Rhonda Smith touring with Jeff Beck

Rhonda Smith has long been known as the female bassist who toured with Prince.  This year, however, she has been touring with Jeff Beck, who seems to fancy female bassists.  Rhonda Smith is also a vocalist, as well as a bassist, and has an album out that showcases her many talents.













Check it out at http://www.rhondasmith.com/

The Bass Book

Check out this complete illustrated history of bass guitars by Tony Bacon and Barry Moorhouse:

Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0

A few months ago I was finally able to buy the Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0.  I can honestly say that I was not disappointed with this incredible bass amp.  I bought the 6.0 head with the 12 inch speaker cab, which puts out 375 watts.  The whole package weighs about 31 lbs., which thrills me to death, considering my old LA-15 100 watt combo weighed 50 lbs., and was a beast to carry around (considering it was more than 1/3 of my body weight). 

The 6.0 shuttle seems a bit pricey, but is well worth the cost.  I bought mine from American Musical Supply on an interest free payment plan, so it wasn't such a hit to my budget. 

Here is a video review of the 6.0: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJYX2Fkpuzg

FEATURES
• Ultra Light 3.75 lb Design


• Power: 375W/8 ohms; 600W/4 ohms

• Analog 12AX7 Tube Preamp

• Digital SMPS (Switch Mode Power Supply)

• High Current Class D Amplifier

• Active EQ w/Parametric Mids

• 3-Band Signal Shape Circuit (Footswitchable)

• Signal Mute Switch (Footswitchable)

• Tuner Out

• E xtended Range Input Gain for Active/Passive Sensitivity

• Limiter Circuit

• LED Status Indicators

• Speakon® Speaker Outputs

• Internal Fan Cooling

• Full XLR Direct Out Interface

• Aux. Input

• Headphone Jack

• Effects Loop

• Optional Footswitch available

This Danish Female Bassist Slaps the Bass in Style

Danish Female Bassisthttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLpOg-oMMCo

Bass Player Girl How To Play the Slap line In My Other Video

You can't keep a good bassist down

One of my classmates, who claims to be a musician, asked me about a month ago what instrument I play.  I proudly told him that I am a bassist.  He replied with the comment, "Oh, yeah. Bass is easy to play."  I played the moment off as though his comment didn't bother me, but I was raging underneath the surface.

I thought to myself, "just because a person can pick up the bass and sound a few notes on it doesn't make them a bassist."  That's what I wanted to tell this guy.

Contrary to many beliefs, bass guitar isn't as easy to play as it may seem.  Sure, you can play as simple or as complicated as you like, but it is still an instrument that requires time and effort to become a decent player.

I've been playing a little over six years now and I am still awed at the complexity and complications that I run into as a bassist.  The bassist, along with the drummer, is the backbone of the band, and is therefore important.  I don't appreciate when other musicians think that just anyone can pick up a bass and become a bassist. Not everyone is cut out to play bass, and not everyone is cut out to play guitar, drums, or keyboard.  We are all equally valuable and we should never downplay another musician because we think their instrument is easier than ours.

I can easily say that the last few months have been the hardest for me, as far as being a bassist is concerned.    I have suffered one disappointment after another with the musicians I play with every week.  I have even contemplated laying my bass down for a while to cut some of the stress out of my life, but I've found that playing bass has been a good stress for me, and if I give it up, I will be giving up part of myself.

Playing bass (especially being a girl playing bass) is not easy, but I love it and I know I would be miserable if I didn't play bass.  So, to all of the other female bassists out there who might be having a hard time, take heart and don't give up.  We're a minority in the music realm, so we must persevere and live to play another day, even when others downplay the beauty and complexity of our instrument.

Salute to a Young Female Bassist

Australian born Tal Wilkenfeld is a young and upcoming female bassist who can hold her own in the music world.  Wilkenfeld, in her mid-twenties, has been touring with Jeff Beck for a while now, while playing with her own Tal Wilkenfeld Quartet.


Her debut album, Transformation, was released in 2007, and is a small taste of what this lady bassist can do with her Sadowsky bass and smooth, Jaco-like tones.

Check her out at: the http://www.talwilkenfeld.com/  or on youtube.


YouTube links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIFFRHBCPzA


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDgkbLw4qkw