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Country players..

#181
You will eventually get used to it and the extended range is going to become something of an addiction in time. But be prepared for some really ugly notes in the beginning when go go reaching to punch out a big fat low E and SURPRISE its a B!
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Something that worked very well for me, going from a 4 to a 5 string, was to replace the low B with a different colored string. I played that way for several months and the visual difference really made an impact.

After several months, I took off the "training wheels (string)" and was very comfortable playing the 5.
 
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#183
This has been a great read! Lots of interesting insight and opinions on 4 vs. 5 string basses. Most if it has left me with a little bit of a gut ache.

I have a local modern country cover band that has had some local success, and we have even been fortunate enough to play a really cool gig in Wisconsin last summer (Country Fest - I got see Little Big Town perform!). We got to do a set on the main stage, and then a grueling but fun 6 sets (for 2 days) in a side stage/beer tent.

In regards to gear, I have found that a 5 string is necessary for the modern country/rock stuff we are focusing on, i.e. Aldean, Josh Thompson, Currington, Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, etc. I also do the majority of the singing, so re-learning all the songs on a down-tuned 4 string would be very difficult. Beside the point, because I live in Illinois and not Nashville (I can still dream about it, tho).

I use an LMII head with a couple of Avatar single driver cabs - 1x12, 1x15. X2 wireless, Korg pitch-black. I also have a VT Bass and ParaDriver DI in my pedal board. Oh, and a Lakland 55-01 with MK5's and LH3 pre.

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#185
Any of you guys from nashville know the Travis Mann Band? I hear he's got a new bass player that's really good. I always enjoy seeing them when in Nashville but haven't been there in awhile. I loved Zach Shedd and Elio but they have moved on. Don't know the new guys name but I hear good things. Great rockabilly-country band. I might be biased though since Travis is my nephew.
 
#188
I've pretty much stuck to a 5 (Sadowsky NYC JJ) and been OK to be honest. But I sing as well, so it just makes it easier to "not think" and just play and sing.

But I also use a 4 string Jazz with a D-Tuner- a LOT. And now one of my 4's has the new Double Stop lever from HipShot, I can pretty much cover anything a 5 can with my 4 (I have the second position tuned to low B).

Gear wise, when I was on the road, it was all Eden (was an Eden endorsee for a long time) and that with a "Fender" was usually a home run.
Only other thing I used besides a tuner was a Demeter Compulator compressor.
 
#189
Really folks?

You show up to tryout for a country band with a 5 string and and get laughed at?

Are they not even gonna let you play if you bring an non "standard" instrument?

What happens when you start playing is what is important.

What Matters: Don't ever step on the vocal. Play the right thing at the right time. Play nothing at the right time. Don't ever step on the vocal. Just because you can play a fill, doesn't mean you have to. Lock with the drummer. Don't ever step on the vocal.

What Doesn't Matter: Gear
 
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#190
Anyone know who's playing with James Otto these days???
I got a call just tonight to sub on an opening slot for him next month. Dunno if it's gonna be for a bit or just the one date yet.

Anyway.....
I didn't dive much into the whole thread, but this one should darn near be a sticky IMO!
LOTS of good info.

I've never been told or asked to NOT play a 5. Hell, I had a Fodera Matt Garrison 5 I used for a while. Yes I got looks like crazy!
I'll use a 4 if I can, but I never did a full bass de-tune. Like I mentioned, I use a HipShot a lot on my 4's. And I don't know if I ever will do a full de-tune. But if I had a bigger gig and that's what they wanted. I'd do it.
I will say that I do agree that a de-tuned 4 does have a pretty nice growl that can't be matched by a 5.
I have been asked a few times, both live and in the studio to "bring that pretty red bass"- my old Sadowsky 5.

The acts I was on the road with didn't mind so much the "look" because, like I said, I'm tapped to sing BGV a lot (although, I', trying NOT to so I can just PLAY!), and dangit, I'm really not that smart to change that much! :D

That being said, I've tried to actually sound as generic as I can. I know, sounds weird, but I just want to sound like a "bass".

One thing that was touched on real briefly is, and this goes for pretty much all gigs....you can be a perfect player and have the golden tone, but if you're a d!ck to be around, you'll be watching "lesser" players get the gigs......
 
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#193
Interesting topic.

I will way in here as a Nashville touring/session veteran of 22 years.

I started playing bass in the 70's (yes I am Old) I started playing 5's in the early nineties in response to the preference for synth bass in pop music.

Bass players had to compete with synth players. Hell, I even occasionally played key bass on pop tunes on top 40 gigs before moving to Nashville.

When I moved to Nashville in 94, most artists required you to play 5 as a lot of records were cut with 5's and the artist wanted the live performance to sound as close to the record as possible.

I grew up playing 4's, I love a good P or J bass! I started out using the hipshot D tuner on gigs before I got into 5's. It was ok, until you forgot to retune for the next tune in E! Still it sounded Flabby to me.

So I switched to 5's and never had to worry about retuning.

Now stating that, just because I have the B string, I may go 5 or 6 tunes and never play one note on that string!

Hell, there are some tunes I play that I won't touch the E string....So this whole argument about 5 vs 4 is dead to me.

Now I will admit in sessions that if it is a more traditional tune, I will pull out my 4's.

Especially my p-bass with flats!
 
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#194
Weighing in as a weekend warrior with 22+ years of weekend warrior experience! :)

I'm playing a Japanese Fender P, modded with active PJ pickups and active tone controls thru an Ampeg PF500 and 1x15 cab. Does 95% of what I need it to. If I were add in a new bass (down to one from a half dozen at my peak), I would add in a 5er so I can cover those more modern bro country tunes. Leaning towards a Lakland Skyline or Sterling/MM SUB5.

Like Bassdudeman, I would likely only hit that low B string a handful of times in a night. But clearly (based on my latest posts), I do need to bring a second bass to the gig anyways! :cool:
 
#196
Dead Thread Resurrection!!!

I've used several rigs for shows with my country band with great results.

Markbass CMD 151P with New York 151 extension cab (also pictured (Lakland Skyline 55-64 & Mike Lull M5V)

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Carvin BX500 head with Eden EX-112 & Earcandy Soverign 1X12 (with my Valenti VPT5)

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BBE BMax Pre with Crown XLS1000 power amp & Greenboy Fearless F112 (with my @StreetScenes "Pino" Precision)

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Lately I've been going ampless. Simply using a Markbass Compressore into a Radial ProDI with stellar results (with my Mike Lull M5V)! Easy load in & out too!!

Ctow1rsWIAAOUez_1.jpg

Ctow1ruWAAEwVhC_1.jpg
 
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#197
Munjibunga said:
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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I saw a rig just like this when we opened for Big & Rich. Their Bassist used it and it sounded great. I believe he was also playing a 5 string F-Bass.
 
#199
I play 2 to 4 times a week in a country band. This is my gear for my gigs ranging from small shows to big shows.
 

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