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P-Bass in Urban Gospel?

IotaNet

IotaNet

Supporting Member
Dec 8, 2004
3,567
505
64
Minneapolis (Chicago Native)
#1
I'm wondering about something. I've never seen it but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. I know there is no "right" answer but I'm interested in hearing opinions and discussion.

Does/Can a P-Bass work in the Urban Gospel genre?

I'm talking about a plain, passive, 5-string Fender P-Bass. (With roundwounds, of course. I'm sure flats would just turn to mud.) Does that sound work in a big Baptist/COGIC Church setting? Anybody here play one?

I know that the trend is toward Smiths, Cirri, and even J-Basses but I'm curious. Does/will the old standby work?
 
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#4
I thought a P-bass was pretty much urban gospel. At least this is as close to a religious experience as you'll find...

jamerson.jpg
 
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#5
That's a really good question. I'm with you, I've never seen it myself. Urban gospel bass tones tend to be a little more "singing", brighter, and clearer than P-Basses, but not to say it can't be done. I bet if Gouche started to use them, he'd get a good following :)
 
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#10
I just don't understand this "oh, I can't play x type of music because I have a y type of bass." Unless you're trying to exactly impersonate some particular famous bassist, any good, articulate bass can serve any type of music.

I played an EB Sterling with a straight-ahead jazz quartet (tenor sax, piano, bass, drums). Heresy!!!
 
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#12
IotaNet said:
I could give you a very long Long explaination but the short answer is that perhaps P-Basses don't cut through the mix well enough.
Click to expand...

Then:

a) it's a crappy bass/amp combo
b) it's a crappy player
c) the rest of the band doesn't know how to find their place in the mix
d) maybe a bass shouldn't necessarily "cut through the mix"
e) all of the above

:hiding:

 
#13
nostatic said:
I just don't understand this "oh, I can't play x type of music because I have a y type of bass." Unless you're trying to exactly impersonate some particular famous bassist, any good, articulate bass can serve any type of music.

I played an EB Sterling with a straight-ahead jazz quartet (tenor sax, piano, bass, drums). Heresy!!!
Click to expand...


Are all basses arbitrary?
 
#15
drnknmstr said:
Are all basses arbitrary?
Click to expand...

I think it depends. Tone is relative and different bands have different demands. If you are in a band doing Marcus Miller cover tunes they you better have a "modern" j-bass or it probably isn't going to sound right. But if you're in a band where the bass is there to support the song, then almost any bass could probably work. I don't think I've ever had a gig where someone in the band suggested I switch basses, except for electric vs. upright. I've played rock with a fretless and jazz with a Sterling. In the end it is less about the hardware and more about the software and the approach.

There are a lot of aspects to playing bass (sound, feel, vibe, etc), but I think that people tend to get way too hung up on the "I have to have a p-bass to play rock" or "I have to have a j-bass to play modern music" etc. Often it reflects a move towards the bass as the answer rather than part of the equation. Of course people can have a personal preference, and they should play what they like. For instance, I just don't like a J-bass tone. I don't really "feel" it. I do "get" my Lightwave fretless and my PJ. And I have more than one bass because I do want different ways to play. And I think that fretless and fretted bass are very different instruments. I also think that some of my basses support certain music styles better than others. But I would have no problem taking either of my basses out to any sort of gig. In the end, I know that with the right players I can find a spot and support the music.
 
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#16
I think a Fender active PJ may work but a passive P by itself? You may have a hard time getting certain tones from it. The modern urban gospel bass tone I'm thinking of come from Ken Smiths, MTD's, high end active jazz basses, or other boutique instruments with soap bars. Tone is really subjective so I suppose you could if the P bass tone is what you want. However, most of the modern gospel cats are playing what I previously mentioned. I play a Valenti with EMG 40J's and an 18v Aguiar OBP-3 preamp. It's very modern sounding with a lot of punch and thump. That's what I want when I play that genre of music. The congregation LOVES IT!!!
 
#17
Interesting dicussion brewing. Let me add a little more texture ...

IMO, the question about the P has to do with the instrumentation/voicing in the Urban Gospel idiom. Consider that you typically will have a ...

Pianist
Drummer
Guitarist
Hammond Organ
30-100+ voice choir

... all this played in rooms that tend NOT to be acoustically perfect. (i.e. Church Sanctuaries)

Is there a chance that a passive P-Bass might get lost in the sonic layer of the Hammond organ?

It could be argued that the voicing of a J-Bass (or soapbar/humbucker equipped active instrument) might allow it to sit in a place where it doesn't fight with the other instruments?

:eyebrow:
 
#18
And I agree. And the OPs question was if it would work in this style of music.

IMO, a P-Bass may not support this style of music as well as say a Ken Smith. True, we shouldn't get too hung up on it because you could make it work, but in the end given all your options, wouldn't one want to maximize the potential sound in a given context?

I think Andrew Gouche's interview in BP this month was fantastic. He also pressed the importance of tone.

nostatic said:
I think it depends. Tone is relative and different bands have different demands. If you are in a band doing Marcus Miller cover tunes they you better have a "modern" j-bass or it probably isn't going to sound right. But if you're in a band where the bass is there to support the song, then almost any bass could probably work. I don't think I've ever had a gig where someone in the band suggested I switch basses, except for electric vs. upright. I've played rock with a fretless and jazz with a Sterling. In the end it is less about the hardware and more about the software and the approach.

There are a lot of aspects to playing bass (sound, feel, vibe, etc), but I think that people tend to get way too hung up on the "I have to have a p-bass to play rock" or "I have to have a j-bass to play modern music" etc. Often it reflects a move towards the bass as the answer rather than part of the equation. Of course people can have a personal preference, and they should play what they like. For instance, I just don't like a J-bass tone. I don't really "feel" it. I do "get" my Lightwave fretless and my PJ. And I have more than one bass because I do want different ways to play. And I think that fretless and fretted bass are very different instruments. I also think that some of my basses support certain music styles better than others. But I would have no problem taking either of my basses out to any sort of gig. In the end, I know that with the right players I can find a spot and support the music.
Click to expand...
 
#20
IotaNet said:
Interesting dicussion brewing. Let me add a little more texture ...

IMO, the question about the P has to do with the instrumentation/voicing in the Urban Gospel idiom. Consider that you typically will have a ...

Pianist
Drummer
Guitarist
Hammond Organ
30-100+ voice choir

... all this played in rooms that tend NOT to be acoustically perfect. (i.e. Church Sanctuaries)

Is there a chance that the P-Bass might get lost in the sonic layer of the Hammond organ? It could be argued that the voicing of a J-Bass (or soapbar/humbucker equipped instrument) might allow it to sit in a place where it doesn't fight with the other instruments?

:eyebrow:
Click to expand...

ANYTHING can get lost in the sonic layer of a B-3, especially with a Leslie. Those things can get loud and go low. It does help the bass player to have a bass capable at clear lows, punchy mids, and clear highs so that it could be heard amongst the mud that can occur with undisciplined musicians going off on their instruments. Even then though, if the sound's not balanced and the room is full, things will get muddy and even the highest end boutique bass will get lost. A P bass would have no chance, especially a passive one.
 

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