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Country headache

thumblypeg

thumblypeg

Oct 23, 2007
139
79
52
Monroe, NC
#1
So I joined a country band. I'm not a country fan and have never heard any of these tunes(it's all rockin new country) but they're all talented kids and have great connections and I thought what the hell, at least it will be easy. Pffbbt!!. My biggest problem right now is that I have close to 50 songs to learn for a NASHVILLE gig in just over 3 weeks. Technically the songs are easy, of course. But a few are in Eb, or C#, and most of them have annoying key changes throughout. And I'm finding out quickly that the Nashville session guys love 5 strings. I don't own a 5 string. I find myself tuning the E string back and forth alot. Should I just keep the damned thing tuned to C# and learn all the songs around that? It's not nearly the same, but It seems to work in a pinch. Or maybe just do without that ultra low end and hope nobody notices it? The songs in question don't sound right without that bottom(to me), but I'm biased. For the record, I can't buy a 5 string in time(although if the band continues to get gigs like this I will have to buy one). I was really not prepared for this, but it's on now. I'm doing it one way or the other but I would love some advice.
 
#5
^^^^^^ +1
Another trick used here since my new-to-me 5'er stays home a lot(only "required" on 8~10 of 180 songs) is tweaking a PODXTLive for about 2 hours using the SUB/OCTAVE lowering function until you get stable tracking and tone locked down. Using this with just a neck pickup = useful 5 string emulation that tracks down to LOW A if you're careful. I switch from 4 to 5 simulation mid-song on some tunes. This nice function buried in Line 6's box made a 5'er not needed for the songs done with it.....that and I didn't have a 5 string bass up until 2 months ago(!?!).

Good luck with the gig.
We cover a number of country tunes and rock some of them up a bit....have FUN!

JC
 
#8
Sounds Just Like Me 10 Years ago.. you wont be happy Long term with the hipshot Best temp fix thou...Sorry to say you are heading for a 5'er it is the only way to do it right.
and if i hear you right thats the only way you will be happy with what your doing.
 
#14
Blake Bass said:
Why are you doing the gig? Why don't you step out and let someone have a shot at it who actually likes the music, has the proper equipment, knows the tunes, and can play them.
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Because i'm the only one who passed the audition apparently. I'm a good bass player and would like to expand my horizons a bit. My drummer from my old high school band asked me to audition because they were having problems finding a good player. We haven't played together in years. I don't hate country music, I'm just not familiar with it. Not to mention I've never gotten to play in Nashville. It's just a bar anyway, it's not the friggin Grand Ole Opry. I'll do fine.
 
#15
Alright, I've decided just to set my Mexican Jazz up BEAD, maybe raise the action and put some flatwounds on it or something. I want to keep the MM set up for slap as it sounds MUCH better. It's the best I can do for now. For the record, when I joined the band, they had taken a break from booking. The Nashville gig was unexpected and after the fact. I have no idea how it happened, I had always heard it's hard as hell to get booked there, and they have never played there as a band before. Now that the lineup is complete, they've booked gigs in NC well into the summer. It's true, I might get busted as an interloper in Nashville, but they can't eat me, and it's not going to be a train wreck or anything. I will say that now that I have listened to these songs thoroughly and learned most of them, I have a new found respect for the Nashville bassists. The talent is subtle but awesome. It's not just 1 5 anymore. Thanks for the advice and "concerns" :P
 
#16
thumblypeg said:
Alright, I've decided just to set my Mexican Jazz up BEAD, maybe raise the action and put some flatwounds on it or something.
Click to expand...
FWIW: I have not tried this with rounds, but when I switched to BEAD on my flats without changing strings, the B was way to slack for my liking. Get a heavier guage B string in advance (or use the lower 4 strings from a 5-string pack)!
 
#18
rondohd said:
+1 what he said
Rondo
Click to expand...

I agree. I see now it's a topic discussed on here quite frequently. I should visit this site more often. I hope it works. I'm not doing it myself. I'll fine tune my bass but i don't want to mess with the trial and error of neck relief and nut filing. I took it to a guy who came highly recommended. Fairly cheap too. Thanks for the advice.
 

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