Advice for aspiring Studio Players or anyone that wants to "Go Pro"

[rivmiquiv]

I have a question

When you guys say that a gig is a gig, and to take what you can get because you don't know where it might lead, how far do you think I should take it?

[funkygroover694]

+1 for will lee kicking ass
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LOROSGcoyU

[Jamesworth]

Wow thanks for the advice! We are trying to get our band lifted off and our guitarist and vocalist has got his own professional studio so hopefully we will be recording soon! Thanks for the advice I'll be sure to live by this the next time I record. Just for clarification, what is considered "Pro Gear" I've got a Rickenbacker ordered would this be enough to satisfy the needs of a producer?

[bradjonesbass]

I no longer play professionally full time and as such have only the equipment I use at church and on my jazz, funk and R&B gigs. Got a call to do a session that interested me and was for a local charity so I took it, BUT I only have a fretted 7 and a fretless 6 so I was slightly concerned about the engineers reaction... He gave me some good hearted ribbing about it, but as soon as I plugged in and there was no noise all was good... Plugged straight into an Avalon tube pre into protools... And I have to say it was KILLER sounding. Same reaction from the producer when he walked in and saw it, until he heard the first take if I got back in the game I'd probably show up with a j, a p, and a good 5, but I know this bass is good enough if you know what you're doing... You can hear the track at JFLendingahand.com and clicking on the theme song... I also don't normally play country rock, but the artist is a good friend and the project seemed worthwhile...

[drasticDUB]

Originally Posted by bradjonesbass

I no longer play professionally full time and as such have only the equipment I use at church and on my jazz, funk and R&B gigs. Got a call to do a session that interested me and was for a local charity so I took it, BUT I only have a fretted 7 and a fretless 6 so I was slightly concerned about the engineers reaction... He gave me some good hearted ribbing about it, but as soon as I plugged in and there was no noise all was good... Plugged straight into an Avalon tube pre into protools... And I have to say it was KILLER sounding. Same reaction from the producer when he walked in and saw it, until he heard the first take if I got back in the game I'd probably show up with a j, a p, and a good 5, but I know this bass is good enough if you know what you're doing... You can hear the track at JFLendingahand.com and clicking on the theme song... I also don't normally play country rock, but the artist is a good friend and the project seemed worthwhile...

kudos!!!

[colcifer]

Originally Posted by bradjonesbass

I no longer play professionally full time and as such have only the equipment I use at church and on my jazz, funk and R&B gigs. Got a call to do a session that interested me and was for a local charity so I took it, BUT I only have a fretted 7 and a fretless 6 so I was slightly concerned about the engineers reaction... He gave me some good hearted ribbing about it, but as soon as I plugged in and there was no noise all was good... Plugged straight into an Avalon tube pre into protools... And I have to say it was KILLER sounding. Same reaction from the producer when he walked in and saw it, until he heard the first take if I got back in the game I'd probably show up with a j, a p, and a good 5, but I know this bass is good enough if you know what you're doing... You can hear the track at JFLendingahand.com and clicking on the theme song... I also don't normally play country rock, but the artist is a good friend and the project seemed worthwhile...

I couldn't find the link but that's a cool story.

[bradjonesbass]

Yeah, for some reason they took the song down... I'll see if I can find it...

[jessestern]

Great thread guys! Just wanted to say hi and throw in my $.02.

As far as gear, if I bring one bass, it's a P bass with flats. (I believe this is changing from just a few years ago, where the one bass was the J.) If you bring two basses, bring a P and a J. If you bring 3, add a good 5 string to the mix. If you bring 4, throw in a fretless.

Of course, this depends a lot on where you live, what styles of music you're doing, etc. Unless I know the person and the project I'm working on, I always bring too many basses. I'd rather bring too many and leave them all in the cases, than to say "I have the perfect bass for this song ... at home."

These days I'm doing a lot more bass sessions online, in my own studio. Since my studio is designed for a bassist (me), I always have the right gear!

If you're doing a lot of work, a good preamp or direct box is a worthwhile investment. I'm personally not a big fan of Avalons - they're ok. The Manley Vox Box sounds amazing for bass. Also Summit makes a good DI box pre. Demeters are pretty nice too. Aphex has some new gear that is worth checking out too. The industry standard is still the Neve. API too, but they are cleaner, sometimes too clean for bass. If you're just starting out doing session work, let the studio spend their money on preamps, and use whatever they have.

Originally Posted by rivmiquiv

When you guys say that a gig is a gig, and to take what you can get because you don't know where it might lead, how far do you think I should take it?

You should do it as long as it's fun. If you're doing it because you think it's going to "go somewhere", you're very likely doing it for the wrong reasons.

To see and hear a few of the things I've done, please visit my web site Session Bassist Online dot com.

[carlthegroover]

Quick facts about me: 29 yo, playing bass for one year (taking it seriously enough), a Fender MIM J, a Squier CV 50's P, a small 10w amp, a new blues-rock band and lots of attitude and motivation. Not intending to do any session work/ touring anytime soon, but I'd like to become semi-pro sometime in the near future.

Even with those "stats", I've got to say this is one of the most interesting threads I've read in this site. Truly. It gives me an insight of a trade I probably will never be involved in (but who knows, maybe by the time I'm 40 I'm good enough bassist, have some spare time and give it a shot). It does sound complex, but it also sounds fascinating and fun as hell (all things considered).

Kudos to all the pros who have given so much know-how (basically for free) to inspire those who are seriously consider to become studio musicians. I wish there was something like this for careers in psychology or marketing research (that's what I studied anyways, probably headed that way eventhough bass playing will probably remain my true passion).

Suscribed!

[CamMcIntyre]

So, it has been just over since years after my first post in this thread.

My latest update: I won a bass job in the Navy. I'm finally able to quit my day job, and earn my living playing music.

[jthurston]

Originally Posted by Thunderfunk

(BTW, Garth's band was reputed [this comes from a bandmember himself] to be the worst in town. You probably don't know that his bass player was also his sister. (Being family also helps). Garth said you play for two hours a day, but ride the bus for twenty-two. It was more important that you get along.)

Yep. Her name is Betsy Smittle, and she was actually pretty good back then, in a supporting bass kind of role. I say "was" because I haven't heard anything from her or about her in recent years.

I've also heard that they were a terrible band, from a purely technical perspective, although I have to wonder about that. Steve Wariner, Keith Urban and (I believe) Ty England?

Sorry, I went a little off topic there.

[phillybass101]

To me here it is in a nutshell about getting that big tour gig.

Garth said you play for two hours a day, but ride the bus for twenty-two. It was more important that you get along.)