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Double Bass Rufus Reid

peterpalmieri

peterpalmieri

Supporting Member
Apr 19, 2005
7,887
5,603
Babylon, NY
#1
A friend of mine lent me a video of Rufus playing with Michael Moore at Bass Day 1997. Just a great video in general, nice music selection and a pretty good audio.

To me Rufus had just about as close to perfection in his bass tone as I've heard in a while. Anyone an expert on Rufus, is the growl attributed to his bass? I know he spends allot of time with pickup/transducer, mic, amp, strings and most importantly technique to pull out that great tone. Also curious how his current set up compares to what he had back in '97...

Anyone have any thoughts on it? I am going to guess some of you out there may hate his tone too...

SORRY I MEANT TO POST THIS UNDER "JAZZ TECHNIQUE" could a mod move it for me please?
 
#4
In addition to being at the Bass day 97 event, I had the great great pleasure of attending a clinic at The David Gage Shop in NYC featuring both of theses greats right around the same time as Bass Day. There where about 10 people in a very intimate setting - they both played together for appoximately one hour. Just acoustically..no amps needed...and these guys know their sh*t.
It was very informal, lots of questions, laughing and great playing. After the clinic we all sat around drinking the wine that David Gage set up for us..
They did record an album together right around 1997...
 
#6
At least 25 years ago I went to an Aebersold clinic where Rufus was teaching. Once during the master class he moved from the piano and picked up the closest bass to continue the musical point he was making. The bass happened to be a cheap plywood with little sound . He pulled the most amazing deep full sound out of that cheap bass that I've ever heard. He wasn't even trying to demonstrate anything about about technique or sound. We were all simply stunned at the sound he got. What that showed us is that the sound begins with your hands before any pick-ups or amps are used. I know Rufus is usually looking for a better way to improve his sound with string choices and pick-ups. etc. , but I'm sure He will tell You that it has to begin with how You pull the strings. The amplified sound should be as close to the acoustic sound as possible, the next step is to build Your sound with Your technique and to not rely on the amp too much to give You the killer sound You are hearing in Your head. Easier said than done for me! But I do try to follow that advice as much as I can.

Does that sound like what he tells people to do today? I haven't seen any of his teaching materials in a long time.
 
#8
rdwhit said:
The amplified sound should be as close to the acoustic sound as possible, the next step is to build Your sound with Your technique and to not rely on the amp too much to give You the killer sound You are hearing in Your head. Easier said than done for me! But I do try to follow that advice as much as I can.
Click to expand...

I saw a clinic he did about 5 years ago, and he said if you have a puny tone and amplify it, all you'll have is a LOUD puny tone.

Even so, he stressed the importance of "practicing" your rig, knowing exactly how to make it work in any room or situation.

BTW, he did a performance that night in a 700+ seat hall. He filled the entire auditorium with sound - no amp.
 

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