Randy Barnette began playing bass and guitar at the age of 13. By 16, the Texas native had joined his first gigging band. He was steadily playing live shows by 19 and has never played less than 50 dates a year since then. That has stepped up to 80 to 140 shows a year since 2008. He has played bass for singer/songwriter Jarrod Birmingham for almost six years and also played a few full band dates with Trent Wilmon, then joined up with The Voice, Season Six runner up and touring artist, Jake Worthington, for a year and a half. Now playing with Curtis Grimes (TCMA award winning singer and songwriter with nine #1 songs on the Texas Country Charts to date), they are touring all over the United States headlining shows, playing festivals and cruises, as well as opening up for various artists. Add to this has provided session work for bass and guitar on several artists albums and demos.
Randy has played supporting shows for Merle Haggard, Gretchen Wilson, Deryl Dodd, Cody Johnson, Aaron Watson, Wade Bowen, Kevin Fowler, The Bellamy Brothers, John Conlee, Eli Young Band, and many, many more.
What does your rig look like these days? Randy runs an Epifani 901UL head into an Epifani DIST 410 cabinet. His main bass is a Lakland 55-02 with a Nordstrand MM5.4 and Split-J 5 pickups. EBS MultiComp compressor and Boss OC-2 Octaver pedals and a Shure GLXD wireless unit.
I have the Nordstrand NJ5S and NP5V in my custom P-bass 5 string along with a 3b preamp. I loved my custom PJ5 bass, but it was missing something in the overall tone and attack. After I installed the NP5Vand NJ5S along with the 3B-5apreamp, it defined the tone I heard in my head. Full clarity throughout the full range, with deep lows and solid attack without the soft lag I got from other pickups. The harmonic content is so musical and full. Everything I wanted in this bass and more! My Lakland has the MM5.4 and Split-J 5 pickups and has the punch and attack with still being very articulate and a great full tonal range. Not just boom or klank!
