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Country players..

Hey all!

I'm getting back into the scene and am going to be auditioning for a few established country bands soon and I am very excited.

I was hoping to see your country rigs.. amps, basses, pedals, anything... for inspiration to see what my options are as far as a new rig, which I will be springing for very soon.

I'd appreciate if you could post pics and let me know what you play.

Thanks!

Dave
 
Originals, covers, both?

The scene nowadays pretty much requires you have a 5 string with a thick tone. I did a pretty big cover country gig about 2 years ago for an 18 month stint, and used a Modulus Q5 through various Eden and Mesa rigs. If I were to do it again, I'd either use my 400+ or go for an Aguilar DB750. It just has "that" tone for the thick fundamental I like. And I always got compliments on my tone w/ the Q5. Our soundguy was on staff so he'd always boost my signal b/c it rocked so hard! :bassist::bassist:
 
Do you really need a 5 string for Country?
Why?
(not a troll post; a legit question)

All the country songs that I've played and all the songs I hear on the radio (NEW songs: Lady Antebellum, Taylor Swift, Billy Currington, Keith Urban, etc.) can all be played with a 4 string. At least it seems that way to me. I've never heard or played a country song where I've found myself hearing (or needing) any notes below an open E.
 
Thanks for the input.. They play a lot of covers, but also write original material. I have been debating buying a 5 string as I've always played 4.. I think it makes sense to have the 5 in case its ever needed..
 
The only constants are my Acme cabs and Crest & QSC power amps. I swap amongst 4 different rack pre's and 10 five-bangers. Nobody seems to care what I use...provided I show up on time and my socks match. FWIW, my flavor-of-the-month is the Roscoe Century V...a best buy in my book.

Welcome back to the scene!

Riis
 
I was thinking about doing a Fender V jazz but am not too familiar with what type of amp setup I should lean toward. I'm not expecting to play in stadiums and will more than likely go through a PA but I want something that will hold up on its own.

Thanks for the replies! Giving me some things to think about...
 
Well, you won't SEE my rig ... I don't take pics of it like I would family members. I'm running a GK Backline 600 (yeah, cheap ... but sounds great) to Ampeg B115 and/or Ampeg B410he cabs. Using a Fender MIM Jazz, MIM P-Bass, MIM Jazz fretless, or my 3/4 blond acoustic upright bass.
 
I use a 4 string Jazz bass tuned down a whole step (DGCF) and a Precision tuned down a three half steps (C#F#BE) both with nickel rounds> pedal board> U5 > SVT and an 810.

It took me a minute to get used to the strings at that tension and I also had to make some set up adjustments. I really love the way my bass sounds tuned down. It has a nice growl and I have never really been into the way B strings sound for most things. So it works for me. Jimmie Lee Sloas also does this for all of his sessions.
 
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Do you play a lot of newer songs? If you dont mind me asking.. Whats your setlist look like? I am trying to learn as much as I can prior to meeting up with everyone.

I use the d tuner on some old (Devil Went Down To Georgia) and newer tunes (She's Country - Jason Aldeen). We do play more modern tunes than old ones, but I use the d tuner on both. Off the top of my head in addition to the above:

Garth - Calling Baton Rouge

Aldeen - Hick Town

Gretchen Wilson - Here for the Party

Montgomery Gentry - What do You Think About That

Montgomery Gentry -Gone (Like a Freight Train)
 
I played in a country band for 10 years and always played 5-strings. I don't generally play 5-strings for the low notes, rather, to player higher up the fretboard. However, in country music, there are a ton of songs that have bass lines that go below low E. I used this rig more than any other for country (minus the WT-300). The bass was usually a Fender Jazz Deluxe Plus or a Lakland 55-94.

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