Reader Spotlight: Vince Pileggi
Meet bassist Vince Pileggi, who got his start early on thanks to his grandfather and a baritone guitar. He was drawn to the lower strings, which set him on the path to bass. Since then, he’s had a great run performing and recording.
Vince is this week’s No Treble reader in the spotlight (you could be next!). Here’s his story…
Bio:
1977: I was given a 6-string baritone guitar by my grandfather at the age of 10. It had three guitar-gauged strings in the first three positions and three bass-gauged strings in the last three positions. So naturally, I played the top three strings only to my KISS albums. That was my first exposure to linking bass notes and tones to my ears and from there I evolved into a natural born bassist.
Fast forward to 2008: After moving back to my hometown of Canton, OH from Phoenix, AZ, I was chosen as the bassist for now-defunct metal stalwarts H.A.T.E. out of Cleveland, OH (Auburn Records). Opening for Judas Priest, Whitesnake, Mushroomhead, Chimaira, etc., I recorded one bonus track on H.A.T.E.’s 2011 release Inject the Infection, laying down bass lines to cover Riot’s “Swords n Tequilla” and “Metallion” which was penned in honor of Rob Halford. Blabbermouth.net ran a feature story on the band and the Metallion tune as we were direct support opening for Judas Priest on their 2009 30th Anniversary tour of British Steel. I’m currently back in Mesa, AZ and in a professional Whitesnake Tribute band (Snakebitten) with Michael Beck (Red Dragon Cartel) on lead vocals.
Location:
Mesa , AZ United States of America
Years experience:
42 years
Why I play the bass:
It was a natural progression from the baritone guitar my grandfather gave me at the age of 10. Since I only played the bass gauge strings on the guitar to my KISS albums.
Gear:
- 75 Jazz with EMG “selects” (passive)
- 84 Peavey Fury 1st Generation
- 87 Peavey Foundation
- 2008 Schecter 004 modded with Seymour Duncan STC-2 preamp
- 2013 Sterling Ray 34 (Stingray) by Musicman (active)
- Ampeg SVT 4 Pro
- Sansamp Tech 21 RBI rackmount
- Gallien Krueger 410 Neo 4 oHm 800 watt cab
- Vintage Peavey enclosure with a Eminence CA154 15″ driver
My Influences:
Bob Daisley, Rudy Sarzo, Gene Simmons, Geezer Butler, session bassist Mick Feat (who recorded all the bass on Fastways debut album since Pete Way was contractually obligated to UFO and was forbidden to record with Fast Eddie Clarke), Les Claypool, Flea, Cliff Burton, Tony Levin, John Paul Jones, Juan Crocier, Jimmy Bain Glenn Hughes, Roger Glover, Tim Commerford, Uriah Duffy, and Neil Murray.
My bass superpower/claim to fame:
Being featured in No Treble’s Reader Spotlight!
More on the web:
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