Bottom Feeder Bass Axe Tone Tips

By Mark Grove

Picture Of Band Of Gyspy's Bass Guru Billy Cox

Been a while since Canadian Guitar Player has done a post on bass playing and I'm due.This is a simple tip that the pros of rock and blues use everyday in the studio and live.Bass players seem to think that cranking amps to 12 and obliterating the drums and lead guitar,is a good thing.

Wrong!!

What I mean by all that is Dee Curtis a Canadian Guitar Player consultant,and very aloof from the CGP fold,has always said you don't need to be loud to get great tone.That's part of the reason he's designing and building his own low watt amp.

You tend to lose your best tone by cranking it.Lower watt amps tweaked just right can elicit the best tones you've ever heard out of your guitar and amp.Amps like a 10 or twenty watt amp set at volumes of 5 or 6, and the EQ and other settings set just at medium range can warrant better tones a Marshall 50 or 100 watter.

Pickups and Using Picks Tip:

Even if you're a metal player,don't have strictly Humbuckers in the fold.Two Hums and a solid single coil will give you the tone you want without destroying your intentions.

If you need extra bottom-feeding bass tone,use a solid wah pedal or stomp box.Use a stomp that coincides with your type of music.Here's a good pic tip.Don't always use a pick.

I realize you want to be able to cut through the drums and guitar and be heard,but at what cost to your band sound.You can still be heard at low volumes without a pick.Just use your fingers.That connects you more to   your bass axe and the tone you strive for.

You'll be more creative on the frets and picking as well.Using a pick just loudens your sound,which you are trying to keep in check anyway.Just use these bottom feeding bass tips and you'll strive for the bass tone  that you create and deserve.

Mark G:email me for any questions.mdgrove@rock.com

Bass Guitar Centered Bands Are The Best To Have And Why From Blues Guru Dee Curtis

Most bands grow if they continue to expand playing and writing wise. Keeping this in mind it can signal new growth and maturity. Lessons are mainly a joke, and it's more important to just play, than learn to play scales.


Dee Curtis is a blues artist who definitely isn't pigeon-holed and plays and composes hard rock,R&B and his own brand of textured blues. Dee also gives it with a brand of 60's blues/rock. Dee's music has evolved to the point it goes over what most blues guys can ever hope to do. Yet, he still thinks he's not that great a player.


There seems to be a bass bent to Dee's composing and club work. His blues seem to center or go around the bass. This way it leaves the phrasing and any virtuoso work on Dee's part plenty of room to improvise. Dee has been able to solo yet give bass and drums their fair share. Dee plays great songs and has given his fans the type of music that doesn't concentrate solely on guitar.

Dee's Gear:

Guitar: Fender Richie Sambora Signature Model

Amp: Gallien-Krueger GKML 250 Stereo Amp

Effects: Rocktron Vertical Vibe--Simulated speaker like a Leslie


Dee Curtis is a Hamilton,Ontario Canada based blues artist

You can email him at: deecurtis@rock.com

Dee Curtis talks on how to pick a Bass Player for your band

By Mark Grove



This is a recent conversation with Detroit based bluesman Dee Curtis. I talked about a recent article I read in Guitar World's (Bass Player Mag) about Gov't Mule Bass Player Andy Hess. It said he spends a lot of time looking over charts, studying and practicing material.



He also stated, that sometimes doesn't matter on stage if you're trying to get a certain feel. The charts and playing note for note can sometimes get in the way. Those are my words folks.



Dee Curtis: Some of it does matter. Sitting down and runnin' scales and loosening your fingers up to warm up. It could be different for Bass Players. Once I'm on stage I try to be inspired or reach deep inside to pull out the vocals and the music. I know players who think about the next chord before they play it, and that takes away from the natural feeling of it.



It's more of a spiritual feeling when you let go and go to the next level and let it flow. If you've played a song enough times and know the next riff is a certain note you can just play. From there once you get to that point you should be able to improvise to some degree. This is because you can automatically know where the music is going. You should be able to stretch it out at a -certain point to go up a level.



Some of the Bass Players you've played with over the years, do you find
some are more suited to live, session work or other types of Music?


Why is that?



Dee Curtis : I use different bass players for different things. In the Dee Curtis Trio, I use two bass players. One guy's a singing bass player who's very adept at R&B. Over the last couple of years he's adapted to the styles and dynamics of my music.


My other Bass Player does a lot of church material, and is a cousin of mine. And we've played so much over the years that no matter what I'm doing he can come in and mold to the style I'm playing at that particular moment.



He plays a 6 string bass which I really like because he can cover a lot of territory, and can play a lot of chords and improvisational riffs.



He's a bass player that I prefer. The drummer I use is my Brother Paris. he also plays keyboards. Currently he's doing quite a bit of sequencing and drum programming along with producing.



I also use a guy named Rudy who's a Jazz Fusion drummer which I love which is closer to rock drumming--and that's something closer to what I'm used to. My drummer in Canada, Carlos LaTorre was and is a rock drummer.



He had a lot of jazz elements in his playing, and could play funk as well as fusion. This made him more of an all around percussionist. I look for players of that calibre.



I also look for guys who can change the tempo and feeling of a tune on the fly in subtle ways. One of my next cuts on an upcoming demo will be a Blues-Latin mix.




In ending, Dee is always looking for solid backing in his side men. The Dee Curtis Trio is currently playing in Detroit. So look for Dee up here in Canada next year at a blues club or bar near you.



Mark Grove -- CGP



Dee Curtis -- Recording Artist and Consultant to CGPM
deecurtis@rock.com


This is a back catalog article that bass players and front men should read.