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Church players.

#23
michael_atw said:
JESUS+BASS+CLASSIC.jpg


On the back of The Disciples first album he's credited with this photo of him and his signature bass.
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Literally LOL'd :D

Seems as though I see a lot of MTD's. My Lakland and Sadowsky seem to fit just fine. I practice to some gospel type stuff since that's what I grew up playing but I don't actively play in church at the moment.
 
#29
I've played every bass I have ever owned at church which includes a washburn, ibanez sr500 sr505 sr655, warwick thumbs, fender p-bass, fender jazz and so on. Just get what feels best to you, I'm sure anything can work.
 
#32
Mad Tango said:
Although I like 4 string as well, a good 5 string jazz type is better overall. Lakland Skyline Joe Osborne 5 is a good choice, Fender 5 strings have too fat of necks (IMHO-had one). The reason is that some of the newer songs are in Ab, Eb, etc. and it is easier to adjust to these keys on a 5. Moreover; if you ever get a Worship pastor that likes to change keys on the fly (all he/she has to do is change their capo) because of the singer/s, it will also be quicker to comply. Also, a Rosewood fretboard (less harsh than maple) is best overall in case one day you go to in ear monitors. Jazzes fit into different music styles better than any other bass-that is why so many companies copy it.
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I've never thought of it that way, with the lower keys. I like my 5 string for church, but because it's the only one I have. I'll have to remember to hit that low Eb when we play in that key.

As far what kind of bass to play, I don't think it really matters. Play whatever you want to play and let the sound guy make it sound good in the house.
 
#33
michael_atw said:
The kind that's played in the church! Durp durp:p
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Exactly. In our church orchestra, best bass for the style is a fine upright. For bluegrass gospel or accompanying the choir on spirituals, I like a Kay M1 with supernyls. The gal who subs for me on bass in the contemporary service uses a P bass. I mostly use a G&L ASAT and L2000 for CCM. (Going to trade for an L2500 soon to cover the flat keys) Oh, and sometimes the wifes acoustic/electric is perfect for playing 'unplugged' CCM. Oh and tje orchestra director is a fine organist and of course uses the bass pedals.

So, I would say for 'church style' music its an upright bass or acoustic bass guitar, or fretted or frettles electric with four or more strings and passive or active electronics.

Unless you attend 'Church of Christ'. Then the best bass for that style is a guy with a deep voice.

So I reckon
 
#34
I can tell you one thing. Five string basses fit very nicely in the whole Christian thing. Not a requirement, but when I first got into our churches program I was surprised to hear how many differant groups used a five string bass. Felt like I was missing out on something and that's when I got one. Love it!

I use an Ibanez SR505. One of the other guys uses an MIA Fender five string Jazz and the other fellow uses a four string Music Man.
 
#35
Honestly, it matters a lot more how you play than what you play. A lot of the P&W and Christian Rock that you hear today you can use most any bass, but typically you will find Stingrays, Precision Basses, Jazz Basses, etc. When you start moving towards Urban Gospel, you get into Ken Smiths, MTD, 5 String Fender Jazz's, etc...
 
#36
lindseyp said:
Everything mentioned above can fit; the key is "fit." The bass, the system you plug into and your playing style have to fit with the rest of the musicians. Our regular bassist brings whatever he feels like on Sundays - yes, he has more than one bass - and he still fits and he still sounds good. Understand, at the various churches I attend or visit the bass tends to be the dominant instrument in the music section by design so you'll see a lot of different instruments but mostly active 5-string basses to hit those reverse turnarounds and bottom-dwelling runs.
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I agree that an active 5 seems to fit most styles that we play (Christian comp) but with that being said I bring what ever I seem to be playing at the moment...if there's more acoustic somgs in the set I might bring a fretless, or if I haven't given a particular bass much "love" lately I might bring it...but if I were to distill it to one bass I would make it my Schecter Diamond Elite 5 I can do most things with it.
 
#37
Adrian Juras said:
Honestly, it matters a lot more how you play than what you play. A lot of the P&W and Christian Rock that you hear today you can use most any bass, but typically you will find Stingrays, Precision Basses, Jazz Basses, etc. When you start moving towards Urban Gospel, you get into Ken Smiths, MTD, 5 String Fender Jazz's, etc...
Click to expand...

+1000!!!!

I share duties with a couple other guys at our church. One of the other gents is all over the place on the bass and it is distracting at times. Despite plenty of feedback and coaching, he still hasn't got it that the #1 priority of the bass in worship music is to support the song. So many feel the urge to show off.

In any case, I find the 5 string to be ideal for Worship. I use an FBass BN5 and it does it all. That low B comes in really nicely when playing up the neck to get a beefier Bb on the E string with easy reach to some thundering lows with a low D or E on the b string.
 
#40
i've used about everything you can think of:

Passive P
Passive J
Active J
Soapbars
MM pickups
4 string
5 string
6 string

here is what i've found. just about anything will work, but somethings work better than others. i prefer a bass with 2 pickups. just a neck pickup sounds muddy in the mix, just a bridge pickup sounds too aggressive and trebly. i like J style basses and basses with soapbars. I also like them to have 5 strings...just something about that low b that i love.

most importantly though, the bass has to be comfortable to you first.
 

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