PASS NOTES: ASHLEY REEVE

Welcome to Pass Notes, our new advice column, in which we ask a renowned bass player for tips about how to make it as a musician. This month: Cher bassist Ashley Reeve

“I’ve just moved to Las Vegas because it has such an incredible live music scene,” says Ashley Reeve, who currently holds down the low end in the world’s biggest arenas with the perennial Cher. “I can go on the road and then, when I come home, I can hit the ground running because there’s so much great live work here.” A devotee of Aguilar amps, Reeve also generates the low notes via a superbly tricked-out Dingwall bass. “I want people to know that Dingwall is much more than just a rock bass company,” she says. “The beauty of playing Dingwall basses with an artist like Cher is that I can demonstrate their versatility. By toggling the rotary selector to the neck pickup, you can get an incredible vintage tone with a tight bottom end.” Beyond the topic of tone, how else can she advise bassists about their way into the industry?

AFFORDABLE DOESN’T MEAN CHEAP