How does the rider thing work

[Marc Piane]

So I'm pretty green when it comes to hardcore touring. I've done a few out of towners here and there but never with a rider and stuff. I've always kinda used the backline provided for me and when I've requested specific stuff I rarely get it. I have a leader asking for a specific list of stuff including bass (just in case we fly and I can't bring mine), amp, and mic for the pa to put in the rider. How does that all work for DB players? Do places rent instruments for you sometimes? Do you have a choice of mic for the pa? If so what are some suggestions.

[Marcus Johnson]

You can specify anything you want in your rider. Depending on the size of the city you're playing in, you might actually even get some of those things.

As far as bass rentals go, I've had the best luck networking, shmoozing, making friends with pro bassists all over the place. I usually write the bass into my contract, and then suggest contacts for a good instrument at any particular venue. You end up playing better basses overall that way, I think. Amps are a little more iffy sometimes. Again, it helps if you're dealing with someone who knows about double bass. Mics.... usually there's something that works fine. I used to bring my AMT before I converted it to a tailpiece mount. Bring your own bow! Don't ask me how I know!

[Marc Piane]

Do you put specs for the bass in the contract? Like carved/hybrid,ply... certain string length... type of pickup, etc?

[damonsmith]

I ask for a carved bass and travel if someone wants to invite me. I used to specify my string choice, but now I like to check out what ever is on there.
I have a month residency in Hamburg coming up in March. They are providing a bass, but I am also bringing my EUB, I have a few side trips to Israel and Vienna and I may need it.
It can mean the difference between some little side gig that can pull the trip out of the red or not.
I am bringing my small 4lb Crate head, in a total pinch I can use tiny computer speakers out of the headphone jack for practice. I was surprised, but it works.

The combination of an EUB and borrowing basses is a decent solution for me. If you get an EUB you like that travels well, you will at least have an instrument you are used to if the borrowed bass is total crap.
Most of the time I have gotten to play some very nice basses and they all had an interesting character.

[milomo]

This would seem to be very helpful for finding a bass.

[bassist14]

Originally Posted by damonsmith

I have a month residency in Hamburg coming up in March.

hamburg is 120km away from where i live,
can you tell me when and where you play?

[Marc Piane]

Any other thoughts? This is the list I am about to submit.

1 Gallien Kreuger 150MBS brand bass amplifier
1 Hartke brand 2x10 or 4x10 speaker cabinet
1 bass microphone on a boom stand (Shure Beta 52 microphone preferred)

if bass cannot be transported
1 - 4 string double bass preferably carved with a 41.5" to 42" string length

[oliebrice]

"if bass cannot be transported
1 - 4 string double bass preferably carved with a 41.5" to 42" string length"

would 2 strings really be better than 5?

[Marcus Johnson]

I usually ask for a bass with a "jazz setup" (or whatever you prefer).... just so I get something that will work for me. I've played some basses that felt like I was playing a suspension bridge, so it's best to be specific.

[Marc Piane]

Thanks Marcus.

[damonsmith]

Originally Posted by fingers

Any other thoughts? This is the list I am about to submit.

1 Gallien Kreuger 150MBS brand bass amplifier
1 Hartke brand 2x10 or 4x10 speaker cabinet
1 bass microphone on a boom stand (Shure Beta 52 microphone preferred)

if bass cannot be transported
1 - 4 string double bass preferably carved with a 41.5" to 42" string length

I'd give more choices, you don't want to not play the gig, 5 strings are fun, and you play a ply bass as your back up.
I would be way more open about amps as well, and maybe get a small portable head.
It should also depend on how cool the place is, and if you will get to see a great city you have never seen.

[Marc Piane]

The leader told me to submit a list and shoot for the sky keeping in mind what most places will have access to. I went on several large gear rental sites and my amp of choice - the MB150 - was on all of them. They also all had the Hartke cab.

Several friends I've talked that have done a fair amount of touring told me that you end up getting 50% of what you ask for if that. Truthfully I'm pretty easy going about everything as long as the bass is playable. The leader wanted a more complete list than that. I used Ben Allison's rider as a sample.

