Born in Brazil, in a town called Londrina, state of Parana, Douglas began his music career playing his notes on electric bass at the age of 13. He grew up in a "music-filled, church environment" and although he tried playing other instrument nothing sounded as groovy the bass.
His first footsteps playing came when he joined the worship group at his local church. When he turned 15, he decided it was time to move out of his parents' house and began searching to gain as much music knowledge as possible, taking him all the way to Sao Paulo, the Brazilian capital for anything related to music. There, he began taking lessons with Celso Pixinga, one of the most known Brazilian bass players in the world, whom greatly impacted Douglas in all aspects of music. There in Sao Paulo, Douglas really expanded his horizons, where he began playing self-taught both electric guitar and the drums as he became music director for the first time at the Vale da Bencao Church.
At the age of 17, Douglas went back to Londrina where he started playing with lots of local artists and bands. In 2002, Douglas moved to the United States, his childhood dream, eventually settling down in Lowell, Massachusetts. In Boston, he got the chance to explore and greatly develop his musical talents at the Berklee College of Music. Douglas has had the chance of displaying his amazing God given talent by playing for some amazing artists such as Andre Valadao, 2-time Latin Grammy Nominee and has sold over 4 million albums world wide, Sam Alves, the second season winner of the show the Voice in Brazil, Andre e Felipe, and Mariana Valadao just to name a few.
Douglas is currently working as a musician and composer for Studio F Major in Shrewsbury, MA and Bassist for Liberty Worship at Liberty Church also in Shrewsbury, MA.
Artists whom with you are currently working: Liberty Worship.
Describe your rig or instrument of choice: 4, 5 & 6 String Bass, Fretless Bass & Tc Electronic Amps & Cabs.
How did you discover Nordstrand? I discovered Nordstrand by searching for an specific bass pickup & preamp sound that I heard in videos. It sounded AMAZING so I started researching Nordstrand since then.
What Nordstrand products do you use and why?NJ5FS Pickups, MM4.4 Quad Coil Pickup, 3b Custom Preamp and more to come!
Over the years I have used a few different pickups and preamps. Some are ok, some are terrible, some aren’t even worth of being mention here, but I have had a great experience with my latest projects.
I recently picked up a 1998 Music Man StingRay, a beautiful bass. Previous owner had done some mods to it and installed a “cheap” preamp with the original MM pickup. I got the bass and on my first gig it LET ME DOWN!!! So I ordered a Nordstrand MM 4.4 Quad pickup for Music Man replacement and also a 3b custom preamp. After I changed the electronics it felt like a completely different bass. I felt in love with the tone and response immediately. Tone, functionality, quality, it all blew me away.
I currently have a MIM Fender Jazz Bass V project getting powered with Nordstrand NJ5FS pickups and just for the record, I already have another project (#3) in mind. I know for sure I will be very criticized on this one but here goes: I want to install a set of NJ5’s on a very well known, high end bass... A 5 String. To Be Continued...
