Marco Ramazzotto-Joppe

What is your purpose at session and how long have you been there?
I am the head of the bass department in Frankfurt am Main. I've been here for 7 ½ years now, but previously worked in the same function at the former Musik Schmidt on Berliner Straße. So basses and everything that has to do with bass guitars are my thing.

What kind of instrument do you play?
I primarily play old FENDER basses. Preferably a FENDER Precision Bass and, if necessary, a FENDER Jazz Bass. But a precision bass always works.

How long have you been making music?
I've been making music since I was 12 years old. I'm 57 now, so for almost 40 years.

Where do you get your inspiration from?
Of course, it's hard to say at first because there is so much good music in this world. There are so many good songs and artists that constantly inspire me. I was born in 1961, so I experienced the 60s, the 70s, the 80s and the 90s and I was also there in the 2000s. So that's almost 50 years of musical inspiration that I take with me. But there are also everyday situations or circumstances and locations from which I draw a certain amount of inspiration. This often depends on the situation and the inspiration is usually there the moment I play. Ultimately, that's what I've always wanted to do since I picked up my first guitar: play bass, teach bass and sell and repair basses. La passione!

What genre do you feel at home in?
Actually in every genre apart from jazz. If someone tells me, just play eighth notes in a rock band all evening, I'll be there straight away. But I'm also really into funk and soul, that's always influenced me. I also like classic rock, singer-songwriters and country music.

Tell us three of your favorite artists.
Paul McCartney and the Beatles, of course. Otherwise The Police and Pat Metheny. Even though I don't really like jazz, for me Pat Metheny is a complete musician. He's at home everywhere. But actually it's Paul McCartney, Paul McCartney and Paul McCartney and then at some point the others that I think are good.

Is there an album you would have liked to have played on?
No there isn't, because the albums I love are perfect the way they were played. I couldn't have done better and it would be presumptuous to say that I would have liked to have played on one of my favorite albums. I might have liked to have been there to observe the process and the songwriting.

Do you play in a band or something similar?
Actually in four bands at the moment. The Madhouse Flowers have been my “regular” band for 25 years. We are a well-booked cover band and one of the last groups in the Frankfurt area that have been playing with almost the same instrumentation for 25 years. Then I play with Macy's Mob, a trio that I've been with since 2006. The focus of this band is the 90s, we cover Rage Against The Machine and the like. I also play in the Astor Club Band, a funk and soul band that has been around since 1999. The repertoire includes Kool & The Gang, Earth, Wind & Fire and Jamiroquai.

What is your favorite piece of equipment?
My '62 Precision Bass with strings that are as old as possible. I would need that on a deserted island.

The most important thing when making music is...?
The most important thing when making music is listening. Listen and don't be afraid to try something new. You should also treat your fellow musicians openly and respectfully. Nevertheless, you shouldn't forget to enjoy the moment. But I think listening is the most important thing.

You are also known to us for modifying, converting and adapting basses. Can you tell us something about that?
Of course, that was all a long time ago and goes back to the 70s. I have always been enthusiastic about technology and physics was my favorite subject at school. I then also completed training in metal and electrical engineering. I started tinkering with my first jazz bass from 1971, which I still have today. Since then, I have had these two worlds: playing on the one hand and maintaining, repairing and adapting to the needs and ideas of the player on the other. The ergonomics and anatomy of every person is different. That's why I try to ensure that the customer gets an instrument from me that is so easy to play that they can't help but take it with them. And of course I try to convey the experiences I have had as a guitar technician for well-known artists to the man or woman. In times of online shops, it is very important to me to have the advantages of a physical store. Support your local dealer!

Current favorite product from our range?
I really like the basses from the FENDER Player series and the American Original series , also because they can be modified very well. Otherwise, I can think of the brand TRIBE from Italian-speaking Switzerland, which we have new in our range and where you get a lot of bass for good money. I also really like the instruments from G&L , who every now and then send me a new instrument to try out. When it comes to pedals, I swear by the sound and workmanship of TECH21 and EBS. Especially when paired with my beloved bass amplifiers from AMPEG and GALLIEN KRUEGER, they are simply unbeatable.