Michael Manring

Michael Manring is an American bass guitarist and composer widely considered one of the world's most innovative fretless bassists. A former student of the legendary Jaco Pastorius, Manring has spent decades pushing the boundaries of the electric bass, transforming it from a supporting rhythm section tool into a primary solo instrument. He is best known for his mastery of unconventional tunings and extended techniques, often utilizing his custom-designed Zon Hyperbass, an instrument that allows for instantaneous mechanical tuning changes of multiple strings mid-performance.

Throughout the 1980s and 90s, Manring gained international prominence as the house bassist for the influential Windham Hill Records. This tenure included a prolific and deep musical partnership with the late acoustic guitar pioneer Michael Hedges, appearing on nearly all of Hedges' albums and touring extensively with him. His versatility has led to collaborations across a vast spectrum of genres, from the new-age jazz of his band Montreux to technical metal projects like Attention Deficit alongside Alex Skolnick and Tim Alexander.

Today, Manring maintains a global schedule of performances, clinics, and recording projects. His career is marked by numerous accolades, including Bassist of the Year from Bass Player magazine in 1994 and multiple Grammy nominations.