Articles for my Fellow Bassists

Ashdown Dual-Band Compressor All About Bass Compression - Using a compressor has got to be one of the most misunderstood concepts among bass players (and probably lots of other musicians). If you think a compressor is supposed to "even out your playing" or just "increase sustain" then you need to read this article. I explain in easy to understand terms what a compressor does and how to set it up properly. I've also included audio samples and an FAQ. Read more about bass compression.

Hands on Bass Finding Your Special Tones - It seems like bassists are always chasing "The Tone" by buying new basses, amps, cabinets and effects. I'm not going to tell you not to do that - I'm just as susceptible to GAS (Gear Acquisistion Syndrome) as the next guy. But what I will say is that I am continualy amazed at bassists who don't take advantage of all the different sounds one bass can produce without any extra gear. This article includes lots of audio samples so you can hear what I mean. Read more about finding the tone.

D'Addario Flatwound Bass Strings Flatwound Strings - If you're like a lot of bass players, you've probably never strung your instrument with flatwound strings. You might think they are old school or only meant for fretless basses, but I have to tell ya, flatwound strings open up a whole new dimension to your playing, even on a fretted bass playing modern rock. If you want to hear what they sound like but don't want to spend the time and money yourself, then this article is definitely for you. Read more about flatwound strings.

How to Buy a Bass - There are so many myths and misunderstandings when it comes to buying basses that this article was just begging to be written. Read this article before you spend another dime on a new bass. Even if you already own five basses, there might be a tip in this article that will save you some aggravation on the next addition to your stable. Read more about buying basses.

Ever Get Nervous Performing? At some point in time we all get stage fright. Maybe it's playing in front of a huge crowd. Maybe it's playing in front of just a few friends. Maybe it's at an audition. I've got some solid advice here for overcoming stage fright that actually works in many other aspects of your life. Read more about overcoming nerves.