Playing the bass guitar has been one of the skills Nolit Abanilla developed and excelled. Being a good team member of a band, he has won the 2001 Aliw Awardee for Best Performance by a Group in Music Lounges, Bars and Restaurant. Over the years and playing with several popular bands, Nolit has developed a unique style in bass playing. In this page, the bassist will share to you some of his secrets which made him succeed.

 

EQUIPTMENT

Basses:

IBANEZ Soundgear SR605 5-string Electric Bass Natural Finish
-Ash body with bartolini pickups, La Belle RX roundwound strings
IBANEZ Soundgear SR505 5-string Electric Bass NeckThru GC Exclusive
-Mahogany body with bartolini pickups, La Belle RX roundwound strings
IBANEZ Soundgear SR305 5-string Electric Bass White
-Basswood body with maple fretboard and CAP pickups, Warwick roundwound strings
IBANEZ Soundgear SR305 5-string Electric Bass Black
-Basswood body with rosewood fretboard and CAP pickups, Warwick roundwound strings
IBANEZ Soundgear SR785 5-string Fretless Electric Bass
-Mahogany body with bartolini pickups, converted to fretless wtih Warwick roundwound strings
IBANEZ BTB BTB555 Black 5-string Electric Bass
-Mahogany body with Bartolini pickups, default varimid, 5pc BTB5 Maple/Walnut neck and GHS Boomers Strings(45-120).
IBANEZ Soundgear SR885bk Black 5-string Electric Bass
-Basswood body with EMG 35P pickups, default varimid, Schaller straplock and GHS Boomers Strings(45-120).
IBANEZ Gio SR396 6-string Electric Bass
-Basswood body wtih Warwick roundwound strings
IBANEZ Gio SR205 5-string Electric Bass Matte Black
-Basswood body with Exposed poles Double humbucking pickups, Warwick roundwound strings
IBANEZ Acoustic Bass AEB8E Black 4-string Acoustic Bass
-Agathis body with Mahogany neck, Rosewood Fretboard and Ibanez SPT Preamp.
IBANEZ Soundgear SR340DXjb Jewel Blue 4-string Electric Bass
-Agathis body with Hipshot Extender key tuner, Gotoh tuners, Schaller straplock and GHS strings(45-105).
Warwick Streamer Rockbass 5 string electric bass
-Ash body upgraded with aguilar OBP-1 preamp and Elixir roundwound strings
Fender MB5 5 strings modern electric bass purple
-Japan Made purple Jazz bass in a modern design, with passive J pickups and La Belle RX strings
Squire Affinity Jazz Bass 5 strings electric bass black
-Squire Jazz bass upgraded with SW1 controls, Stringthru body bridge and Jazz pickups from fender USA
Line6 Variax 705 Modeling 5 strings electric bass black
-A modeling bass that can emulate tones from tons of other basses
KAWAI Rockoon PJ Transparent Red 4-string Electric Bass
-Mahogany body with Dmarzio PJ pickups, Hipshot Extender key tuner, Schaller straplock, Schaller Roller Bridge and GHS Boomers strings(45-105).

Effects:

ZOOM BFX708 Multi effects proccessor
BOSS ME8B Multi effects processor
DOD Bass Compressor
Tech21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI
Tube amplifier emulation with EQ

Preferred Amplifiers:

Hartke HA3000 with Tranporter 115 and 410 Speaker Cabinets
SWR Workingman's 15 Combo witn 4x10T Speaker Cabinets
Crate BFX125 Combo
GK Gallien-Krueger 400RB/115 Combo

Old Gear:

FENDER American Standard Jazz Bass Copy -Black
-A really heavy body locally made copy of the original. This was nolit's first bass.
Supersound Headless Stienberger Copy -Black
-This locally made bass was nolit's first acquisition from playing with LUNA and sessioning with other alternative bands during his early years in the music industry.
Supersound Jazz Bass - Lipstick red converted to PJ
-This was the bass which nolit used when he was just starting with LUNA. He remodeled it with a Precision pick-ups and all-parts hardware.
Ibanez PowerTrio Effects
-Compressor, Equalizer and Chorus bass effects

SET-UP

Nolit's bass set-up is quite simple. He relies much on a compressor and an equalizer. With his Ibanez 5-string, nolit tweaks on the vari-mid to adjust the presence of his bass. His BOSS ME8B or Zoom BFX-708 is permanent with an equalizer of his settings. He tunes his guitar on his Zoom effects. With an active EMG pick-ups on his bass, Nolit seldom uses his Sansamp DI. Nolit studies songs with his Ibanez RP302 Rock & Play for Bass.

BACKGROUND

Nolit started playing bass with his college band. Jamming at home with friends became serious when they all decided to form LUNA, nolit's first band. He stayed with LUNA for several years. A lot of his compositions where played with this band. They were able to come up with a commercial single under Vicor Records and an independently released album under BRMP. With LUNA, nolit was able to play in almost all campuses and major parks in Metro Manila. He was able to bill equally with famous bands such as the Dawn, the Youth, Joey Ayala, Asin, Introvoys and Hayp in big music festivals and concerts for a cause. Nolit was not only playing bass with LUNA, he was also singing.

Nolit's style reflected with the music he grew up with. His interest with New Wave music of the 80s, punk rock and ska, led him to play with different bands in the alternative circuit. Nolit was a regular at Mayric's, manila's hotbed of rock and alternative musicians, playing for bands such as agaw agimat, ysagani ybarra, lastiko, lolita carbon, etc.

Eventually nolit was able to play bass with bands backing up recording artists outside the alternative scene. He was picked up by Backroom inc., a talent management company headed by Boy Abunda, to form a band that will back up Backroom talents. Nolit was able to play with Dessa, Ima Castro, Boyzvoyz, Calvin Millado, Jef Arcilla, Ara Mina, Aiai Delas Alas, Rufa Mae Quinto, Regine Velasquez and many more.

Finally, nolit became a solid member of the rhythm section of Manila's top comedy band - Gladys And The Boxers w/ K. Nolit has seen musicians come and go with GBWK. He has remained with the group contributing much to the success with different awards and recognitions.



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