Hi, I’m Carlos from Naples, FL. I am a life-long musician, including gigging on bass for 35 years (except for a 7-year break between 2012 and late 2019). However, I have always had to maintain a “day job” to pay the bills. I am now blessed to be newly retired from my day job, which has renewed my desire to get back to the basics and study music again.
I started on piano at 5 and quit at 10 because I hated lessons. I picked up guitar at 15 and switched to bass at 18. I took lessons at Miami Dade College with Matt Bonnelli, who toured with the Bee Gees in the 90s, and with Nicky Orta, who played with Arturo Sandoval, Dave Valentin, Paquito D’Rivera, and solo. My first pro gig was with a salsa band in Miami that at one point had 14 musicians. I played the Calle Ocho Festival twice in that band in the early 90’s. I moved on to cover bands that played at bars and then corporate/wedding bands.
I have recorded on two minimally-sold records, one with the salsa band in 1994, and the other with a local indie rock band in 1999-2000.
For live gigs, I mainly play my 2021 Fender American Ultra P and my #2 varies depending on the gig, but it is usually my Fender American Professional 5 string P, or my Miura MB-2. I use pedals only for subtle compression and EQ, run through an Avalon U5 for the house, and play through either a GK combo or Markbass Tube 800 with a 4-ohm 2X12.
Now that I am studying again, I hope to improve so I can take on sight-reading and jazz gigs, although I still love a good country club gig!
Best of luck to all my fellow students on your musical journeys!
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