I am interviewing pro bass players to tell us their bass guitar settings.
We are featuring Tom Rezetko this week.
I appreciate Tom for answering these questions!!
Tom Rezetko
Tom played with most Blues guys here in Chicago, played for 43 years, 20 years professionally.
Primary Band: Smiley Tillmon and The Smiley Tillmon Band (avg 75 shows a year) over the last 15 years.
Billy Flynn, been playing with Billy semi-regularly for the last 10 years.
Played with these guys over the last 15 years sometimes regularly: Tom Hollland, Johnny Burgin, Rick Kreher, Ron Prince and Gary Sratton.
Primarily played regularly at Chicago and suburban Blues clubs, played most Summers at Blues fests and priviate events. Opened for Buddy Guy with The Smiley Tillmon Band a number of times. Also played regularly with Tony Award nominee, Felicia Fields.
Current Smiley Tillmon Band line-up of: Smiley, Kate Moss and George Baumann have been the best and we all hope to play lots more in 2021!
Q1. What is your primary bass guitar?
A. 2008 Sadowsky M4 / Fender Jazz / Fender Precision
Q2. Do you prefer bass with passive pick-up (s) or active pick-up (s)?
A. active
Q3. Do you primarily play a 4-string bass or 5 -string or more?
A. 4 string
Q4. What type of strings do you use the most?
A. Flatwound
Q5. What are your preferred Bass String Gauges?
A. medium (or regular) gauge 45 - 65 - 80 -105 - (130 Low B) or similar
Q6. How often do you change bass strings? (on your main instrument)
A. about once a year
Q7. Your specific description of your favorite type of strings.
A. Daddario Chrome Flat Wound
Q8. What is your playing style?
A. two fingers
Q9. Do you use a form mute (that attaches to the strings by the bridge)?
A. use the palm to mute when needed
Q10. How do you usually set up your Neck pickup (P bass pick up) volume?
A. 5 out of 10
Q11. How do you usually set up your bridge pickup volume?
A. 5 out of 10
Q12. How is your Tone knob?
A. 6 out of 10
Q13. Do you have more specific bass knob settings that you would like to share?
A. I have a p/up blend that I keep 50% per pick-up
Q14. Do you use a pedal (s)? if so please write in!
A. No
Q15. How do you like your bass neck relief? (The distance between a string and the 7th fret when depressing the 1st fret and the last fret (22 or 24).)
A. 0.009 inch - 0.016 inch (a business card thickness - medium relief)
Q17. What kind of bass amp do you usually use?
A. Aguilar AG 700
Q18. If you get to choose a bass amp for a big festival gig, what types of amp would you request?
A. Amped SVT
Q19. How do you usually set your amp? "GAIN"
A. 3 out of 10
Q20. How do you usually set your amp? "MASTER VOLUME" (a big size club gig)
A. 6 out of 10
Q21. How do you usually set your amp? "TREBLE EQ"
A. 6 out of 10
Q22. How do you usually set your amp? "MED EQ"
A. 5 out of 10
Q23. How do you usually set your amp? "BASS EQ"
A. 5 out of 10
Q25. Who influenced you the most? Please name up to 3 bass players.
A. Paul McCartney, Nathan East, Willie Weeks, John Paul Jones. A new guy I like is Joe Dart.
Q26. What song or album would you recommend for beginning blues bass players to listen to?
A. Tighten Up, The Lemon Song, Sunshine of my Life
Q27. Is there anything you would like to add about you and your bass settings?
A. Try different settings for different songs, solos, and vibe