Very soon there will be a new video interview posted right here at this address. While editing that video, I began wondering what types of equipment would be interesting only for singing bassists? What types of gear sets apart a singing bassist from a singer, or from a bassist? I asked my subscribers and got some very useful information which I share here.

JV wrote:

…you can’t sing through a bass amp. You could but it would sound very bad. So for not much more then a decent bass amp I could get a set of good powered speakers, 2×8″ DXR and 1×12″ DXS subwoofer. Very loud and never sounds bad no matter how loud I turn it up. I play bass through a Digitech BP355 multi-effect pedal and output that to a small mixer and output that to the sub-woofer and through to the left and right power speakers. I can sing through a multi-effects pedal too and use the same mixer and speakers. They are able to handle both bass and voice no problem.

That set-up was the first ever specific singing bassist rig that I ever heard of. It is great to combine the PA and the bass amp into one single group of equipment, letting you practice at home on the same equipment that would work at a concert. Great ideas JV!

Another subscriber, Anton Harridial, has the following preferences:

1. …I need a versatile tone. I bought a Boss GT-10B effects processor, and I used to change TONES between songs regularly in the set, but I have narrowed down to a single tone with a bit of distortion, flange, delay, and chorus, which I find, works for everything.
2. …..as for the SINGING, years ago I got a SETH RIGGS singing course. Although I never went through the whole course, I use a couple EXERCISES which I find work sometimes miraculously for me
3. …..SEEING THE FRET BOARD is critical. I try to use ONLY MAPLE fret boarded basses, as I find it is easier to see my fingers at a glance when I need to. I could also do it with ROSEWOOD, or EBONY ‘boards, but I am always one for taking the easiest road.
4. The gigs I play are usually small club-type things, and so I use a Roland DBass 2 X 10 combo ( amp/speaker ). In cases where there is a lot of resonance at the venue, I try to use a hard foam board made by Auralex. The process is simple, just put the combo on it, and it negates a good bit of bad resonance from the bass sound.
5. ….I currently use Planet Waves USA Made cables, and I use a SADOWSKY bass (I mainly use the 5, since I like the low B option). The Boss GT-10B rounds off my gear list ( The ROLAND has a Line Out port that takes the EFFECTED sound to the mixer, and also a Direct Out which is the pure AMP SOUND – I ask the engineer to take the two lines, and combine them to taste ).

Thank you Anton, for all the great tips. Particularly the one about being able to quickly see the fretboard. Classic!