[Bass Player of the Week] Blake Branch

The feature bass player for this week is Blake Branch from Nashville, TN USA!

We interviewed Blake, asked him about his gear and this is what he had to say. (Also be sure to check out the video at the bottom of this article to hear Blake’s playing!)

As a Fodera bass owner, how would you describe your overall experience with your Fodera Imperial bass? What is the good and bad (if any) about it?

My Fodera plays and sounds like no other bass. It has the perfect balance of clarity and warmth and works for any style of music. The only bad thing about it is the weight; even though it’s only 10lbs, it can be a strain on my shoulders to play on a long gig. I also wish the string spacing was more narrow.

What gauge strings are being used and what are they tuned to?

I use Fodera nickel strings tuned E-C in gauges 100-80-60-40-28.

Describe the reverb heard on the bass in your “Inner Universe” video. What makes that reverb sound good for bass over other types? Also, are other effects used besides just reverb?

I used Valhalla’s Shimmer plugin for the reverb, as well as Logic’s Delay Designer and a touch of compression. I have yet to find a reverb pedal that sounds as good as the Shimmer. It works well for bass because you can pitch shift the reverb tail up an octave, improving clarity and adding a pad-like sound.

What were the bass settings (as in knob and switch positions) used for your recording heard in the video, and were both pickups used or just one?

I panned both pickups evenly and I had them in humbucking mode with the passive tone knob all the way up. I left the preamp flat.

What advice would you give to other bass players trying to achieve the sound of your bass? (Would you recommend a specific playing style, specific bass gear or both?)

You have to have both good technique and good gear. If you are interested in solo bass, it helps to have low action and light gauge strings and an instrument with good sustain. It’s important to pay attention to your time and feel; having good time is not just important for playing supportive lines, but for whatever function you perform on any instrument.

Has your Fodera been modified at all or is it factory stock?

The only mod I made to my Fodera is adding a ramp in between the pickups. The ramp, which I bought from someone on Talkbass.com, originally came from a Fodera Richard Bona signature bass.

Video

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