Comments on: Should I Bring a Bass Amp On My Cruise Gig?

By: Cameron

Cameron — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 06:27:11 +0000

This is just a tip on my part: rather than bringing an amp, consider just bringing a pedal preamp. If the amp you’re using has an effects loop, you can go bass > preamp > effects return, which will bypass the combo’s preamp and can improve your sound a LOT if the amp situation is not ideal. The Tech21 Sansamp and VT Bass are extremely popular for this sort of thing.

By: James Craighead

James Craighead — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:07:34 +0000

This is great stuff, thanks guys. I am auditioning at the moment for different agents and lines and spazzed my first audition completely as I was not aware of the material required. Others have been fine as I learnt from the first, I don’t know if anyone else feels the same but being given 6 pages of walking bass line at 210 bpm as an audition piece with no chord chart is kind of crappy. We can all put together cool and interesting walking bass lines but to try to play someone elses and drive the tune along is kinda hard. As far as basses I play a Musicman and just went out and got an OLP copy to take on-board because I had heard things were a bit kooky for your gear. Good luck to all in the same position as me.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 09:37:10 +0000

Thanks for the info. Now I know not to bring my nice AI. I’m kind of in the same situation as Jason. I can read chord charts in various styles, and can read music as long as it’s not syncopated 16th/funk type stuff or anything crazy. I’m a jazz major, so I have a nice memorized repertoire of jazz songs. Although I can’t really play some songs in all keys because, frankly it’s impossible to analyze and think in numbers with some songs (Moment’s Notice or 26-2, anyone?). I had to sightread the theater version of High School Musical (I was subbing) and I had a few errors, but for the most part I got it. If the music on the ship is simple as that, I’ll be fine (but I doubt it). So any tips, song examples, style/genre examples, whatever, would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Ryan

By: Jason Salomone

Jason Salomone — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 06:47:22 +0000

Hi Ghost Writer,

Can you give me some tips on what I can expect as a showband bass player? I’ve passed an audition with Carnival… not sure when I’ll go yet. Right now, I’m just trying to prepare my reading.

I can read chord charts in any style, and I’m a tight player. I can play jazz as long as it’s out of a real book (I don’t have a repetoire memorized to the point where I can play in all different keys). I can read notation, provided that it’s not completly off the wall, syncopated 16th note rhythms, and crazy stuff like that. If that were the case, I’d need time to work it out. I did do pretty well on the audition, although I had 45 minutes to learn those songs. I’m worried that some crazy piece of music will be handed to me on stage (during a show) and I’ll be unprepared for it

Any advice?

Thanks,
Jason
efficacious7613@hotmail.com