Dave Roe

Upright and electric bass voc

Dave Roe on SoundBetter

On Grammy Album of the Year Nominee Sturgill Simpson Number ones with Carrie Underwood, Ray Lamontagne, & The Arcs (Dan Auerbach). Chrissie Hynde/Pretenders, Brandy Clark, & Dan Auerbach (solo). Past references include Johnny Cash (American Recordings), Dwight Yoakam, Malcolm Holcomb, Dave Olney, Gretchen Peters, Mike Farris, & Tom Russell.

All styles, electric and upright. Slap rockabilly, smooth old school upright gut string sound or more contemporary jazzy sound. Lots of different basses. Will deliver alternate takes for you to choose from.

I'd love to hear about your project. Click the 'Contact' button above to get in touch.

Interview with Dave Roe

  1. Q: Analog or digital and why?

  2. A: I like both - I'm no longer a snob about digital. It has come a long way in the last few years

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

  4. A: Timm Biery - great drummer!!

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

  6. A: Working on the new Dan Auerbach (Black Keys) solo record. Amazing!

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

  8. A: My old P bass, my old Jazz bass, my old Hofner Club bass, my best upright, and my old Fred Cameron Mic preamps (early API)

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

  10. A: The Johnny Cash American Recording series with Rick Rubin. I played bass on a lot of that

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

  12. A: To get at what they really want to hear

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

  14. A: Everything, especially the independence

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

  16. A: They usually want to hear about my time with Johnny Cash

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

  18. A: It's the bass! It's easy!

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

  20. A: I try to zero in on what they want, and how they want it to sound

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

  22. A: Make sure you can be clear about what you want

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

  24. A: 45 years. Started in my home town of Honolulu playing funk and jazz. My love for classic country led me to Nashville

  25. Q: How would you describe your style?

  26. A: Fluid, good tone

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

  28. A: I just did the new Chrissie Hynde record-would love to tour with and eventually marry her!!!

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

  30. A: Check your ego and your bullshit at the door

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

  32. A: Americana, old school country, rock and roll, and classic R & B

  33. Q: What's your strongest skill?

  34. A: I try to establish a relationship first. It really helps me to present why the client is seeking

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

  36. A: I try to serve the song first. If there is room to do so, I add as much of myself as I can without being obtrusive

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

  38. A: Some kind of pre production-try to establish needs and desires of my clients

  39. Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

  40. A: ProTools 12.5 Wide variety of mic preamps and microphones. My services include top notch engineer

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

  42. A: Creative, outside the box

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

  44. A: Bass and vocal sessions-some touring

Gear Highlights
  • Many different Electric basses & uprights; in house studio with ProTools 12.5; Great mIcs and pres
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SoundBetter Deal

Can work by the day, song or total project. Single song rate - $100