Bassist Karina Rykman gives a tour of her gear in a new rig rundown video from Storm Sound. The episode was filmed on January 19th at Buffalo’s Town Ballroom, where Rykman was opening for The Disco Biscuits with her eponymous trio.
Rykman explains at the beginning of the video that she was playing through Disco Biscuits bassist Marc Brownstein‘s amplifiers, so she focuses on her extensive pedalboard and bass. After going through the several effects pedals she uses to create different sounds with her instrument, Rykman showcases her custom-built “dream bass” made by Zeke Guitars, which she compares to a Fender Precision Bass, or “P-Bass.” The guitar is appropriately made out of korina wood (pronounced “Karina”) and still has the flatwound strings that came on the instrument.
Related: Phish’s Mike Gordon Sits In With Karina Rykman At Nectar’s [Photos/Pro-Shot Video]
“You never take ’em off. That’s what we learned from Laura Lee of Khruangbin,” Rykman says. “She was like, ‘Karina, I’ve never changed the strings,’ and I was like I’m gonna start doing what you do and never changing the strings, and it’s working out great.”
Rykman also points out her Shure wireless pack, which allows her to move freely around the stage instead of being tethered to her gear with cables. This freedom of movement enables her dance around while playing, which has become a signature part of her dynamic performances. “I feel like I really found myself once I started going wireless,” she explains. “I was a prime candidate for something like that, but I was trapped and tangled in my chords all these years, and now I’m not.”
Watch the full Karina Rykman bass rig rundown video below.
Rykman has upcoming tour dates supporting The Disco Biscuits and moe. and will make appearances at The Disco Biscuits’ Tranceatlantic event in Iceland, Jam Cruise 19, and The Peach Music Festival. For a full list of upcoming shows and ticketing details, visit her website.
Karina Rykman Bass Rig Rundown