Artist Spotlight :: Clayton Edwards

Bio

Clayton Edwards is a West Texas-bred electric/upright bassist who's currently based in the Dallas/Fort Worth area & on tour with Texas Country artist Mike Ryan. While on tour, he has opened up for acts like Miranda Lambert, Koe Wetzel, Morgan Wallen, Hardy & Riley Green while playing stages like CMAFest, AT&T Center & the Grand Ole Opry.

A self-described "pocket player," he is as comfortable on a festival stage as he is during a worship service. Clayton is known for his strong stage presence, playing FOR the song & being able to adapt to any genre or situation.

What/Who inspired you to pick up your instrument?

My best friend started a band & we needed a bassist. I've been playing ever since & have been lucky enough to make it my profession.

What piece of musical advice would you give yourself if you could go back in time to the beginning of your musical journey?

Don't compare yourself to others, keep learning & don't worry about making mistakes because that's where you learn the most.

What keeps you excited about playing?

Playing new places, seeing/experiencing new things & giving the crowd a show.

Desert Island 3 pedal pedalboard (not including tuner)

Noble DI, Aguilar DB 599 & Argo Distortion. All these pedals have tone for days & can be used in any band/situation. Very versatile combo.

When you find yourself in a musical rut, what techniques do you do to break out of it?

I like to take a little break from playing every now & again to recharge. Reading a good book, getting out in nature, seeing art, spending time w/ my family, or going to a great concert is a fantastic way to recharge.

Who is your favorite artist/band today? And who was your favorite artist/band ten years ago?

It used to be heavier bands like Deftones, Rage Against the Machine & Primus. Now it's more like: Paul Cauthen, Sturgill Simpson & Dirty Loops. It used to be all about cool bass lines & how heavy the song was. I still love to hear a great bass line, but now it's MORE about how that fits w/ the song, the story & how it grooves.

When you find yourself in a music store - what is your go-to riff when test drive gear?

I typically play "Standing on Shaky Ground" or the melody of "Careless Whisper ." haha.

What is your most prized/cherished piece of gear? And why?

80 P-bass Special & Alpher Mako 5 string. The P-bass was my wife's grandfather, who was a Nashville Session player & played for people like Porter Wagoner & Dolly. The Alpher was one of my dream basses I thought I would never get & now I'm actually an endorsed artist!

What is the next big musical purchase you're hoping to save for?

Alpher Mako 6 String & an Aguilar DB751 bass head.

Gear Breakdown

(Mike Ryan Rig)
Alpher Mako 5 String -> Shure Wireless -> Polytune Micro Tuner -> Noble -> Radial DI
- Rattlesnake wireless pack cable (Mean Green)
- Rattlesnake Pancake Patch Cables
- 25ft Gold Neutrik standard cable w/out wrap (on standby)
- 2 Mean Green XLR cables (5ft/25ft)
(Bass strung w/ GHS Hybrid Nickels & all cables are Rattlesnake. I love the clear tone, reliability, customer service & customizability of Rattlesnake. Run 2 DI channels, Noble is run w/out compression & Radial is compressed to bring out note articulation.)

(Add'l Rattlesnake Products)
25ft Mean Green Guitar Cable, Gold Neutrik
10ft Snake Head Mean Green Cable, Gold Neutrik

Bands / Projects

Mike Ryan
Live | Studio
- various DFW/Texas Artist

Social Links

Want to be featured as an Artist Spotlight?

Do you have to be a famous musician to be featured? No. Do you have to be a professional musician to be featured? No. Do you have passion about playing and gear -- oh and a verified Rattlesnake Cable Company cable user. Yes!

All you need to do is contact us and we'll direct you to our submission form. If your submission is approved, it will be in the queue to be showcased!

Reviews on Google

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10/20/2023
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