I was recently in Tofino performing at the morning market. The fresh Pacific air, views of Tofino's harbor and happy people supporting the local vendors made me feel right at home, as I always do in Tofino. The stage I was placed at happened to be right beside Tuff City Radio's tent. I was fortunate enough to have Cameron invite me for a live session and interview. If you live internationally or haven't been able to attend one of my live shows, this may be your one and only time to get a sneak peak into my debt album I will be releasing later this year. The album release really isn't that far off. I've been tucked away most of the year recording, and its getting close.. 

Peace and Love! 
-Adam

Stream the interview here.

As I further my understanding of this instrument, so does my understanding of the album. I had the sound, layout and feel in my head, for years. I had the instruments in front of me, the songs written in my head. Only thing I didn't know, was how to get there. I've been battling with my self on how to go about recording my first album, a thought that has been in my head since early teens, when my playing started developing. A couple of years back, I recorded what would be the first release of my song 'Coast'. The sound was right, or what felt right at the time. But this is the direction I wanted my sound to go. How I envisioned my first album may feel. This is where it began.

*Click to listen  

Late fall, 2014. Vehicle packed with firewood, food, a few beers, surf board, wet suit and a weissenborn. The essentials. A solo drive north ward along the coast line in search of surf. A bit of fog and not much for breaking waves, a perfect spot was found to sit for the morning to eat, drink, write music and deep thought. Though sitting here till sunset in wait of surf would be ideal, but the day would be cut short to head back into the city to meet Michael Rusen. I didn't know much of who I was meeting. But what I did know was that he built weissenborns. I had seen his work in the local guitar shops, and I had been hooked for many months and that day, I was to meet the man himself at his wood shop. Finishing my food and putting out the flames, I packed and drove south just as the rain was rolling in. A typical west coast day. 

At this point I had been playing a Celtic Cross weissenborn for 5 years. Locally made by Neil Russell, I had never met him though knew that he taught Mike his craft. I didn't know what to expect, all i knew was that i had to meet him. 

I arrived at a house and was welcomed with a smile by a young man. He quietly and politely offered for me to come inside for a tour of his shop. We entered the garage to the soft sounds of bluegrass and fresh dust in the air. The back wall was stacked with beautiful cuts of lumber beside a pile of unfinished and old weissenborns from his early building days. He then ushered me over to his work bench to show me his latest master piece, a teardrop. He began telling me the types of wood used in this instrument with excitement and passion in his voice. The conversation trailed off to music. Turns out, we were both very much into Xavier Rudd. Our love for the weissenborn had very similar backgrounds. Though my path led me to playing, and his building. 

He then made an offer I was not expecting. To build me a custom weissenbron from lumber I hand picked. Beyond excited, we immediately began picking lumber. Picking through his stack of koa, cedar and mahogany, I was quickly drawn to a cedar top he had pre-cut for a teardrop. And that day it began. 

Today I am both honored and excited to tell you that it is not only complete, but has already been taken into studio to record part of my upcoming summer release. The amount of time, love and labor that goes into hand crafting a instrument is unheard of. This is a instrument I will have for the rest of my life and I cant wait to see what songs come from this beauty. Forever I will be grateful. Thank you Mike. 

Specs: 
Old growth Van Isle Cedar top
Local sourced maple bindings and fret board
Mahogany sides and back
Ebony frets and markings
1/2" extra deep
Fishman Rare Earth Pickup
LG Bags Lyric Pickup
Duel individual inputs

Hand crafted by Micheal C. Rusen in Victoria BC in 2015. 

 

5 years ago I came across a Weissenborn made by Neil Russell of Celtic Cross Instruments from Victoria BC. After roughly a minute of playing it, I had made the decision to buy it, though I could barely afford it at the time due to moving out on my own from my parents house at 19. This was my second Weissenborn. It quickly became the only instrument I played. Early in the morning, first thing getting home from work, and last thing before bed. I spent a lot of time playing, writing and perfecting music on this Weissenborn. This instrument has become a focal point of my music and life.

Early this year I was walking past my favourite guitar shop, Classic Guitars on Fort, and noticed a couple of Weissenborns in the shop window. Most shops in Victoria don’t carry Weissenborns so despite being in a rush, I popped inside. I spent an hour playing all three. Constantly rotating between them, I played anything that came to mind, even wrote some new riffs. These Weissenborns felt right, like I recognized them and had been playing them for years. They were in fact, much like the Celtic Cross I had at home. Even the info sheet inside was similar to Neil’s. I asked the shop owner about them and he told me they were made locally by Mike Rusen, who had learned his craft from Neil Russell. He didn’t have nearly as many years behind him making instruments but his teacher taught him well. Mike's product was right up there with Neil’s. Now most times I walk by Classic Guitars, I stop in the say hello to both Mike Powell, the shop owner, as well as play his Weissenborns.

Over the summer my manager contacted Mike Rusen about me meeting up with him to check out his instruments. Having a much busier summer than usual with shows, travel, writing and recording we didn’t get a chance to meet in person until recently. I had a long weekend and spent the day in search of surf, but finding a flat ocean, I sat by a fire with food, beer and a Weissenborn.  I stayed as long as I could for the swell to kick up but had to leave so I could meet this local Weissenborn maker. Originally I was a bit nervous, but upon meeting Mike that feeling quicky left as I found someone who was much like myself. Needless to say we got along quite well. After much talking, playing and checking out each other’s Weissenborns , we talked about building a Weissenborn. And not just any Weissenborn, but one that was custom made from lumber I picked. A true west coast instrument from old growth Vancouver Island cedar, Van Isle maple and imported mahogany. I honestly cannot properly express the amount of excitement and appreciation I have right now and really can’t thank Mike enough. The making of this Weissenborn will be very important to the album I am currently working on and when finished, you can expect me to go straight into studio with it to record and release the first single while the rest of the album is in progress. Over the next few weeks and months I am looking forward to working with Mike and getting a much deeper connection with this instrument and any other future instruments we may work on. I will be posting about the progress of the building along the way and can’t wait to share this experience with you!

-Adam Bay 

Really excited to get to play at Felicitas October 11th. This is a new venue for me, and  I am happy to get to share the stage with San Felix and headliners Coastal Giant.

If you are looking for something fun to do on Thanksgiving weekend, come and check it out, guaranteed to be a great show.

Really excited to be playing at Lucky Bar on September 24th! I have been wanting to play this venue for many years, so I can't wait for all of you to share in it with me!!

The Event