Reader Spotlight: David Devereux

David DevereuxMeet David Devereux, a bassist from Scotland who claims he may have too much power, but we don’t think that should ever be spoken when it comes to bass players. David is our player in the spotlight for the week of November 13, 2012.

Bio:

I play a six string bass with a loop pedal, meaning I have control over absolutely everything in the songs. This is arguably too much power for a bass player.

I started out playing in high school bands, playing various genres, mostly rock music. When I moved to university I couldn’t really find a band so I was holed up in my small room jamming with my loop pedal until my flatmates more or less forced me to go to the local open mic night, now I play solo gigs more or less all the time.

Location:

Glasgow, Scotland

Day gig:

I’m a full time student studying English Literature at the University of Stirling. It means I have a lot of free time to play bass!

Years experience:

Eight years

Bands & Gigs:

I currently do solo gigs with just me and the loop pedal. It started out as just me setting up a basic loop then playing over the top of it but the songs have evolved into something that isn’t just a jam. I currently have an E.P available to buy with more material expected to be released next year

Gear:

  • Harley Benton 6-string bass with EMG pick-ups
  • Cheap Sunburst Stingray Copy with the scratchplate removed (Jaco homage!)
  • D’addario Pro Steels
  • Boss RC-30 Loop Pedal (previously a RC-2)
  • Artec SE-ADL Analog Delay Pedal
  • Roland Micro Bass RX Bass Amp

Why I play the bass:

In my first year at high school in music class I had a friend who played the guitar and when everybody split up to do their various different instruments I went with him and we were given bass guitars. Finding I could make a decent enough sound with it, I stuck with it! There was also a shortage of bass players so it meant I could get into bands fairly easily.

My bass superpower/claim to fame

Haha, I keep being told I’m a bass wizard but that implies I’m using some kind of sorcery which is kind of cheating really.

Other than my competence and dependence on the loop pedal, I’d say I’m pretty good at playing by ear, as that’s how I learned to play with others. Basically a group of us would cram into a room during music class and just jam for an hour, which I think is the best way to learn really.

My influences

John Deacon, Stuart Hamm, Jaco Pastorius, Janek Gwizdala, Squarepusher, as well as musicians like Bill Evans, Michael Hedges, Erik Mongrain and Simon and Garfunkel

More on the web:

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Leave a Reply to Lorenzo Milani Cancel reply

  1. like it! keep it up! we have to take the power back!

  2. David, I’m loving your music!

  3. six string and a looper, it’s a trap.
    sorry, I do not click on more videos with this description.

    • I do gigs with the four string as well if that makes you feel any better?

    • you’re a great musician, great technic and great theoretical knowledge…i just don’t like the usual sound of a six string bass with a looper.
      even if you play unheard kadenze from out of space, the musical form of the appearance mislead my shallow expectations.

  4. Nice work, David! Cool stuff.

  5. Great to see a fellow Scot getting some props in the bass community! Keep it up :)

  6. Nice to see that John Deacon is one of your influences!

  7. really cool stuff man. reminds me of The Album Leaf, especially the track “she’s not coming back”. love the sleepy stuff. making my bandcamp purchase for sure.