Dave Delfin

Bassist, Singer-Songwriter & Guitarist

Primary Band(s):

Franco, Dave Delfin (Solo Artist)

Playstyle & Tone Profile:

Seamless, pocket-driven basslines tailored to the song, rooted in 90s alternative rock sensibilities.

Musical Journey & Growth

  • The Summer of Songhits: Dave's musical journey sparked at age 13 during a summer vacation, learning chord charts on a guitar loaned to his cousin. After learning Eraserheads' "Magasin" and the bass riff to "Zombie," he was instantly hooked, spending the entire next school year saving up for his own guitar and collecting as many chord magazines as he could find.
  • Franco & Solo Ventures: While widely known as the bassist for the premier OPM rock band Franco, Dave also channels his creativity into his own solo project as a singer-songwriter. His solo releases lean heavily into the classic 90s band era, a defining sound that continues to speak deeply to his creative process today.

Musical Influences &
Sonic Philosophy

  • The Session Masters: As a bassist and instrumentalist, Dave looks to legendary session players like Nathan East and Leland Sklar. He deeply admires their ability to flawlessly adjust their playing styles to perfectly serve whatever the moment, song, or situation demands.
  • Streamlined for the Song: Dave strives to emulate that same seamless adaptability in his own playing. This approach translates directly to his gear philosophy as well, preferring a highly streamlined rig built around his HX Stomp, an Ampeg amp, and his reliable P-Bass to ensure he always serves the song first.

I appreciate the heart and soul that goes behind crafting each and every one of them. Montances products for me have that "personal touch" feel to them—something that any mass-produced product would have a hard time attaching to it. The thing I love most about my Dark Special pickups is how it gives that extra push I was looking for without adding unwanted tone/frequencies that you would want taken out anyway. It just made my tone shaping a lot easier!

Gear of Choice

Montances Silent Series Guitar Instrument Cable | Mute Feature | Low Capacitance | MS Plugs

Montances Silent Series Guitar Instrument Cable | Mute Feature | Low Capacitance | MS Plugs
La Bella SP-47107 Super Polished | 4-String Bass String Set | 47-107 Long Scale | Hybrid Feel

La Bella SP-47107 Super Polished | 4-String Bass String Set | 47-107 Long Scale | Hybrid Feel
Montances Dark Special Precision Bass Pickup | Alnico V | 4-String | Aggressive High-Output

Montances Dark Special Precision Bass Pickup | Alnico V | 4-String | Aggressive High-Output

Gear Rundown

Basses

  • Precision Bass (P-Bass)

Amplifiers

  • Ampeg Amplifier

Pickups & Strings

  • Montances Dark Special P-Bass Pickups
  • La Bella Super Polished Strings

Pedalboard

  • Multi-FX/Amp Modeler: Line 6 HX Stomp

Key Milestones

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For Dave, the ultimate, life-changing milestone was the opportunity to play and tour with the legendary Mr. Ryan Cayabyab. He credits those years on the road with the maestro as his monumental "learning on the job" experience, firmly believing that the invaluable, real-world education he received during that time is the very foundation of where he is today.