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Country bass players - what you using?
- Thread starter BurritoBass
- Start date
Thanks guys - I think I'm more confused now! LOL! No, seriously great - keep them coming, I'm a few weeks off buying something.
if you go on ebay now carvin is getting rid of all their old br615 bass combos, they can run up to 600 watts with added speakers are 400 watts buy itself and they are selling for 470 bucks not a bad buy.
- Mar 18, 2006
- 185
- 23
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Ampeg Amps, Fender and Music Man basses
Practice - little Crate 50 watt
Peavey MAX 450 with Avatar 2-12 cab for regular gigs or
GB Shuttle 6.0 with Ampeg SVT 410 HLF for larger venues
Peavey MAX 450 with Avatar 2-12 cab for regular gigs or
GB Shuttle 6.0 with Ampeg SVT 410 HLF for larger venues
I have been playing country for a few years now with a 5 and have lost no coolness points yet
.
Heh. Four string is the new five!
I play country, classic rock and blues in my cover band. I have been using 4 string (franken)Fender PJ into a Sansamp Paradriver, into LMII, into my older compact Avatar 1x12 and 1x15 boxes. Plenty of bottom and volume to sound good with a very loud drummer and two loud guitar players. Me likey.
Weird thing is, I have been dialing the lows BACK on my amp, and still having plenty of volume and good tone (imo).
Fellow country player - welcome!
Hunt down a Peavey TNT 150 if you are set on a combo. Heavy to lift, thick tone and very reliable. They sound right, and you'll come in under budget.
In your price range, the other option that comes to mind is Hartke. A used 3500 head and a rough looking original Hartke 410 may be within reach. I had just that pairing as backline the other night and it worked really well.
Hunt down a Peavey TNT 150 if you are set on a combo. Heavy to lift, thick tone and very reliable. They sound right, and you'll come in under budget.
In your price range, the other option that comes to mind is Hartke. A used 3500 head and a rough looking original Hartke 410 may be within reach. I had just that pairing as backline the other night and it worked really well.
Here in the Dallas/FT.Worth area we play pretty much what we have as far as amps, but the norm has been 5-string since the late 80's. We had a female singer that liked Rebba MacIntire songs and most of her songs are in "B", which is why I switched to a 5 string. Attended a Steve Warner concert at "COWBOYS" in Dallas, and his bass player played a modulus 5. It has been my main bass since 1989. Opened up for Bryan White in the FT.Worth Stockyards and his bass player played a 5. Sorry for getting off the subject. The soundman will dial in your sound through the PA, so you are at his mercy," be nice to him". Make yourself happy on stage as far as amps. Check out Billy Currington's CMT video "DON'T" and you will see his bass player playing a beautiful Ken Smith 5. Good luck Bass Brother.
I play upright bass in a classic Honky Tonk & Western Swing band and am now really digging GK heads with my Avatar cabs.
I am playing classic country/classic rock/new trad country currently. I use a five string because I feel most comfortable on it and the singers are constantly changing keys so it's easier to transpose!
Anyways, amp wise, my main rig is a Peavey VB-2 into an old Peavey 215 that has been updated with proper insulation and Eminence CB15 speakers. For small gigs, I use a SansAmp Programmable Bass Driver into a Roland D-Bass 115X which is a lightweight, powered cab, 250 watts to the 15, 80 watts to the tweeter. Either set up gives me a nice, solid supporting tone.
Anyways, amp wise, my main rig is a Peavey VB-2 into an old Peavey 215 that has been updated with proper insulation and Eminence CB15 speakers. For small gigs, I use a SansAmp Programmable Bass Driver into a Roland D-Bass 115X which is a lightweight, powered cab, 250 watts to the 15, 80 watts to the tweeter. Either set up gives me a nice, solid supporting tone.
.....I don't have an opinion on the combo question and I'm Ampeg biased. But, on the 5-string question you can certainly be creative and get the job done with a 4. However, being that alot of country is pop music, the 5 willl open up your creative pallette and allow you top be more dynamic and most of all HEARD! Yes, use the low notes tastefully.
Tracy Byrd's 'I'm from the Country' is a 145 in D and unless you do drop tuning, you need a 5. And the advantage goes to the 5 if you like to fret your notes/penatonic stuff.
Also, and this is a big also, if you're doing a lot of newer (90's and up) female country cover stuff, the arrangements , which are great, are utilizing the notes on the B. Martina', Shania Faith, Tammy Cochran, Reba, Leanne, Terri clark...it's all pop rock and the 5 is used extensively.
Gee, I don't have an opinion.....
Jimbob
Tracy Byrd's 'I'm from the Country' is a 145 in D and unless you do drop tuning, you need a 5. And the advantage goes to the 5 if you like to fret your notes/penatonic stuff.
