How often do BL's request you use a particular bass?

[elgranluis]

I’ve only been asked NOT to bring a bass back , and that was a bronco with a cheap blade pickup and I kept messing up the notes because of the scale.

Having said that, if the BL wants me to play a specific bass for a specific gig , I can accommodate as long as I own that bass or he provides it to me. For reversals , it’s my choice really unless (again) BL provides the bass.

 

[HeavyJazz]

The BL's favorite bass tends to be the one I played at the first rehearsal. Whichever one it was, just seems to get stuck in their head.

...But I still bring what I feel is best.

 

[urkel3000]

Our MD at church always tries to get me to play my crazy Peavey, but I play my ATK 9 out of 10 times ... It just always sits in the mix with no issues

 

[TomB]

The only time I recall (aside from requests for upright) was a one-off high-end Johnny Cash tribute show. In addition to the black outfit, the MD was “relieved” that I could bring along a ‘61 P-bass, which I did. For that money I’d have played a uke if requested.

I did have one BL who growled when I took my G&L L-1000 out of its case (vs. my usual jazz). I played it anyway!

 

[Jefenator]

I've been asked not to keep using certain BGs a few times. (G&L L-1505 Yamaha BB1600 & Epiphone Jack Casady.)
I have also had a few positive impressions of my instrument choices over the years.
That's all pretty infrequent, though.
For each time someone has had a vocal preference about which BG they want me to use, there's been 1000 times I've been asked to play upright.

 

[Paul New]

A decade and a half younger me sure did. I nearly doubled the price of the bass with those pickups lol.

I put Dimarzio Ultra Jazz pickups and a ton of setup into an $89 SX Jazz. I definitely tripled or quadrupled the cost of it, but it probably wouldn’t sell for much. And that was before I knew about Leezy.

 

[Bass4ThePublic]

For studio sessions absolutely. Usually my mjt P bass or my 65 Jazz gets requested. Both have super dead Olinto flats.

 

[TDR1138]

Not a BL necessarily, but a sound guy at a church I was playing for one time told me that my G&L L-1500 sounded the best and I should bring it all the time. Coincidentally, I sold it a couple of weeks later.

 

[Bob_Ross]

I have had several producers request that I bring certain instruments to a recording session.

But the only time a bandleader expressed an opinion about what bass I was bringing to a live performance, it was a couple times when someone specifically requested that I *not* bring a certain bass!