NAMM 2025: The John Myung Interview

[@darrenmichaels]

Thanks for this. It's rare to see a John Myung interview.

[@bassgearmagazine]

You’re right, it’s a treat to have him on the channel.

[@cesarstoer]

Thanks to AI

[@daniboyboladao4604]

@@cesarstoer lol

[@brandonklemets]

Myung seems to stay away from the mainstream interviewers but will really come forward for the Bass specific community. He's such a great champion for the instrument.

[@diegomorales8616]

1. More bass solos in DT songs, please. 2. Solo album, please.

[@GearHeadz101]

Agree

[@nicholastotoro7721]

They don't even need more bass solos, I'd just like to actually be able to *HEAR* the bass LOL!!!

[@Archaeopteryxgordo]

​@@nicholastotoro7721Bass is audible in fact, but could be Louder. Last time I felt a "creative" bass sound by myung was 2013, the self-titled album, Bridge pickup, distorted tone, Geddy lee-like Tone.

[@junzon]

Major score with getting the John Myung interview😊

[@BigIsk52]

It was cool to hear John speak so much. Smiling too! Great interview.

[@jan-ovepedersen5764]

I bought my 6-string because of John, he is a major inspration 🙂

[@rickybrogers]

One of the best! This is awesome! Thank you for the interview!

[@joemartucci4786]

Great guy great bassist. I met him at a record signing at Record Theater here in Buffalo NY for their Awake album. He asked if I played I said yeah I'm a bassist. He came around & took me off to the side took a couple pics & talked gear. I told him I used SVTs told him what I had & he was like that's great that I spend time on tone.

[@hellterskeltor]

Wow, one of greatest bass players in the world period. He is absolutely amazing to watch. im a big DT fan of 35 years strong the man is amazing.

[@benhardy7862]

Great interview - John Myung is a top man

[@bassgearmagazine]

Thank you! He's been a personal hero for decades, so it was really cool to get a chance to interview and chat with him.

[@michael4591]

I adore his discipline

[@GearHeadz101]

Love this guy. Wish he went back to taking more leadroles in DT music again like he did back in the day. New DT fans have no idea he was the star of DT in the beginning.

[@bmstylee]

Same here. 6:00 has one of the best bass lines.

[@GearHeadz101]

@ Amazing bass album, Awake.

[@JacksonLambProSpook]

Finally someone interviewing him pronounces his surname correctly.

[@bobule]

Thanks so much for this interview

[@rhythmindset6996]

Love that John is opening up now!

[@Fancy_Lebowski]

I've been playing 6 string basses since 2011 inspired by John, I got his silver signature Bongo in 2023 and it's hands down the most comfortable bass I've ever played.

[@bmstylee]

Ok I really want to know more. I want to try one. How tight are the stings? What is the neck like? The electronics are pretty simple compared to other basses. Does that limit the sound capability? Does it play well with effects? I play a 6 but it's a multi scale with fanned frets. So definitely a different animal.

[@Fancy_Lebowski]

@bmstylee Strings might be too tight if you got long fingers, mine are short so it evens out on my end. Neck is smooth and feels like a slightly chunky Jazz Bass and fits in the hand perfectly. I run both pickups full most of the time, 75% bridge 25% neck makes for a great finger funk tone. I don't miss the EQ much and has forced me to find a "set" tone on the amp, which isn't a bad thing. Lots of tight bottom end but a little treble shy. I've gotten good results with delay, reverb, distortion and wah so I don't think effects will be an issue.

[@bmstylee]

Very cool. It might not work for me as I have sasquatch size hands. Have you tried his Ashdown signature pedal.

[@bassgearmagazine]

They run 6 strings on the standard 5-string Bongo neck, so it's pretty tight.

[@Fancy_Lebowski]

@bmstylee I haven't yet, they're pretty expensive for just a distortion pedal, but if I ever see one at my local L&M I'd love to try one out and see if it's for me or not. Personally, I love the "Pearce" preamp distortion in my Line 6 Helix, sounds great with the JM Bongo, and John also uses the Suncoast Analog stuff which is pretty much the same thing. If I was a betting man, I'd guess his signature Ashdown pedal was probably based off of the MXR Double Shot that he was fond of during Black Clouds and Silver Linings, but voiced for bass, but that's a hypothetical.

