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Stay In School mmmmkay

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Meet Willis –
Ask Willis a Question | Read More Q&A

Hey Willis, I am 16, and I have been playing a 4-string fretless Ibanez for about a year now. You are one of my four main influences, along with Jimmy Haslip, Rocco Prestia, and Jaco Pastorius. I am not very good at anything scholastic-y or business-y, but I CAN play the fretless bass guitar. My dad is a musician. Should I follow his footsteps and go professional? Do you have any other helpful advice for me? Anything would be highly useful and greatly appreciated. Thank you, Miles

Hey Miles,
It sounds like you have some good things going for you – first of all a cool first name, plus some great influences 😉 I’m sure you can list your dad as an influence unless your at that rebellious stage like every teenager goes through – rejecting all things related to parents – If it hasn’t happened yet, it’s still likely.

IMHO I think you’re too young to make the kind of pronouncements and judgments about yourself that you make. Of course I’m reading between the lines here, but you say that you’re not good at scholastic or business things. Unless there a lot of factors that I’m missing (bad school system, bad teachers, subtle undiagnosed learning disabilities) it seems like you’re asking for some approval to blow off the educational opportunities that are currently in front of you. Since I don’t know your situation first hand, it’s possible that yours is a legitimate request so I’m not just going to repeat to you the tired old line of “stay in school”. But, one of the most important attitudes that I’ve kept about life is this – if I ever stop learning – I’m dead, finished. I dropped out of university when I realized that two and a half more years of classical upright bowing lessons in order to get a “teaching” degree was not how I wanted to spend my immediate future. I was 23, and didn’t have any illusion of “going pro” – the next thing I did was join a top-40 band in order to make enough money to buy a ’65 Jazz bass in order to make it fretless . . . etc. I’m not going to bore you with the rest of my bio, but one thing for sure is that I kept making decisions based on the opportunities to improve, learn and get better – it just wasn’t in a structured school environment anymore.
Unless you’re some kind of super-gifted-prodigy-genius, a year of playing fretless doesn’t really qualify you to be able to make a decision about going pro. Playing bass well, and especially fretless, just isn’t enough anymore. There’s soooo much to learn (and I’m speaking for myself, too) about new ways to make music, write music, package music, sell yourself, sell a band, market yourself, start your own record label, incorporate other media elements, etc. And these are all changing super fast. You need to be a voracious learner of everything, and it needs continuous – it’s never finished.
The analog instrument that you and I play is over 50 years old and hasn’t changed that much. It’s been refined a lot and it’s still capable of expressing a lot but really, it’s a dinosaur and its days are numbered. It’s nothing compared to the instruments that are just around the corner (think iPhone with a touch screen the size and length of a fretless fingerboard).
I know It sounds corny – but if you make it your decision to become a “professional learner”, then go pro as soon as you want.
best of luck,
GW

Bass Videos

Interview With K3 Sisters Band

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Interview With K3 Sisters Band

K3 Sisters Band Interview…

It is very rare when I talk to a band where all the members play bass. The K3 Sisters Band is a perfect example of a group where Kaylen, Kelsey and Kristen Kassab are all multi-instrumentalists and take turns playing bass.

Hailing from Texas, these three sisters have been playing music since they were very young and have amassed an amazing amount of original music,  music videos, streaming concerts, podcasts, and content that has taken numerous social media platforms by storm. On TikTok alone, they have over 2.5 million followers and more than a billion views.

Join me as we hear the story of their musical journey, how they get their sound, and the fundamental principles behind these prolific musicians.

Here is the K3 Sisters Band!

Photo, Bruce Ray Productions

Follow Online:

k3sistersband.com/
TikTok
YouTube
Instagram
Facebook 

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Bass Player Health

What is a Pinched Nerve? with Dr. Randy Kertz

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Dr Randal Kertz - Bass Player Health - Oct 2022

What is a Pinched Nerve?

In this month’s video, we will cover how to tell if you have a pinched nerve and when to seek professional help.

Dr. Randall Kertz is the author of The Bassist’s Complete Guide to Injury Management, Prevention and Better Health. Click here to get your copy today!

