Best Bass for Country?

[Solarmist]

Those are some nice basses to be "stuck with". I would any of them, but thats me.

Maybe use a BC Rich Warlock ... it looks the part

 

[dukeorock]

I like this bass for country

 

[dukeorock]

Or these

Or this...which comes with a dog, which is pretty country

 

[kellyrojo]

The bass you use dont matter---as long as you eq them kind of flat and round sounding any of those basses will work. The Fender has the most country look though IMO. Def do not buy a bass just for the gig as you already have plenty of good basses!

 

[chadds]

.....Country Metal?

 

[dukeorock]

I live in Nashville, where we play both kinds of music. Trad country and pop country

There is no right bass for country, as someone pointed out...just a bunch of silly talk. You can't swing a dead cat without hitting a great bass player in my neighborhood and the basses are all over the map.

As far as playing upright bass, it does help get more gigs...sayin'

 

[MarkoYYZ]

3 pages and no one has recommended a Cowpoke? C'mon TB!!!

I came into this thread looking to see how long it would take, and have to agree that 3 pages is too many.

THIS is a country bass.

I scored one recently in all black. Haven't gotten around to listing it yet, but do plan on moving it to someone who will appreciate it for what it is.

Smaller body and thin neck make it easy to play, and the active electronics allow you to get just about any sound you could want, including a very thumpy P.

 

[mcm]

Very simple. If you are playing real country, 4 string pbass with flats. If you are playing that pitiful country that sounds like poison or warrant with some lyrics about a dirt road with the click track on, a 5 or 6 string, 18v, with steels works great.

 

[iiipopes]

I didn't think to take a picture of it, but I set up a friend's P-copy that the body and face of the headstock were painted John Deere green, with the John Deere decal on the headstock, and toy tractor tires fit over the volume and tone controls. Now that was a country bass!

 

[bigswifty1]

A lot of it is down to looks. I have a P with a reverse headstock neck, all black hardware, Seafoam green. It would be *perfect for my country gig. Will they let me use it? Not in a month of blue moons (tish boom)

My roadworn with crazy high output fralins? Sure, no problem.

 

[PWRL]

I spoze you play what sounds and feels the part. Bee Spears played quite a variety over the years.

 

[drummer5359]

Just like the "the best bass for metal", the best bass for country is the one that you feel comfortable playing. And again, other musicians may get hung up on how it looks but play what you like.

 

[Russell L]

As I said in another thread, the player has the greatest influence on how an instrument sounds.

 

[phillybass101]

why don't you just take a TB poll. Poll for all the folks who play country. The ask them what bass they play , you'll at least come up with most popular basses played.

 

[jlepre]

Steve Marshal..Kenny Chesney's Bassist:
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[Calebmundy]

I was going to throw this up earlier but got sidetracked. Here's one of her songs. She also has a couple more on YouTube as well. Hopefully this will help....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFc2RXjr8l8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

The decades-old stereotypes on these country threads really kill me. The video here is definitely modern/current, and anything you posted up will work great. I would personally use the Fender Jazz 5 out of that list.

Very few people care unless they are really traditional and out of touch with what's going on, and almost no one in Nashville cares unless you're on a high-enough level gig or session that they are asking for something specific.

Not to forward any more assumptions, but based on the appear and sound of the girls in the video, your artist probably won't know the difference as long as it sounds nice and solid.

 

[pklima]

Not to forward any more assumptions, but based on the appear and sound of the girls in the video, your artist probably won't know the difference as long as it sounds nice and solid.

Actually, based on the appearance and sound of the girls in the video I'm getting pretty jealous. Wish I had a gig like this... not likely to happen in Europe, though. I'll have to settle for sneaking some country into setlists...

 

[Biggbass]

In 1969 I responded to a newspaper add seeking a bass player for a country band.
The add stated that the band would supply the bass and bass amp. Turned out the bass and amp rig was a Sunburst Fender P and a Fender bass amp...don't recall the amp model. Well I got the job and I think I must have been the only member of the band under 5o or 60. They were old timers (to me anyway, I was just 15) and I hit the road each weekend with them playing the high plains honky tonks. Anyway...it was a Fender P. No case BTW...I wrapped it in a blanket and it got shoved into the back of the old Buick station wagon along with the drums and everything else!

 

[hennessybass]

City
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Country

One of these guys is a session guy and one is a country bass player that was on the road playing country music for 40 years.

The bass you play doesn't matter so much as what you play. Remember that in country, the SONG in king.

Here is Bee with some other basses... that are not fenders.

And now let's hear from the man himself...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5s978g97TcM

 

[dukeorock]

That Acoustic rig sure sounded good