[@FrostByte_AC]

You guys are awesome for doing this!

[@h2oproductions897]

Johns red hands show that he didn't miss his 6 hours practice today !!! impressive hands anyway !

[@bassgearmagazine]

True story!

[@nimamoazzezi4686]

He said he and petrucci practice 3 hours nowadays

[@guitaryildiz]

I’m guitar player and everytime I see a John Myung interview I can’t help but watch the whole thing!

[@DevinBreshears]

What a class act. Gotta love the man.

[@basstimenonfish4031]

Awesome for the Suncoast mention ! Great stuff !

[@betoastorga]

Pure gem!!!

[@SamBrockmann]

This is such a treat. John Myung is such a legend, but he so rarely does interviews.

[@bmstylee]

He's a very underappreciated musician. Even among bassists he's doesn't get the love he deserves. Just my opinion.

[@rishabhbose29]

Man. John uttered so many words He is the literal defnition of - A man of few words Anyway. Glad he agreed to this Interview What a Musician. Absolute master of his craft❤😊

[@gonzorudeboy]

My daughter is about to start bass at 14. It's quite emotional for me as it's a personal choice of hers.

[@1234drums]

Oh yeah ❤

[@mikebozik]

Before I saw a picture of the bass, I thought the first 12 frets would be Maple and 13 up would be Rosewood. Nice to hear John is excited about the new album. I heard Petrucci talking about it a couple days ago and he seemed to be really pumped about it. That's good news for me! 😀

[@joseluisorellano69]

He talks!!!!!!!!

[@bassgearmagazine]

He really does. It was great to hear from him!!!

[@flynod]

😂😂

[@sandalokan]

Ernie ball is an amazing company! Not only because it can create wonderful instruments, but it has been able to get this man talking!

[@donwahlang7839]

The Mystic Samurai of Bass

[@bmstylee]

John is the guy who got me to finally buy a 6 string. I remember spending a year learning Metropolis Pt 1 on my 5 string.. It was the hardest thing I have ever learned. It made Iron Maiden, Rush, Justice and prior Metallica look like child's play. I wish I could find his theory video he did 20 years ago. I know I have it somewhere just not sure where. I really want to try his Bongo to see how it plays. I still want one to pair with my custom Kiesel 6 string and Carvin 5 string.

[@huskobar4545]

I know Myung doesn't usually talk much...but I think in this interview he was just terrified that you weren't wearing any pants, Jack Tripper.

[@bassgearmagazine]

LOL, sorry about the trauma, folks!

[@lexeykuzmintsev2410]

John Myung - Silent Man !

[@bmstylee]

I see what you did there. Well played good sir.

[@abikvaidhya8514]

we got John Myung speaking for about 10 mins +/- before GTA VI...

[@mamesushi136]

I would have liked to know how his approach to composing has changed over the years!

[@bassgearmagazine]

That is an excellent question!

[@carlosnascimento9269]

A JM interview! 😱

[@moonyoungchoi8929]

명 이라고 불러주는거 첨본다. 늙지 않는 존형도 이젠 나이 있어 보이네. 화이팅 명!!

[@cgsaint]

my inspiration to play 6 string bass was steve bailey 💪

[@BluesCondezo]

first time i hear jon :)

[@germanvarelamuller]

Level Sensei

[@augustopoletti1378]

Myung is the number one reason I play a 6 string bass, to know his work (and practice....) really got my playing up some levels. Thanks for a rare interview.

[@skrilla88]

I want to do that finger exercise...

[@progpaule5123]

Just love the "Silent Man" and I'm glad you got him for an interview, but he seems really nervous and insecure.

[@markchalon]

When playing bongos was mentioned, I firstly thought John had taken up a percussion hobby…

[@TinoSchulz1990]

😀

[@bassgearmagazine]

Perhaps he has!

[@dlc435]

The Shohei Ohtani of bass.

[@GearHeadz101]

The man who made me a 6-string player.

[@Michael_Michaels]

Finally we see some signs of Myung aging! Although it's just the hair... 😅

[@TwoMinutesBass]

He can speak!

[@Hobomayor]

🤘🤘🤘

[@horrorshowbass]

Is he holding the new SBMM bongo in the thumbnail?

