Gary Gould

memberInfo Name: Gary Gould Focus: Funk/R&B Location: Orlando/Central Florida - Eustis, FL USA • 101 Messages Bass In My Life I fell in love with the bass when I heard the bass line from "Tighten-Up" by Archie Bell & the Drells. I started playing electric bass at a late age - 17, in New York City. I don't play upright but I love both instruments equally. Back in those days - everybody in my neighborhood played. I guess it's like the guys who rap against each other today. Our battles were with musical instruments.We would have all day jam sessions playing against each other. We played everything - soul, rock whatever. I gravitated to jazz, played in a few bands, toured Canada, came back to the states and played originals, signed contracts - made recordings that weren't pushed. I played bass for R&B recording artist/songstress Meli'sa Morgan. After getting married and working full time - I played with a doo-wop group (The Del-Roys)for about 8 years. I've always listened to all kinds of music. I've played in jazz groups, small jazz groups, gospel,etc. I've always love the funk and jazz: that's my foundation. I moved to Orlando from New York in 2000. I'm playing with several groups and free lance whenever I can after holding down a full time job. I'm playing with a gospel-jazz group -"First Born"(check us out at jandbstudios.com. I'm also playing with 2 other groups - "Ictus" - primarily R&B/jazz and "New Horizons" - all jazz. It's so good to be in a forum with other bass players. Even during the times that I wasn't actively playing, the BASS was always in my heart, soul and spirit. That's why I could never understand someone who gives up playing completely. You see - once you play an instrument, music is always a part of you. And how could you ever leave part of your spirit behind?! I play my custom CB bass 99% of the time now and previously played my 4 string Fender Jazz (1997). I picked up a Fender Jazz Bass (4 string)(2004)- made in Mexico and it sounds suprisingly good. I picked up a 4 string Fender Jazz Fretless in 2005. I had the Mexican Fender Jazz Bass pickups replaced with Bartolini pickups and they really open up the sound of the bass. I have a Gibson Les Paul Triumph Recording Bass - 1976 (retired in its case -it's very heavy, has a short scale neck with 2 full octaves -24 frets), 1974 post CBS Fender Precision Bass, 1980's Vintage Japanese Bass and a $40 knockoff I picked up years ago that I tried to get my son to use. He hasn't seen the light yet. 2006 - I'm in the process of having a custom bass built - by Cliff Bordwell of CBBasses - expected completion time will be November, 2006. I have the Korg "ToneWorks" PXR4 (pocket studio) and the Korg "Pandora" PX4B (pocket effects, amp simulator) boxes. I use a Hartke 5500amp with 2(two) 12" aluminum cone speakers. Well, It's late October, 06 and I have my custom bass - it's beautiful and plays as well as it looks. A standing ovation to Cliff Bordwell - check out his basses at cbbasses.com. I have 2 octave, 2 J style pickups, Aguilar pre-amp, Badass bridge, Hipshot Ultra light tuners, butternut body with a 2 tone bubinga full top with a custom ramp fitted between bass and treble pickups, wenge and maple neck and pau ferro fretboard. - all this at 7.5 lbs - Natural tone is bright - you can dial in any combination from dark to bright and robust with that 3 knob pre-amp - treble, middle and bass. There is also a volume and pick-up blend knob. I'm loving it!! His prices are real reasonable for a custom made bass. He's a real down to earth guy, humble and a master craftsman. He answers every concern and give me a real education on different types and blends of woods and they sounds that they emit. And he's based in Orlando.My latest playing venue is with the Lake County Swing Band - a 20 piece ensemble that performs swing music from Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Harry James, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole to name a few. It's a different venue for me and I'm really enjoying it. I recently added some more gear - a Genz-Benz shuttle amp - 3lbs - that's right 3 lbs of amp that kicks 375 watts @ 8 ohms - 600 watts @ 4 ohms - real nice presence and very easy to transport. I've also added a custom cabinet - 2 12" with a 5" tweeter from Avatar - a company in Oregon by David Avatar. They build custom cabinets and sell directly to the customer at a substantial savings. The combination of the Genz-Benz and Avatar is SWEET!!

Victor Wooten & Gary - Obviously the photographer liked Victor better than me! Excursions CD Check out my CD - "Excursions" on cdbaby.com - Click on the small album cover. Also, check out myspace.com/garygould for other work I've done with "First Born" and "Ictus".

Musical Influences • Victor Wooten/James Jamerson/Chuck Rainey • Ron Carter • Richard Davis

Favorite Recordings • Ying-Yang- Victor Wooten/ Earth, Wind & Fire/ Commodores • A Day in the Life-W. Montgomery/Chicago I • Hotel California- Eagles/Best of James Brown/Marvin Gaye - "What's Goin On?"/ Maxwell's - 1st album

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