Birdsong CortoBass fretless with varitone and Chromes and/or Azola Bug Bass EUB ---> VT Bass Dlx --> Empress Parametric ---> Euphonic-Audio Micro 550 ---> Euphonic-Audio NL-210.
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Country bass rig
- Thread starter fuzzy beard
- Start date
I'm in a country band that does more modern songs(covers and originals), so it leans a bit on the rock side. I'll switch between a P-bass and Lakland 44-02 --> Compressorre --> VT Bass --> Markbass LMIII --->2x Markbass 102 stacked vertically --->earplugs.
I'm a curious non-country music bass player (though I suppose we should all have some level of connection with country music) can ask a slightly off-topic question: what goes into making a country bass rig?
It's not so much the rig as it is how you play it. You can do good country on anything from old tube rigs to new squeaky clean stuff if you finesse it just right. Of course you don't need dirt pedals, ping-pong stereo effects, etc.
Fender Jazz bass into a Nemesis NC115 combo, which I've had for the past 6 years. I also bought an NSP 115 ext speaker cab to go with it (and modified the amp so that the ext speaker jack is in parallel), but almost never use it. We play traditional and modern country, but we don't play that loud!
I agree, however, that it's how you play that's most important.
I agree, however, that it's how you play that's most important.
Alt-Country here (think Whiskey Town). Our last show is up on SoundCloud, The Swearengens at the High Dive, 12/1/11
Ampeg SVT-4 Pro
Ampeg 410HLF
Aguilar Tone Hammer preamp/DI
Hwy One Jazz, for now
I'll also use an Ampeg BA300 for smaller venues.
Ampeg SVT-4 Pro
Ampeg 410HLF
Aguilar Tone Hammer preamp/DI
Hwy One Jazz, for now
I'll also use an Ampeg BA300 for smaller venues.
For Country gigs I use a Genz Benz Streamliner 600, into a Schroeder custom 2x15 cab. JHS pre-amp-overdrive pedal.
With either a stack-knob Jazz, or a Nordy VP5.
Haven't played a country gig in a while, but typically use one of four basses for country: '85 MIJ P w/ rosewood board, "83 P w/ Maple board both strung w/ D'Aquisto nickel rounds, '07 CIJ 51 P reissue w/ TI flats or '69 Dan Armstrong/Danelectro singlecut w/ La Bella flats.
Whichever one I'm using gets plugged into an SVT-3 Pro head and whatever house cabinet is available. If there's no cab available, I'll use Eden 2x10s or an LDS 1x12.
Whichever one I'm using gets plugged into an SVT-3 Pro head and whatever house cabinet is available. If there's no cab available, I'll use Eden 2x10s or an LDS 1x12.
faulkner1953 said:I can appreciate those of you who play to sound as much like someone (or multiple someones) as possible. I'm just not good enough to do that.
In my many years of playing, I found out early on that nobody cares about the bass players sound in the small clubs and VFW's. As long as you can be heard, that's all that counts. They just want to hear a recognizable song, doesn't need to be exactly right. They seldom notice a flub, and even if we do an approximation of a song, that's good enough. Start and stop at the same time, everyone thinks you're great.
I'm just saying that if the small joints are where a person is playing, getting the bass sound just right is for your own amusement. Seldom will anyone notice a difference.JMHO
If the foundation of the house isn't right, the whole house is off - and most people wouldn't know why, but they could sense something wrong.
Bass has to hold it together and fit underneath. And the places where you can play where you don't have to care are going away quickly. This is the age of the DJ and clearchannel radio, and if you want to work good gigs (or, in the future, any gigs) you'll have to make it sound like what people want to hear.
At least until the 3rd set, when they're good and drunk.
Here's my rig:
-G&L L2500 Tribute bass
-Markbass Mini CMD 121P combo amp
-Markbass Traveler 151P cabinet
-BBE Opto Stomp compressor pedal
I use both the combo and cab together most of the time, but occasionally I'll use the combo alone for monitoring and go direct out to the PA.
-G&L L2500 Tribute bass
-Markbass Mini CMD 121P combo amp
-Markbass Traveler 151P cabinet
-BBE Opto Stomp compressor pedal
I use both the combo and cab together most of the time, but occasionally I'll use the combo alone for monitoring and go direct out to the PA.
Jazz Bass straight into whatever main amp I happen to be using so right now a GK MB112. For a very large venue it would probably be an Ampeg or GK head through a 2x12cab.
For the latest Freddy Fender combo I'm playing with, a '51 reissue P with flats through a Peavey Mark IV, and an Avatar 212. Sounds pretty old school to me.
will33 said:The hlf works good for country as it comes in under the cleanish guitars and kinda floats the band from the bottom instead of using a cut-through strategy. Same principle works for anything with thinner guitars, like 80's hairband stuff, which ironically (or not) is what some of this newer "country" stuff sounds like.
too true!
I use whatever is on hand bass-wise...Zon VB 5, Dingwall, Peavey Cirrus, Lakland. The change-up keeps things fresh. Same holds true for amps. I've whittled my array down to Yamaha and SansAmp preamps, Acme and LDS cabs.
Riis
Riis
After playing country for the last 30 years I think the main factor for a good "country" rig is a good clear tone that cuts through the mix. I think most rigs, with a bit of tweaking on the EQ, can be used for country. The one thing I always do is to make sure our drummer can hear me clearly, so we can keep the groove going.
