How do you get that "gospel" sound?

Jewbass · #1 05-14-2009, 08:59 AM

So I went to a gospel quire concert preview today at my school, and the bassist that was playing with the chorus had a great, fat tone. I'm asking you guys who play gospel, how do you do it? Is there any effect pedal/specific amp head etc. that would be good to use or what?

two fingers · #2 05-14-2009, 09:03 AM

The Holy Spirit son.

(a really good bass and amp don't hurt either)

Around here, most of the gospel bassists use an SWR amp and a Ken Smith bass. The gospel community is really tight in this area. It may just be that one guy got that combination and the rest loved it so much that they followed suit.

LowDown Hal · #3 05-14-2009, 09:06 AM

Pray ????

Jewbass · #4 05-14-2009, 09:12 AM

Does foam under the strings mean anything to you guys?

RCCollins · #5 05-14-2009, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by two fingers

The Holy Spirit son.

(a really good bass and amp don't hurt either)

Around here, most of the gospel bassists use an SWR amp and a Ken Smith bass. The gospel community is really tight in this area. It may just be that one guy got that combination and the rest loved it so much that they followed suit.

I knew SOMEBODY had to still be playing those Ken Smiths

rratajski · #6 05-14-2009, 09:33 AM

Watch out! Quires are dangerous...oh wait, that's a quagmire. Giggity.

Jewbass? Gospel? Just curious.

Jewbass · #7 05-14-2009, 09:36 AM

haha, just want the sound

not the religion.

two fingers · #8 05-14-2009, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rratajski

Jewbass? Gospel? Just curious.

I was gonna leave that one alone, but since you brought it up......

Jewbass · #9 05-14-2009, 09:38 AM

Haha, yeah. But yeah still, what does foam under the strings do?

BobaFret · #10 05-14-2009, 09:40 AM

I don't think of the foam muted sound as a real gospel prevalent sound. I see mostly Ken Smith/MTD and Fender 5's with preamps. They give more of a snappy high-fi sound. Listen to Gouche for what I consider the more standard gospel sound. JMO of course.

The foam just makes the sustain really short a la Jamerson's sound. You don't have to use the foam to achieve this but it's good if you are using the same tone for long periods of time. Left/Right hand muting techniques work better for me because of the differing style I like to play.

rratajski · #11 05-14-2009, 09:41 AM

What's your money situation looking like? TB'ers can help to put you in the right ballpark to get you close to what you want.

Joe Gress · #12 05-14-2009, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobaFret

I don't think of the foam muted sound as a real gospel prevalent sound. I see mostly Ken Smith/MTD and Fender 5's with preamps. They give more of a snappy high-fi sound. Listen to Gouche for what I consider the more standard gospel sound. JMO of course.

Yeah, when I think of bass tone prevalent in gospel music, I think of a smooth deep and clean hi fi tone.

RCCollins · #13 05-14-2009, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rratajski

What's your money situation looking like? TB'ers can help to put you in the right ballpark to get you close to what you want.

he's just asking. but surely effects are not the simplest way to go for this sound.

rratajski · #14 05-14-2009, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCCollins

he's just asking. but surely effects are not the simplest way to go for this sound.

Just anticipating the next question!

Jewbass · #15 05-14-2009, 09:45 AM

Yeah, I'm kind of broke. :-(

Jewbass · #16 05-14-2009, 09:46 AM

So with the gear I have now, (a combo amp and a vintage bass) what can i do?

rratajski · #17 05-14-2009, 09:48 AM

Save yo' money, honey...and work on your playing style too.

Dr. Cheese · #18 05-14-2009, 09:48 AM

About 75% of getting the sound of any style is listening to the music alot and learning alot of songs. Good Gospel players get the Gospel tone using anything from Fenders to Foderas, and many use pretty inexpensive basses too. Foam under the bridge has absolutely nothing to do with the popular Gospel tone.

Thombas · #19 05-14-2009, 10:10 AM

+1 on what Dr. Cheese has to say: Foam will get you nowhere near the typical gospel bass sound. And as far as gear is concerned, yup, there's an overweight of MTD's among the big boys, but less will do. I got thrown sideways into gospel about a year and a half ago, and spent a lot of time listening to what those guys were doing; when and where did they play what and so on. It's often pretty complex compostions, and the bass is often "shared" with a keyboardplayer, which definitely also affects the sound you hear at the concerts. Anyway, I've played a number of festivals since and recorded a CD with what i had (my trusted Ibanez BTB 1005e), and based on this I'd say it has much more to do with checking out the playing style rather than it has do to with gear. That said, keep the tone clear and clean - no foam or distorting/fuzzing effects.
ENJOY, it's a BLAST playing that stuff!
Cheers,
T

SteveC · #20 05-14-2009, 10:38 AM

Clean and clear tone. Good understanding of the style.

You have to admit that you do see a lot of Ken Smith basses in gospel...