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    • Home
    • BIO
    • Events
    • Eric Sardinas
    • Mike Eldred Trio
    • All Gretsch w/ Ruzz Evans
    • Ruzz Evans
    • Aileen Quinn
    • The Broughams
    • Santos Y Sinners
  • Home
  • BIO
  • Events
  • Eric Sardinas
  • Mike Eldred Trio
  • All Gretsch w/ Ruzz Evans
  • Ruzz Evans
  • Aileen Quinn
  • The Broughams
  • Santos Y Sinners

    About Chris

         I have been playing music professionally for over 25 years.  Whether it be electric/upright bass, vocals, or guitar, contributing to the roots music scene is my goal as a performer, song writer and session player. I am blessed to be constantly working with several acts and touring worldwide.


         Growing up in a family full of artists and musicians, it was inevitable that I would be pushed into some type of artistic direction. I was intrigued by classic movies along with bands from the 30's through the 70's. We always had antique radios and Victrola records playing in the house, so I was heavily influenced by many different genres early on. Music was a major part of my everyday life.  I was given piano lessons for a short time and took vocal lessons at school as a young teen to sing in the church choir, but I wanted more.  I started out singing as a frontman in a couple of bands, performing local shows and doing short tours.  But that still wasn't enough, I taught myself how to play guitar and after a short time, I was working with a band that performed all over Southern California.


         Heavily influenced by the blues and rockabilly genres, I started playing the upright bass and ended up doing a lot of sub work with multiple bands, trying to find my place in the world as a working musician.   I started studying some of my favorite bass players; Willie Dixon, Milt Hinton, Bill Black, and Ray Brown.  But I found myself limited with only playing the upright bass.  So, it was time to get into playing electric bass; listening to Carol Kaye, Donald "Duck" Dunn, James Jamerson, and John Paul Jones.  I started finding my way around the fretboard and with a completely different feel and approach, I found that the possibilities were limitless.  I was now able to push myself into even more musical situations; learning more about structure, and mixing styles of slap and fingering attack for both electric and upright bass.



    Current, recent bands and artists I have performed with:


    Eric Sardinas and Big Motor
    Mike Eldred Trio

    Roddy Radiation & The Skabilly Rebels, Roddy Byers from The Specials

    The Rocketz

    Michael Ubaldini & the Lonesome Playboys

    The Boilermakers
    Ruzz Evans  

    Little A and the Allnighters    

    Casey Hensley

    James Harman                        
    Brophy Dale

    Jimmy Vaughan
    Junior Watson

    Scot Little Bihlman
    Tommy Harkenrider
    The Broughams Blues Band 

    Catfish and the Hollywood Hound Dogs
    Aileen Quinn and the Leapin Lizards
    Big George and the Blue Tones

    Brian Coakley

    Patrick Dean
    Santos Y Sinners
    Cadillac Tramps
    2000 lbs of Blues

    American Monster
    The Mighty Mojo Prophets



    Direct support for:

    ZZ Top
    Robert Cray
    The Blasters
    John Nemeth
    Rival Sons
    Willie K
    I have always prided myself in being prepared to bring it to the stage and studio, rehearsing constantly and playing only the best equipment. 
    My current instruments and equipment are:
    1932 Alcoa aluminum upright bass: Shadow Rockabilly Pro pickup and preamp,  Innovation Silver Slap strings.
    1968 Kay C1 upright bass: Shadow Rockabilly Pro pickup and preamp, Innovation silver slap strings.
    1976 Engelhardt E1 upright bass: Shadow Rockabilly Pro pickup and preamp, Innovation silver slap strings.
    2017 Blastcult 145, upright bass, custom built: Blastcult Channel Blaster 2 pickup and preamp, Innovation silver slap strings.
    2000 Fender Deluxe Jazz bass: 
    2018 Fender Modified Dirnt P bass: 
    2014 Gretsch White Falcon 6136LSB bass: 
    2020 Gretsch G5440LSB bass: 
    2012 Gretsch B5442B short scale bass: 
    2013 Gretsch G6128B Thunder jet short scale bass. TV  Jones pick ups
    Alameda Guitars Rockaway Rocket prototype 
    Alameda Off Kiltertron pickups
    Quilter Bass Block 800 amp: Quilter Bassliner 2x10W Bassliner 1x12C. 2. Quilter BassDock 12s
    Quilter V803
    Ampeg SVT 810
    Mogami Cables
    MXR Cables
    Shadow Electronics Pickups and Preamps
    Alameda Guitars Off Kiltertron Pick Ups
    SKB cases
    Dunlop Strings
    TV Jones Pick Ups

    MXR Cables 


    MXR Bass Compression


    Go Go Tuners


    Dunlop Bass Cry Baby


    Dunlop Strings


    Live wire Cables


    Line 6 wireless


    Shure wireless systems

    Shure Microphones


    Shure in ear monitors
    Ultimate Ears in ear monitors
    Clayton custom picks

    Copyright © Chris Smith On Bass - All Rights Reserved.


    Contact. Smitty50home@gmail.com & Social media

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