic!

Screen name:

MJM1968

Member since:

Aug 20 2011

Active over 1 month ago

Level of commitment:

Very Committed

Years playing music:

45

Gigs played:

Over 100

Tend to practice:

More than 3 times per week

Available to gig:

1 night a week

Most available:

Nights

Influences

My musical tastes are all over the map. I love classic rock, jazz, blues, classical, prog rock and country, to name a few. Anything from Al Dimiola to Brad Paisley to Dream Theater. If it sounds good, it IS good! My favorite guitarist is the awe-inspiring John Petrucci. Other top favorites include the late, great Gary Moore, Guthrie Govan, Tom Scholz, Eric Johnson, Steve Morse, Neal Schon, Peter Frampton and Steve Lukather. I tend to lean toward classic and prog rock. Dream Theater tops my favorite band list, but I love other bands like Rush, Genesis, Yes, Dixie Dregs, Pink Floyd, ELO and Kansas. I try to surround myself with over the top, stupidly awesome musicians who are ridiculously better than I am...this, in addition to insane amounts of personal rehearsal, is the secret to becoming a better musician in my opinion.

Instrument experience:

Rhythm Guitar:

Expert

Lead Guitar:

Expert

Acoustic Guitar:

Expert

Bass Guitar:

Expert

Vocalist:

Advanced

Drums:

Advanced

EQUIPMENT

I have a guitar arsenal with notable axes from Ernie Ball/Music Man, Carvin, Fender, Michael Kelly, Schecter, Peavey, Ibanez, PRS, Yamaha and Ovation. I am a walking Carvin billboard with guitars, basses, acoustics, P.A. gear and the inspiring killer tone of the mighty V3 tube amp. Carvin still hasn't sent me any freebies for all of this loyalty. Maybe someday... I also have a full recording studio with the Roland VS 2480 at the heart of it. A beautiful set of Pearl Exports are also in my music room. For bass gear, along with an assortment of high end basses, I have a 100-watt Hartke 4x10 hybrid tube amp combo that rocks! I have a variety of stomp box effects, but my go to guitar effects processor is a Fractal Audio AX8. My equipment list is always evolving as I am constantly after that elusive perfect tone (and to underscore that point, I added a Mesa Boogie Mark V amp head to the family a few years ago...) I recently finished putting together a custom double neck, complete with a sweet camo finish!!

MUSIC