Artist Spotlight :: Harvey Becker

Bio

Harvey Becker is a bass player for the Dive Bombs, a Surf-billy combo from Baltimore, MD. He also currently plays guitar and harmonica in a Tom Petty cover band, Petty Theft. He has over 30 years of experience as a musician.

What/Who inspired you to pick up your instrument?

My Uncle, Hank Becker, who was a blues musician in Mobile, AL, inspired me to play. Hank passed away about 20 years ago. I wish I had a chance to play with him as peers, but I saw him gig around Mobile for years. He was a kind and funny person. He was an excellent guitar player, entertaining

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

Music is a language. Play with as many people as you can. Be humble. Share and learn from everyone.

What keeps you excited about playing?

Learning new music and playing live excites me. I love gear, but I'm a player, not a collector. I try to keep the gas to a minimum. One in, one out. You can chase tone, and that sound in your head, but you can't buy talent. Keep practicing and learning.

Desert Island 3 pedal pedalboard (not including tuner)

Fuzz (probably Dominion, that's my current fave)

Vibe (Sabbadius)

Wah (Vox handwired)

+1 It was hard to omit my Roger Mayer Octavia. ;)

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

Slow Blues. Strip away everything but guitar and amp.

Who is your favorite artist/band today? And who was your favorite artist/band 10 years ago?

Now - Hendrix

10 Years Ago - Hendrix

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

Catfish Blues

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

My Uncle Hank's 1968 Fender Strat. I was able to save it from the vultures when he passed away. Everything else can be replaced, but not that guitar.

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

National Steel Guitar or Fender Rhodes

Gear Breakdown

I have basically two rigs:

(1) Bass Rig:

Bass - Sunburst Custom Shop Jazz Bass and Surf Green 2019 AVRI Precision bass

Pedalboard - Empress Buffer/Boost, Kingsley Maiden Preamp, Doc Lloyd Opto Compressor, Peterson Strobostomp Tuner)

Amplifier - Ampeg PF500 head into 2 Aguilar SL112 Cabs.

I always use my surf green retro coily Rattlesnake instrument cable. My pedals are all connected with Rattlesnake patch cables. My cabs are connected with a Rattlesnake 3' speaker cable

(2) Guitar Rig

Guitars - Sunburst 1968 Fender Strat, Sunburst Frankenstrat, Rich Robinson Gibson ES335, Gibson Les Paul

Pedalboard - It changes around a lot, but right now it's Empress Buffer, Kingtone Duelist, EP Booster, Surf Industries Surfybear Reverb Tank, Fulltone Tube Tape Echo.

Amps - Victoria Deluxe, Magnatone Twilighter, 1991 Fender Vibroverb

Again, I love my surf black retro coily Rattlesnake instrument cable. My pedals are all connected with Rattlesnake patch cables.

I've also had you make a couple of specialty cables to plug in my Roger Mayer Octavia Spaceship pedal.

Bands / Projects

Social Links

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