Like Damon was hinting at. I'm in it for the adventure. When touring (what little I've done) you get to meet some really interesting people and see some far out places. I've had a blast even when the deets weren't that great.

[damonsmith]

Originally Posted by bassist14

hamburg is 120km away from where i live,
can you tell me when and where you play?

I will get you the details as soon as I have them all. It would be great to meet up.

[Marcus Johnson]

Originally Posted by fingers

Like Damon was hinting at. I'm in it for the adventure. When touring (what little I've done) you get to meet some really interesting people and see some far out places. I've had a blast even when the deets weren't that great.

That's it. The first time I went to Japan, they promised me a bass to use. When I got there, it was an... adequate....bass, painted white, brand new. It sounded and played okay, so I rolled with it for the tour, and it was one of the great tours of my life. I made so many great friends, and now when I go there, I enjoy hanging with them and seeing all the great sights and just soaking in the vibe. It's the same everywhere (yes, even within the US). Getting to know people worldwide is one of the great perks of being a touring musician.

Addendum: Once I saw the great German pianist Rainer Bruninghaus (with Eberhard Weber's group) at a tiny joint in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The piano he was provided with was an abysmal beat-to-crap upright, broken strings, out of tune, barely sufficient for a weekly singalong. So he perched his Oberheim Synth on top of it, and for a couple of hours, just made ****ing magic on that thing. He actually used the busted "notes" as pedal points and definitely gave that piano the best night of its very tough life. I talked to him afterwards, and he just laughed it off... he couldn't have been more cool about it. I'll never forget that.

[Marc Piane]

Yeah. The fun thing is that it doesn't matter if you are in Barcelona Spain or Burlington IA. It all makes for great stories.

When I say I've only done a little touring I mean 50 or 60 dates. I've been on tour in Spain twice for about 15 dates each, Las Vegas, St Louis, Boston, Milwaukee, Madison WI, Burlington IA, Champaign IL, New Buffalo MI, and some more. They have all been very grass roots and I have never had to submit anything official for a rider.

[bribass]

Sound companies/clubs/theaters rarely have the amps that I request on riders.
Sometimes when I play out of town dates I end up getting the email or phone # of the venue and/or sound co. so I can find out what they have to choose from for bass. I also always take along a pre-amp/eq of some kind (currently a LR Baggs Paracoustic DI) to tame (and match impedence) of anything I may have to contend with.
This way I can deal w/just about any bass rig, but I rather not have big powerful Rock rigs like larger GK or SWR heads w/4x10 cabs. They always sound brittle, or honky w/ artifial low end to me. I much prefer cabs w/ 12's, but they're often not available. In this case I'd rather have a single 15 than a 4x10 cab, and if they only have Rock type heads, old Trace Elliotts or Hartkes, and Yorkvilles (combos or heads) are nice. Hence the phone call.

For unknown basses on the road I take along a set of Spiros, and Bass Max pu (w/old alto sax reeds to shim into wings of the bridge) and a Fishman Bp-100 pu. This way I know I can always have some strings that I feel comfortable w/ as well as a pu (although not my favorites) that I know will atleast fit on any the bass w/o modifications or bridge removal.

BTW- in S. Africa they gave me one of those larger Roland combos to use. Was pretty nice as I recall.
If you're gonna be playing in the NY area you know who to contact for a bass.

Good luck Marc!, Bri

[Marc Piane]

Originally Posted by bribass

If you're gonna be playing in the NY area you know who to contact for a bass.

Good luck Marc!, Bri

Right on Brian. Thanks for the info. M-->

[bassist14]

Originally Posted by damonsmith

I will get you the details as soon as I have them all. It would be great to meet up.

if you need some piece of equipment over here (bass, amp, cab, trunk) send me a pm.

i had a pm from someone in vienna today, maybe he can help you there.

fingers: sorry for being offtopic. but i think its also a bit ontopic, not regarding the rider, but regarding "surviving a gig far from home"

[Marc Piane]

No worries. It's great that folks are connecting. Long live TBDB.