The Bassist’s Complete Guide to Injury Management, Prevention & Better Health

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This Week’s Top 10 Basses on Instagram

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TOP 10 Basses of the week

Check out our top 10 favorite basses on Instagram this week…

Click to follow Bass Musician on Instagram @bassmusicianmag

FEATURED @colibriguitars @adamovicbasses @brooksbassguitars @lecomptebass @mgbassguitars @mauriziouberbasses @jcrluthier @biarnel @officialibanezguitars @chris_seldon_guitars

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Gear News

New Gear:  Ashdown ORIGINAL-EVO-C112T-300

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New Gear:  Ashdown ORIGINAL-EVO-C112T-300

Introducing the Original-EVO-C112T, a ground-breaking innovation in the realm of bass amplifiers. This exceptional amplifier redefines the standards of power, portability, and precision, offering musicians an unparalleled experience in amplification technology.
 
Weighing in at a mere 13.5kg, the Original-EVO-C112T packs an astonishing 300 watts of unadulterated Ashdown bass tone into a compact and lightweight package. Say goodbye to the days of lugging around heavy and cumbersome gear – this amplifier is designed for the modern musician on the move.

Introducing the Original-EVO-C112T, a ground-breaking innovation in the realm of bass amplifiers. This exceptional amplifier redefines the standards of power, portability, and precision, offering musicians an unparalleled experience in amplification technology.
 
Weighing in at a mere 13.5kg, the Original-EVO-C112T packs an astonishing 300 watts of unadulterated Ashdown bass tone into a compact and lightweight package. Say goodbye to the days of lugging around heavy and cumbersome gear – this amplifier is designed for the modern musician on the move.

Designed to accommodate global touring, the Original-EVO-C112T features auto-protect voltage support and an adaptive temperature-controlled fan for optimal performance in any environment.
 
In summary, the Original-EVO-C112T is a game-changing amplifier that combines power, portability, and precision. It’s a testament to innovation and quality in the world of bass amplification, deserving attention from musicians looking to take their music to the next level.

Product Specification-

Power Output: 300 Watts
Power Requirement: 115-230 Volts
Speaker Configuration: 1 x 12” + Horn
High Instrument Input: Impedance 3.9m Ohms, Input range 150mV – 20mV p-p
Low Instrument Input: Impedance -1M Ohms, Input range 150mV to 10V p-p
Line Input: Impedance 10k Ohms, Input range 300mV – 40V p-p
DI Output: 600 Ohm balance / Level -20dBu nominal
Minimum Impedance: 4 Ohm
Headphone Output: Yes and safe for silent practice
EQ: Bass +/-15dB @ 100Hz, Lo Mid +/-15dB @ 220Hz, Middle +/-15dB @ 660Hz, Hi Mid +/-15 dB @1.5kHz, Treble +/-15dB @ 7kHz
Effects Send: Impedance 22k Ohms / Level 0dBu nominal
Effects Return: Impedance 22k Ohms / Level 0dBu nominal
Dimensions (H x W x D in mm): 470 x 606 x 381
Weight: 13.5kg

For more info please visit www.ashdownmusic.com

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Gear News

Tech 21’s SansAmp Bass Driver DI Celebrates 30th Anniversary

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30th Anniversary Limited Edition SansAmp Bass Driver DI

Tech 21’s SansAmp Bass Driver DI Celebrates 30th Anniversary…

The SansAmp Bass Driver DI has been an arsenal staple for players and studios almost since the day it was introduced in 1994. To commemorate its 30th anniversary, Tech 21 is issuing a limited edition with an anodized precision-machined aluminum billet housing and all metal knobs.

This all-analog multi-function, multi-application pedal dials up big vintage tube tones, bright modern slap sounds, gnarly distortions, and all in between. There are three different outputs to drive power amps, recording desks, PA mixers, or simply enhance your current rig. Controls include Presence for definition and upper harmonic content; Blend to combine the ratio of direct signal and SansAmp circuitry; and active 3-band EQ with 12dB of cut or boost.

The 100% analog SansAmp Tube Amplifier Emulation technology encompasses the entire signal chain, from pre-amp to power amp to speaker simulation. An integral part of the circuitry, the individually-tailored SansAmp speaker simulation will complement any type of bass speaker cabinet system.

It is rare an electronic music-related product can withstand such a test of time. The SansAmp Bass Driver has been used for every kind of music style from death metal to commercial jingles, in countless studios, and on tours around the globe. In fact, many mammoth stage rigs you see are actually driven by a SansAmp nestled behind the backline. It has defied the odds and to this day, SansAmp remains the standard of the industry.

Anticipated Availability:  May/June 2024

For more information, visit online at tech21nyc.com/products/sansamp/bass-driver-30/

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