Dave Wilder

Session Bass Player

Dave Wilder on SoundBetter

Bass on albums by Macy Gray, Ziggy Marley, Empire of the Sun, Norah Jones, Sam Sparo...Send me your track and I'll add the bottom! Electric and Upright

I've played on everything from Grammy winning records to Blockbuster movie scores for decades. I love what I do, and want to help make your music great! I have over 20 basses, tons of vintage pedals and amps and a pro recording set up in my home.

Send me a note through the contact button above.

Credits

AllMusic verified credits for Dave Wilder
  • Eamon
  • De La Soul
  • De La Soul
  • Ziggy Marley
  • The Lions
  • The Lions
  • Ziggy Marley
  • Ziggy Marley
  • The Lions
  • Dub Club
  • The Lions
  • The Lions
  • Sam Sparro
  • Brett Dennen
  • Secondhand Serenade
  • Norah Jones
  • Pictures and Sound
  • Sam Sparro
  • The Dan Band
  • MoZella
  • Rod Stewart
  • Macy Gray
  • Macy Gray
  • Bob Marley & the Wailers
  • Bob Marley
  • DJ Nu-Mark
  • Schmidt
  • Nikki Yanofsky

Interview with Dave Wilder

  1. Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?

  2. A: I played bass on Ziggy Marley's new kids album "More Family Time Volume 2" The songs were super uplifting and fun, but also really offered a great message for kids. Guests included Ben Harper, Cheryl Crow, Angelique Kidju, Alanis Morissette and many others.

  3. Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

  4. A: What does this song mean to you and what is the feeling you are trying to convey?

  5. Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

  6. A: I would love to write a song with Adele. She is an amazing artist and one of the best songwriters today singing and writing from the heart.

  7. Q: What are you working on at the moment?

  8. A: I'm writing music for a TV show

  9. Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?

  10. A: I haven't looked around enough to know yet.

  11. Q: Analog or digital and why?

  12. A: Both. They are both part of the recording landscape now and I think the combination of the two is the best.

  13. Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

  14. A: That I will do whatever I can to make your song great and make you love it!

  15. Q: What do you like most about your job?

  16. A: I love working with all different types of talented and creative people from all over the world.

  17. Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

  18. A: Can you play something like this? (musical example) Almost always, "yes!"

  19. Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

  20. A: That I can only play in certain genres. I'm pretty versatile.

  21. Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

  22. A: Try to express what you are looking for. Don't be afriad to offer examples of other basslines or tracks that you love.

  23. Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

  24. A: 60s Fender Precision Bass. Hofner Bass. Acoustic Guitar, A Piano, Ampeb B15

  25. Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

  26. A: I've been doing this for 35 years. I moved to LA from Philly in 1991. I played in bands, ended up writing "I Try" with Macy Gray, toured with her for years and then became a session musician , songwriter, and film composer here in LA

  27. Q: How would you describe your style?

  28. A: In the pocket

  29. Q: Can you share one music production tip?

  30. A: I like to work at home, because I can really get into a song, play it over and over until I'm really inside it. I don't get this luxury in a recording studio.

  31. Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

  32. A: Soul Music, Dance Music, Pop, R & B, Reggae, Hip Hop

  33. Q: What's your strongest skill?

  34. A: Making a song feel great and satisfying the client.

  35. Q: What do you bring to a song?

  36. A: Feeling, energy, groove, love of music and decades of experience.

  37. Q: What's your typical work process?

  38. A: A client will send me tracks and describe what they are looking for bass wise. I will play takes and send them back.

  39. Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

  40. A: I have a wide range of basses from vintage to modern. Same with effect pedals, large range from vintage to current. I record through super high fidelity vintage Focusrite mic pres, vintage DBX compressor, Avalon DI Box and vintage Ampeg B15

  41. Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

  42. A: James Jamerson, Family Man Barrett, Pino Palledino. Dilla, Premier, Joh Coltrane, Stax Volt, Duck Dunn, Reggae Music

  43. Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

  44. A: I play bass on tracks sent to me by producers, artists, songwriters and composers.

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Terms Of Service

I try to turn tracks around in 2-3 days.

Gear Highlights
  • 60's and 70's vintage basses: Feder
  • Gibson
  • Hofner
  • Univox
  • Epiphone
  • Five Strings: Lakland
  • Fender Focusrite Mic pres DBX compressor
  • Vintage Ampeg amps
  • Effects: Mutron/Boss/Roland Space Echo
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