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Country bass tone

B

bassmatt4792

Apr 2, 2012
183
38
Oswego, New York
#1
I'm putting this in the Basses category because I feel like a different bass would get me closest to this tone.

Hello fellow bassists. I'm currently on a 90s country kick and I'm LOVING a lot of the bass tones I'm hearing. Punchy, resonant, articulate. It also seems to be almost in the front of the mix a lot; it's really easy to hear. Among my favorite tones are the ones in 'One Way Ticket' by Leann Rimes (sounds like the bridge pup on a Jazz 5 to me), 'Don't be Stupid' by Shania Twain, and 'Rodeo' by Garth Brooks. I'm thinking about getting a American Deluxe Jazz 5 sometime soon, in hopes that it kind of gives me this tone. Is that a good choice? I think most of these recordings were done with an active jazz, at least that's what my ears think.

Please tell me your thoughts.

I have a GK 700rb-ii head and a GK RBH 410 cab. I have a Traben Array Obsession 5, a Epiphone Thunderbird, and a Fender Duff McKagan Jazz Special, and none of those basses sound anything like what I'm going for.
 
#2
I'm currently playing in a top 40 country band, and I'm getting it done these days with a Streamliner 900 thru a Mesa PH215... I'm doing most of my gigging with either an '08 American Standard Jazz(in series) or an '09 Highway One P with QP pups for 4 strings, either an EBMM Sterling 5 HS, Music Man SUB5, or a Peavey Foundation 5...

I think you can get there with your amp/cab setup, and your Duff is probably the most likely bass you listed to work... What are you using for strings on it??


- georgestrings
 
#3
I don't know what basses are used on those recordings. But, I would suggest trying out an EBMM StingRay H 5 and an EBMM Sterling H 5 before you buy anything to see if one of those gives you the one you are looking for. I have read on here that the EBMMs are fairly popular in Country these days and the description of sounding "out front" brings them to mind more than a Jazz (to me, of course).
 
#4
The strings on my Duff are Rotos- nice and new and bright. The Duff is kind of a one truck pony, all it really has is a super mid heavy, nasally honk- due to the TBX tone pot and the 70s position jazz pup.

I will for sure try some MMs at GC next time I am there, which souls be soon.
 
#7
I would recommend a Sadowsky JJ5 with humcancelling pickups (metro or NYC) or, if you can find one, an old James Tyler 5. Some other options for that kind of sound IMO include an Alien Audio Lunar or Lakland 5594 (especially the original ones with Bart pickups).
 
#10
I'd use your jazz or p with a Sadowsky DI. Kevin Grantt does fine with a J, albeit a Sadowsky J. Glen Worf works wonders with a P with rounds. A PJ works very well too, Michael Rhodes isn't handicapped with such an instrument.
 
#13
I remember Jazz Basses being the dominant instrument in Country, in early '90's. I saw a lot of them, but I also saw all sorts of other basses being used live. I used a '70's Jazz Bass, a Peavey TL - 5 and a Stingray 5.

Trying to guess what bass appeared on specific recordings is going to be pretty tough. Many of the session guys had several basses to choose from. Then, there's the recording methods to consider.
 
#14
I'd start with the bass or two you have that get you the closest.

Strings have a big role in the sound. Start researching strings. Never underestimate the power that the right strings can have on your sound.

Your basses all have good pickups but there options out there for sure.

I'm guessing though that with the right strings and a nice preamp pedal you can get there with what you have.
 
#16
bassmatt4792 said:
What brand strings would you guys suggest? I've really only been using Rotos for awhile now, as I've been concentrating mostly on rock. I have looked into DR Strings a little, but the whole string market is unfamiliar to me as I've been using Rotos primarily.
Click to expand...

Try some D'Adarrio EXL-160s - they're cheap, and they work well for that stuff... BTW, my band is at Scriba Town Inn this saturday - c'mon out and introduce yourself...


- georgestrings
 
#17
I played in a top 40 Country band back in the late 1990's. I used a Peavey Mark VIII head through an old Peavey 410 cab. I used a 1990 Stingray 5 with Dean Markley flatwound strings. They are pretty much impossible to find nowadays though. I really like the DR Legend Flats. When I used rounds back then it was always Labella Deep Talking Bass.
 
#18
Like a washtub bass :confused:
claw+foot+bass+tub.jpg
 
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#20
StuartV said:
I don't know what basses are used on those recordings. But, I would suggest trying out an EBMM StingRay H 5 and an EBMM Sterling H 5 before you buy anything to see if one of those gives you the one you are looking for. I have read on here that the EBMMs are fairly popular in Country these days and the description of sounding "out front" brings them to mind more than a Jazz (to me, of course).
Click to expand...

+1. I play in a modern country band and use a Sterling H, a Stingray HH and an ADPV. They all work very well for me.
 

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