Also, and this is a big also, if you're doing a lot of newer (90's and up) female country cover stuff, the arrangements , which are great, are utilizing the notes on the B. Martina', Shania Faith, Tammy Cochran, Reba, Leanne, Terri clark...it's all pop rock and the 5 is used extensively.
Gee, I don't have an opinion.....
Jimbob
I'm using an Ampeg B100R and a 4 string P-Bass with flats in my alt. country band. I get a nice, traditional sound by rolling of the tone on my bass and boosting the mids and lows on the amp. Modern/Pop country covers a considerably larger sonic territory however, so YMMV.
A lot of variety here, but one thing that seems common is... 15" drivers. Has that occurred to you guys?
what occurred to me is that the majority of these posts have no practical application to the OP's question and location ... UK and a $500 USD budget ... now we're talking 5 strings and SVT's ? The guy couldn't re-tube an SVT and re-string the 5 for that... well, maybe he could but you get my point ...
Ampeg costs a small fortune over there. Being neither a Mark Bass, nor an Ashdown fan... I find myself drawn to that recommendation simply due to availability and geography ... for 3x the bread, that new litttle TC head and a 1x12 would be killer ...
UK and $500 some Ashdown 1x15 combo is a probable - me I wouldn't do it without a warranty though ... Bass Centre has the Nemesis line listed. There's a couple of those 2x8 combo's (the silver ones) floating around my locale. They do OK under a large acoustic band and under an electric blues band with loud drummer as a monitor. I'm not a big Nemesis fan either but - for the dough... you could do worse and hey - it 's actually in your budget and seemingly available...
Ampeg costs a small fortune over there. Being neither a Mark Bass, nor an Ashdown fan... I find myself drawn to that recommendation simply due to availability and geography ... for 3x the bread, that new litttle TC head and a 1x12 would be killer ...
UK and $500 some Ashdown 1x15 combo is a probable - me I wouldn't do it without a warranty though ... Bass Centre has the Nemesis line listed. There's a couple of those 2x8 combo's (the silver ones) floating around my locale. They do OK under a large acoustic band and under an electric blues band with loud drummer as a monitor. I'm not a big Nemesis fan either but - for the dough... you could do worse and hey - it 's actually in your budget and seemingly available...
Well on the original topic, $500 should get you a used 800RB and a cab of your choice. Done.
Off Topic - maybe we should start a Country bass player's club (if there's not one) to talk Country bass.
I suppose even you "New Country" guys can even join, maybe.
I don't play much electric (mostly upright) bass, but there's still more info and more for me to read on this side.
Off Topic - maybe we should start a Country bass player's club (if there's not one) to talk Country bass.
I suppose even you "New Country" guys can even join, maybe.
I don't play much electric (mostly upright) bass, but there's still more info and more for me to read on this side.
Been doin country for 30+ yrs. Small to medium gigs i use a Fender Bassman 250 w/2x10's. You can dial in any sound u want. You should be able to find one used for less than $300. It has a decent d/i for goin to the house. And yes it is capable of carrying a 5 string. Easily.
For larger or more rowdy gigs nothing tops an svt w/8x10's. IMHO. But i cannot afford one or stand to carry it around either.
SO! For those gigs i break out my trusty hartke 5500 w/810xl
cab. if you close your eyes you dont really know its not an svt flappin your pants leg. I must admit its a very satisfying play. at least for me. And...very reasonably priced.
I use Fender American Standards, 4 and 5 string. Whatever mood fits or hits me.
On a side note...i have heard some of the finest a players nashville or LA has to offer country music, and just because you hear them play 145 all day long on FM dont mean they aint sharks!! They'll shred you u b4 u know it
For larger or more rowdy gigs nothing tops an svt w/8x10's. IMHO. But i cannot afford one or stand to carry it around either.
SO! For those gigs i break out my trusty hartke 5500 w/810xl
cab. if you close your eyes you dont really know its not an svt flappin your pants leg. I must admit its a very satisfying play. at least for me. And...very reasonably priced.
I use Fender American Standards, 4 and 5 string. Whatever mood fits or hits me.
On a side note...i have heard some of the finest a players nashville or LA has to offer country music, and just because you hear them play 145 all day long on FM dont mean they aint sharks!! They'll shred you u b4 u know it
Also would like to say 2 of the most infuential bass players i ever listened to as far as country goes were upright players.
Father and son team. The Roys. Sr and Jr. Husky. Dunno if i spelled their last name right or not. They were amazing in my book.
That cat that's been playing upright for asleep at the wheel for the last 15-20 yrs (maybe even 30) is pretty danged hot too!!
Count me in for membership in the CBPC!!
(Country Bass Players Club)
Father and son team. The Roys. Sr and Jr. Husky. Dunno if i spelled their last name right or not. They were amazing in my book.
That cat that's been playing upright for asleep at the wheel for the last 15-20 yrs (maybe even 30) is pretty danged hot too!!
Count me in for membership in the CBPC!!
(Country Bass Players Club)
