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country bass question

#61
I've been playing country music for the last 4 years or so and see a lot of players, local and national, who play on 5 strings. I used one, the guy who replaced me in the band i left used one. Bassist for Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney, Cross Canadian Ragweed, and Zac Brown Band (when he's not playing upright) use 5's. It's rediculous to say that you must have a P bass.
 
#63
I [layed in a country band for a year and a half(I dont even like country)I used my Ric on every show with my at the time amp Trace Elliot.They were always telling me I look to Rock and Roll I bought some shirts at a Country store kept the Ric and at the Cadillac Ranch the Nashville dudes were very complimentry to me so go with what makes you happy kick the leader out of his band
 
#65
Hammertime3 said:
After hearing all you "fiver fans" speak out, I sit and wonder how in the world the Eagles made some of the best music any of us will ever hear with just an old deadbeat four stringer! Was anything any better than the Eagles?
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Nobody said you can't make good music on a four string. I think the insinuation of the "band leader" that the OP was playing with is that you can make good "country music" on a 5 string, and not only that, but if it's not a Fender P-Bass, it won't sound good either.
 
#67
mrpackerguy said:
looks like a j-width neck on that puppy!
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Yeah it is. I got so used to playing this one that when I sat in with a friend's band, using his Road Worn P-Bass, I was shocked by the neck width. The neck on this one is pretty slim and very comfortable. My only gripe is that the thick finish can get a little sticky when it's humid. I use baby powder combat that though.
 
#68
I'm doing Outlaw Country and using 3 basses, off and on:

Fender Tony Franklin Fretless
Lakland DJ Skyline 4
Fender American Vintage Series '57 P Bass.

I use the P basses for more traditional country stuff, and stuff that leans more towards classic rock the J. All are 4 strings, although the Franklin has a drop D tuner.

We don't do any modern country (despite some of the the songs on the website).

Our sound is a traditional country voice/pedal steel over a 70's classic rock sound.

Wish us luck, lol!
 
#69
Lyle Evans of Western Underground (the late Chis LeDoux's band) plays a Dean 5 string. He has played my Spector 5 strings on stage too. Regardless of the instrument, he sounds good. He sounds like Lyle. :smug:
Of the times I have heard Lyle on stage, I can't remember anyone questioning his choice of instrument. I bet if he had a Pbass it would still sound like Lyle. :)

Btw, I'm not sure what Dean model he uses, but if you go to the gallery link, there are a couple of pictures of him with it.
http://www.westernunderground.com/ledouxtour.cfm#
 
#70
I just used this bass and rig on a 4000 mile tour with country artist Brendan Sean Dawes (got home last week).
N.B., not a Fender P-bass--and the spare sitting in the case behind my rig is a Lakland 55-01D 5-string.

P9060252.jpg
 
#71
The Eagles music is timeless no doubt, but no matter how much we love the music of the past, if we want to work, we must deal with the music of the present. It may not last forever, and some wish it would go away today, but right now and for at least 5 or so more years, the music coming out of Nashville is going to be Pop (Country music radio chooses to play this music in order to gain listeners, and CMT/GAC is enjoying more and more people who are tuning in to their programming. As with the death of disco, we killed "Cowboy Hats and Line Dancing" with 90's Country, which enjoyed an entire decade of success, but as with Disco, we must face that it probably aint coming back. Music of all genres must evolve, and now we have a demographic from 5-55 that is enjoying Taylor, Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban and Kenny Chesney, among others like Zac Brown, Love and Theft, Sugarland, Lady Antebellum, and Darius Rucker. All of these can be considered Pop acts that are receiving large exposure on Country Radio, and all, but maybe Zac Brown and Jay Demarcus from RF are using 5 strings. Jay used a 5 string Stingray early on, but since he got some money, he can afford to take Vintage Fenders on the road, something most of us just cant do, but it IS awesome. Vince Gill always said, he has an incredible collection of guitars, worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, but ALL of them get equal play in the studio and on the road.
 
#73
this may have been said 2 or3 times by now but i have been playing bass for 20 years and a lot of that time has been spent playing 1, 5. with that said i know and have seen more current guys using 5's, a lot of those being music man basses, than anything else. I think the fact that the guy at GC says it has to be a precision just shows his own lack of knowledge. 20-30 years ago the precision and peavey amps may have been king in country but times have changed and country has become at least a little more hip to new gear these days. Use what you want!!!
 
#76
MNAirHead said:
I fell out of love with fender and an in lust with Peavey USA after being in on many sessions with TL5s, Foundations and T-40s

Have your hunyuk listen to Sara Evans and figure out how they did this on a 4 strings.
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I can remember when there were a lot of country bass players using Peavey basses, especially T-40's and TL 5's and 6's. There were great for country and any other type of music. Many country bands started off playing Peavey equipment, guitars and amps..
 
#77
theaterbass29 said:
...However, Aldean's lastest record, "Wide Open" is the only album that features Tully on bass, but he should've been on 'em all...
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I would never have guessed! His live sound is pretty much just like it is on the records. ...learn something new every day I guess.


Hammertime3 said:
After hearing all you "fiver fans" speak out, I sit and wonder how in the world the Eagles made some of the best music any of us will ever hear with just an old deadbeat four stringer! Was anything any better than the Eagles?
Click to expand...

LOL Yes, LOTS of stuff better! (and I even like the Eagles too)

We're talking about country bass players, not the Eagles back in history. Some of their stuff might be borderline, but c'mon, who thinks of the Eagles as a country band?
 
#79
lousybassplayer said:
NOt that I personally consider it country, but Keith Urbans bassist was "playing" a T bird at the Daytona 500 this year. IF you are playing radio modern country hits, the look and sound are dead and gone anyway. If you are into the traditional classic thing, you may look off, but I doubt that you will be unable to play the music well on a 5. Thats just absurd.
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Funny that Jerry Flowers' thunderbird has come up a few times in this thread to make the point that it doesn't have to be a P bass. On tour, Jerry plays the Tbird and two P basses. He's got a sunburst P with a rosewood neck that sounds incredible, even booming out of an arena PA. Most of Keith Urban's stuff is recorded with a fiver, though.

I remember another touring country bass player - can't remember his name though. When he toured as an opening act (Carolyn Dawn Johnson), he played a very beautiful F bass five string. When he moved up to a headlining act (Big & Rich), he moved to a Fender - in this case, a Jazz bass.

Image is more than a little important in Nashville. And there seems to be a Fender artist relations guy or two ready to make sure the working players have Fenders in their hands.
 
#80
ransombass said:
Yeah it is. I got so used to playing this one that when I sat in with a friend's band, using his Road Worn P-Bass, I was shocked by the neck width. The neck on this one is pretty slim and very comfortable. My only gripe is that the thick finish can get a little sticky when it's humid. I use baby powder combat that though.
Click to expand...

I scrape and sand the finish off the the back of every neck. Then just keep it clean. Much better playing that way.
 

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