Session Advice

[TaySte_2000]

Basically I'm thinking out loud in this thread but would love your input Justin (and anyone elses)

Some friends of mine are going into the studio and have asked me to play bass for them, now I've done studio work before but it's generally been quite different to this.

Firsty I've never had any time constraints before not that I've used them usually doing about 3 takes to get all I need done but this is 6 hours or so to lay down a quick dirty demo ep in some radio station's goverment funded studio so basically I just want to confirm the gear I should take in you opinion.

Music wise it's sort of this emo, pop punk, alternative stuff since there is a female singer I compare it to Garbage, Paramore etc etc. I've been told not to take any amps as I'll just be going direct.

So my basses are

Dearmond Starfire (w/Flats, stock)
Fender 62 RI Jazz (w/flat and custom shop vintage pickups)
Valenti 4 string jazz (w/rounds, Aguilar OPB-1, tone controls, active and passive mode, series/parallel, Noiseless single coils)
Valenti P5 (w/rounds, 5string, Nord Dual coils, aguilar opb-1, coil splits)
Rickenbacker 4003 (w/rounds, stock)
Tokai Thunderbird (w/rounds, stock)
Overwater Evolution 5 (5 string, active, high end piece of furniture bass)

So I thought I'd take the following
Rickenbacker 4003 but not sure if I should change the strings and put brand new zingy one on for that signature ric sound

Valenti Jazz 4 because it's my main bass, it does active/passives, series/parallel, tone control in all those modes, pickup blend, hipshot d-tuner its just got all the trimmings.

Dearmond Starfire because it's my thump machine

Overwater 5 string incase there are any really low notes in there or they want a very modern bass sound as I think I've got vintage covered.

Electronics wise I'm taking my trusty Radial Prodi and my Euphonics Audio Iamp800 which I can use as a DI and Monitor amp for myself (as I have no idea what this studio has) and of course I'm taking the pedalboard of doom I showed you for use by anyone in the band. I'm also taking my own headphones.

Does this sound like I'm covering everything? I'm hoping to network a bit and get more work from this so I don't want to turn up and just look like I've brought my gear to show off but I don't want to be under prepared either. Also I've been hired to sound like me

Also should I knock up any business cards or something to leave in the studio? or does it just an exchange of phone numbers at the end of the day if they need some work doing?

Many thanks for listening

 

[jmjbassplayer]

Tayste taste:

Congrats on the session. I'd say a Ric needs zingy ones for this gig. My Ric is so dark sounding that it needs new ones anytime I record with it, only because people seem to usually want it for that brighter Ric tone, as opposed to the Beatle-y Ric tone.

Your selection of basses sounds fine, I might consider bringing your Fender as well.

Taking your own headphones is a good idea. I don't think you're going to need a monitor amp, uless that Euphonics has a great sounding DI that you prefer to use over the Radial.

They probably have other DI's too that will work, especially if the engineer wants a "tubier" sound. Do you have a POD or anything like that? If you did, could be a cool contrast to the DI and the engineer could have a clean DI then something like that. I do that all the time even when they don't need an amp.

Have fun!

Best,
JMJ

 

[TaySte_2000]

Tayste taste:

Congrats on the session. I'd say a Ric needs zingy ones for this gig. My Ric is so dark sounding that it needs new ones anytime I record with it, only because people seem to usually want it for that brighter Ric tone, as opposed to the Beatle-y Ric tone.

Your selection of basses sounds fine, I might consider bringing your Fender as well.

Taking your own headphones is a good idea. I don't think you're going to need a monitor amp, uless that Euphonics has a great sounding DI that you prefer to use over the Radial.

They probably have other DI's too that will work, especially if the engineer wants a "tubier" sound. Do you have a POD or anything like that? If you did, could be a cool contrast to the DI and the engineer could have a clean DI then something like that. I do that all the time even when they don't need an amp.

Have fun!

Best,
JMJ

The EA has a very good di as well, plus having the 2 would mean I would KNOW that I could do pre and post fx di'ing

I agree on the tubier sound I don't have anything really suitable I've heard great things about the Presonus Bluetube and could get one for Saturday and obviously it would have a use in the future as well.

I'll change the strings on the Ric tonight it will be the only bass I'm taking tuned EADG everything else will be DGCF with the 5 being ADGCF.

I am tempted to take the Jazz with flats but I doubt I'd use it and for that flat thump the starfire is just king to me, also I have limited space for transport as well and I think I'm pushing it as is.

Thanks for the advice