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Best Bass for Country?

#41
A Fender P is what most will expect but almost anything can work.

I used a Sadowsky 5er a lot to gig with a country band and even did a few gigs with my Benavente Vortex fretless 5er. Sounded great!

In any case, when I recorded a CD with these guys, I tried a Roscoe 5er, Sadowsky NYC 4, Dingwall AB1 5er and a 1973 Jazz.... Just to see what sounded good recorded. Answer? None of them. I recorded the entire CD with my 1974 P. it just sounded much better in the country mix.

YMMV.
 
#43
Now hold on just a gal-dern minute here. You city folks must be smokin that wacky tobaccy. Upright bass?!? OMG as the kids say. Ya'll been watching re-runs of something on TV? Or maybe you're thinking the OP means Bluegrass?

So here's the points to end the madness:
1. Nobody is going to count strings. Heck we country folk have trouble counting anyway without using our fingers and that would mean we have to put down our beer or unhook our thumb from our front pocket.
2. When the electric bass first came along in Country it was, and is sometimes still referred to, (see Brad Paisley's latest CD) as the "Fender Bass" even though I think "Swine" plays Sadowsky.
3. The key, as always is the sound (round, not punchy) and the style (spare, clever, restrained). Someone once said that Country bass is the Haiku of music. Thats the ticket.

Ok, thats it. Ya'll be good now, yah hear?
 
#44
peledog said:
Anything will work. It's just the way a bass looks that will get you some chide remarks from purist snobs. In other words, don't play a BC Rich Warlock...
Click to expand...

Me, ultra-traditional at the Ogden Theater in Denver.

CJPandtheAngelsattheOgden.jpg


Me, throwing tradition to the wind, at a private wedding reception in the cleanest barn I've ever seen.

DSCN7404.jpg


Your call hoss. I think they both look and sound good, and we were one of the twangiest retro vintage traditional country bands in the state.
 
#45
CountryHoss said:
Now hold on just a gal-dern minute here. You city folks must be smokin that wacky tobaccy. Upright bass?!? OMG as the kids say. Ya'll been watching re-runs of something on TV? Or maybe you're thinking the OP means Bluegrass?

So here's the points to end the madness:
1. Nobody is going to count strings. Heck we country folk have trouble counting anyway without using our fingers and that would mean we have to put down our beer or unhook our thumb from our front pocket.
2. When the electric bass first came along in Country it was, and is sometimes still referred to, (see Brad Paisley's latest CD) as the "Fender Bass" even though I think "Swine" plays Sadowsky.
3. The key, as always is the sound (round, not punchy) and the style (spare, clever, restrained). Someone once said that Country bass is the Haiku of music. Thats the ticket.

Ok, thats it. Ya'll be good now, yah hear?
Click to expand...

So.... The washtub bass wouldn't work? :atoz:
 
#46
I find it interesting that so many people are saying Fender P is the norm. Most live Conutry music performances I've seen have been MusicMan SR5 or 5-string Jazz-type (Fender, Sadowsky, Mike Lull, Nordstrand, etc.)

I'd take the Jazz V and call it a day.
 
#47
CountryHoss said:
Now hold on just a gal-dern minute here. You city folks must be smokin that wacky tobaccy. Upright bass?!? OMG as the kids say. Ya'll been watching re-runs of something on TV? Or maybe you're thinking the OP means Bluegrass?

So here's the points to end the madness:
1. Nobody is going to count strings. Heck we country folk have trouble counting anyway without using our fingers and that would mean we have to put down our beer or unhook our thumb from our front pocket.
2. When the electric bass first came along in Country it was, and is sometimes still referred to, (see Brad Paisley's latest CD) as the "Fender Bass" even though I think "Swine" plays Sadowsky.
3. The key, as always is the sound (round, not punchy) and the style (spare, clever, restrained). Someone once said that Country bass is the Haiku of music. Thats the ticket.

Ok, thats it. Ya'll be good now, yah hear?
Click to expand...

Dad gum! That ther's some fine phylawsophay!
 
#51
In my limited experience with trying to find a working country band, the guitarists wanted to see me with a P Bass with flats, an Ampeg, and an upright. Thankfully, that's my norm.
 
#53
bassist4dalord said:
I find it interesting that so many people are saying Fender P is the norm. Most live Conutry music performances I've seen have been MusicMan SR5 or 5-string Jazz-type (Fender, Sadowsky, Mike Lull, Nordstrand, etc.)

I'd take the Jazz V and call it a day.
Click to expand...

Well, I suspect most musicians, regardless of the genre they play, are actually time-travelers who don't realize it and think it's still the 70s. In that case, their answer is correct. Insert smiley here.

Seriously, though, a Jazz V is a perfectly good choice.
bassman314 said:
Or Camouflage... It's the only thing as patriotic as the ole' Red, White, & Blue!
Click to expand...

Or go full redneck and spray your bass's body with bedliner. I have one like that...
 
#58
I see more Jazz basses than P's these days on the road. Either a jazz or a P would work just fine. Musicman basses generally get a pass these days also. Well Stingrays and Sterlings do. Bongos and Big Al's might not. Gibson's also never get frowned at. Basically, if it looks "vintage" you'll get people approving. I do see a slow creeping influence of "modern" instruments showing up. Not just with the new country guys too, but I'd want to be established with the guys I was auditioning for before I showed up with my Larkin or Warwick.

The "look" isn't that important beyond landing jobs. If you already have a spot, don't sweat the bass choice. Just roll with whichever you prefer.

PS: Double bass is always king with the traditional crowd.
 
#59
CountryHoss said:
Now hold on just a gal-dern minute here. You city folks must be smokin that wacky tobaccy. Upright bass?!? OMG as the kids say. Ya'll been watching re-runs of something on TV? Or maybe you're thinking the OP means Bluegrass?

So here's the points to end the madness:
1. Nobody is going to count strings. Heck we country folk have trouble counting anyway without using our fingers and that would mean we have to put down our beer or unhook our thumb from our front pocket.
2. When the electric bass first came along in Country it was, and is sometimes still referred to, (see Brad Paisley's latest CD) as the "Fender Bass" even though I think "Swine" plays Sadowsky.
3. The key, as always is the sound (round, not punchy) and the style (spare, clever, restrained). Someone once said that Country bass is the Haiku of music. Thats the ticket.

Ok, thats it. Ya'll be good now, yah hear?
Click to expand...


Yall west coast people must be all fancified. Out here in the midwest the doghouse still makes the rounds extensively.

Also, punchy mids are used quite a bit around here. I use a Jazz with a paradriver bumping the mids.
 
#60
I'm in Branson 3-4 times a year. Shows there do old and new country, and a lot of other types for variety, but maybe only one song of those per show. Many players have either a P or J bass, but for the new/other stuff I see a lot of Music Mans and 3 shows have Warwicks. And don't worry about the jokes about playing country. Just three days ago at a Nashville bus parking lot I saw the parked cars for musicians who were out on the road. Some pretty nice wheels sitting there. Expensive wheels!
 

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