[@bassgearmagazine]

Yes, he is! A bit of an easter egg. We were able to check out the new SBMM Bongos right after the interview, and that was the first John had seen them.

[@horrorshowbass]

Awesome would love to get some sounds of it!!

[@bassgearmagazine]

We are hoping to get a model in for review. The feel and fretwork seemed really nice, but we did not get a chance to plug them in (4 and 5 string).

[@bmstylee]

Any idea if they're going to make a 6 string?

[@danimourinho]

I can't believe they still keep trying to convince us that tonewood EQ stuff. The bongo basses are great but that statement is a lie (Glen Flicker did very interesting videos about this subject). Anyway Jon Myung is and will be one of my favourite bassplayers of all time

[@Joseph-l6w]

Wait a minute..... John talks?!

[@bmstylee]

This is all an illusion. Potentially AI generated. 😁

[@DavidMajors]

Yes. John Myung is always down to talk bass stuff. Been that way forever.

[@HM-io1mk]

I literally thought it was RvD😂

[@rodoherty1]

I'm surprised at his suggestion that starter players should use the best gear. I've been playing a long time (I'm very average) but my two favourite basses are my Sire M7 (€800) and my Harley Benton pb20 (€99). You really don't need "the best" gear.

[@duaneharris8417]

I agree, yet, while you may not "need" the best gear, I have to fully agree with JM. While nothing beats you putting the time in on your instrument, many don't realize the handicap they have in playing on a crap $99 (USD) to $150 (USD) fender knockoff with poor quality single coil pickups. The moment you pick up even a higher grade budget guitar with decent humbucker pickups, you notice the difference.There is not enough gain or enough guitar pedals to mask the poor sound of a low quality guitar. Hell I'm an average player and I was amazed at how I played using a Majesty JP Guitar. It just wanted to be played. I recommend those starting out to truly just save their money or do a 6 month payment plan through zzounds. Its worth it to start of with the best gear you can reasonably afford. You have to ask yourself, how many beginning guitarist quit playing because they just can't hit the sounds they hear on the radio or streaming services? I say, daily practice, good quality gear, great quality strings and proper tuning make all the difference for a beginner.

[@ManWithoutThePants]

That is not a rare perspective. Starting with bad gear can suck out the motivation. If the instrument is hard to play, doesn't sound good or frets are buzzing for example. Some of those can be often fixed if you take it to professional to set up. In case of some other instruments it can be even more bad I think. Like with guitar or mandolin pressing chords near the nut can be really hard on your fingers with bad instrument. I think he means that buy a good gear, if you are planning to take it seriously. There is no point in putting an extra step and buying a cheap one and then better one later. I think that with 800 euros you can buy a solid good bass.

[@miguelrmusic]

I suffer from G.A.S. That advice is dangerous.

[@cesarstoer]

AI is getting perfect nowadays making JM talking for 20 minutes

[@LxF3Rz]

I didn't know that Myung can speak

[@novaedypresnawan169]

cool, humble, silent but high skill......

[@kardusseirama8192]

user your chapman stick in the next DT album.

[@kengseong]

Easter egg... Asia tour is on the card

[@achmadialjufri4450]

17:05 ade ampli, boleh lah di colok

[@PearHellforge]

this guy is pure skill. He never had that musician-guy charisma. to me at least.

[@marleysheredder]

AI is getting even more impressive this days, I got close to believe this was real John Myung, pretty convincing indeed!

[@BrunodeSouzaLino]

Is it just me or Myung is slowly turning into Michael Manring?

[@damientk1834]

he's only now aging

[@bassgearmagazine]

And aging well, at that!

[@bitburg40]

Asians only have 2 ages. 20 and 120. 😁

[@ThatGuy-cs3nb]

He just doesn’t dye his hair and doesn’t spray tan. He doesn’t talk much so appearance doesn’t seem to matter to him

[@hamdantaufikkurohman1123]

No fckin way, hes talking?😮

[@thomas_the_cat]

you can't fool us... we know this is AI because the real one would have never talked this much 🙄

[@KlaasJan-71]

-_-

[@jongsoulgim8930]

명광식 아들

[@bigsnacks2350]

It seems he's finally starting to age lol

[@dlc435]

A wise bass sensai