David Duffy

Pro Session Bassist

David Duffy on SoundBetter

20 years as a pro Electric and Upright bassist,playing and recording with many of Ireland’s top musicians. Based in Barcelona, my main focus is recording and producing for original artists and singers.

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Interview with David Duffy

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

  2. A: Another album for singer Ksenia Parkhatskaya

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

  4. A: Andrés Giraldo

  5. Q: Analog or digital and why?

  6. A: Both, if it sounds good, it sounds good - but still love analog whenever possible

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

  8. A: Increíble bass tone, feel and energy

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

  10. A: I just love playing bass, and what that does to the music, and people when they hear it

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

  12. A: It’s easy and it’s just a bass. The difference between a great bass line and an ok one is far more significant than people think.

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

  14. A: Let’s have fun and enjoy this wonderful process of making music

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

  16. A: Vintage P Bass, laptop, audeze headphones, UAD Apollo, Moog

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

  18. A: Studied music in 2002, and went onto do to a masters, during that time began working professionally. This led me to working throughout Ireland and the UK as a session player

  19. Q: How would you describe your style?

  20. A: Open hearted, intuitive and responsive - everything I play I want to feel in my body. That’s where it all starts

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

  22. A: John Mayer, I have always been inspired by his songwriting, work ethic, drive, and passion for music

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

  24. A: Work fast, your initial intuition is nearly always best, the give lots of space to those ideas, and when you come back you will know what’s working From a technical perspective, understanding your low end, how kick, bass line and any other low parts are interacting is where a great mix happens

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

  26. A: Americana, singer songwriter, Pop, Soul, Rnb

  27. Q: What's your strongest skill?

  28. A: My creativity

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

  30. A: 20 years experience as a professional bass player and producer. Having worked as a producer for 100s of tracks this greatly informs my bass playing, as I think holistically about what the song needs from the bass.

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

  32. A: I like to have a call or email, to discuss influences and references, to really understand what the artist needs, and on that day usual play a rough bass line so me and the artist/producer agree on the direction . I then track separately and send 3 takes 1. My choice and edit of a mixture of my favourite takes 2. The simplest bass line 3. A more fun, free open interpretation The client gives feedback on this and I do one follow up session if required

  33. Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

  34. A: 63’ P Bass called Dennis, into an API preamp, to my Apollo 6 thunderbolt, MacBook Pro M1, to whatever DAW you prefer

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

  36. A: Singer songwriters, producers, other bassists

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

  38. A: Recording incredible bass parts, always with my taste as a producer influencing instrument choice, tone and space

GenresSounds Like
  • John Mayer
  • Mary Spender
  • Allen Stone
Gear Highlights
  • 63’ P Bass
  • Apollo 6
  • API Preamp
More Photos
More SamplesBass player