Country players..

[Lync]

I use my Precision V (and Roscoe Beck V at times) plus my Upright for country. Since some stuff is drop D, but other stuff is in drop C# (Jason Aldean, Randy Houser), it just makes sense. Plus, the P V looks traditional (and sounds great). I opened up for Clay Walker 2 weeks ago and his bassist was playing a P V (and wearing chuck taylor's).

 

[JohnThomasson]

Let's play count the strings:

Michael Rhodes on a Sadowsky 5

Trisha Yearwood's bassist on a Yamaha 5 (NE2?)

Jake Willemain ... is that a six?

Shania Twain's bassist on a Warwick 5

Martina McBride's bassist ... looks like a Lakland 5

Looks like they run in different circles. I think you overstated your case.

Those are all older clips, 2-3+ years old and with the older artists. The last time I saw Michael Rhodes and the players play he was using a 4 string p/j Sadowsky. There are definitely tons of people playing 5 string basses, but it is becoming less common and Nashville artists are always trying to be more "authentic" . Nathan and I are just telling you what we see as Nashville guys playing with National acts and it doesn't mean anything outside of that world. Play whatever you want but I would show up to an audition in Nashville with at least one passive four string.

 

[NathanTbass]

Let's play count the strings:

Michael Rhodes on a Sadowsky 5

Trisha Yearwood's bassist on a Yamaha 5 (NE2?)

Jake Willemain ... is that a six?

Shania Twain's bassist on a Warwick 5

Martina McBride's bassist ... looks like a Lakland 5

Looks like they run in different circles. I think you overstated your case.

Maybe I did overstate my case, but this is why I said "some circles", and "very few use 5 strings". I never said that nobody plays 5 strings and everyone hates them. Your point is made and I understand that some use 5's. I was just trying to give some universal advice for the person asking about country work in general. These were my universal statements of what is universally understood in the country world.
He can make his decision of what best suits him, and hopefully by using the information that is given to him on this site, he will make his decision on what to play and it will generate him more work!

 

[electracoyote]

I would show up to an audition in Nashville with at least one passive four string.

This is perhaps the more rational and useful advice.

An all-out indictment on 5-strings as posted previously seems suspect. I have no doubt that the Nashville session pros have 4-string passives in their arsenals, but I bet those same session pros would pull out a 5-string in a heartbeat if they felt the song required it.

These guys are all about giving the producer what he/she wants, and the advice to have a 4-string passive in your arsenal goes equal for having a 5-string in your arsenal as well.

I wouldn't hesitate to travel with at least one of each to any gig, session, or audition in Nashville, TN. I seriously doubt I'd get laughed at.

 

[lowfreqgeek]

I've heard that Mike is usually taking two 4 string jazz basses and two 4 string precisions to sessions now. I heard that from a drummer friend of mine that has done some sessions with him. That might have just been his flavor of the month.

Jimmie Lee Sloas uses tuned down 4 strings and sometimes uses a capo so he always has open strings for the key. He play's on all of the Little Big Town stuff (and just about everything else), so I have gotten to really know his playing. Lots of guys use 5 string basses but you should use your best judgement if you are going for a gig here in Nashville. There is a bit of backlash to the 5 string bass/ Paul Reed Smith guitar thing in some circles. None of this matters outside of Nashville, but it is happening here.

A couple years ago Mike told me he was usually taking his 2 Streamers (fretted and fretless) an a Jazz. But that was over 2 years ago. He was also going more or less direct through a Neve 1073 (Brent Averill) and had a Tube Tech comp in his rack, but didn't use it a lot. He commented, though, that the "newer guys" were all squashing their signal and didn't have a real crisp clear sound like he was used to having with his Warwicks.

As for Jimmy Lee Sloas, he's been using down-tuned 4's for many years. He's a big influence on me, but I haven't actively sought out anything he's done for the past 10+ years. I used to dream of moving to Nashville and being the next Jimmy Lee Sloas (but my favorite out of the 90's CCM-scene was always Jackie Street). Obviously that didn't work out for me... (yet).

Interestingly enough, I watched a very recent interview with Dave Hungate the other night where he said that he almost always uses a 5-string. He's definitely of the "older" generation of Nashville's great bassists, so he can probably do whatever he wants!

 

[lowfreqgeek]

I've played a lot of more classic country over the past few years with a fantastic guitarist/singer from Amarillo. Obviously, he was heavily influenced by West Texas country and western. We didn't do a lot of newer stuff, but we'd throw in some Robert Earl King and recent George Strait (certainly not "modern").

My rig has served me very well: Epifani UL502/112 (or 2 UL112s). It's not a very "country" rig, but it's warm and creamy and deep sounding, but very clear. It's just a very warm, clean sound. My bass of choice has been a P-bass, usually with flats (DRs, or TI right now), but I've used a number of others - Jazz 4/5's, fretted/fretless G&L L2500s, fretless MM-style 4, and even a Roscoe 6 (rare).

Some things won't work, but I think any reasonable rig CAN work if you try. You just have to know the instrument/amp and adjust accordingly.

Drive the rig - don't let it drive you.

 

[curtis r]

i use an old p bass,ashdown head,and a berg 112er. sometimes i will take a amer std p5 on a fill in as well but don't need it much. even though i have bigger rigs(410&810) i have used this rig for crowds up to 8000(yes with pa support don't be silly)

 

[JackANSI]

This is totally my opinion...

I've found that most people I meet who "hate" a 5+ string bass can't play proficiently on more than 4 strings. Sucks to hear, but its totally true from everyone who I've met, online or otherwise.

I don't care what type of music you play, if you can't play it on a five or even six string bass, you need to sit down and work a bit harder (physical limitations aside).

There is still a 4 string bass in that 5, 6, or 7+ stringer, if you can't accept that as perfectly ok, get a freaking life.



That said I see a ton of Eden rigs in country these days. They all sound sweet no matter the tuning or number of strings. Eden is my next stop if I ever get sick of the RH450 (which I doubt, the RH450 can do anything and sound good!)

 

[JohnThomasson]

This is totally my opinion...

I've found that most people I meet who "hate" a 5+ string bass can't play proficiently on more than 4 strings. Sucks to hear, but its totally true from everyone who I've met, online or otherwise.

I don't care what type of music you play, if you can't play it on a five or even six string bass, you need to sit down and work a bit harder (physical limitations aside).

There is still a 4 string bass in that 5, 6, or 7+ stringer, if you can't accept that as perfectly ok, get a freaking life.

I don't think that has anything to do with this thread. We were just saying more guys in Nashville are going back to 4 strings and some country artists in Nashville prefer that look. I don't feel the need to own a 5 string because I'm not crazy for the feel and sound of them and tuning down really works for me. I come from a heavy double bass/jazz background and it just feels right with 4 strings. I've owned a couple of 5 strings and still own a 6, but I do appreciate the generalization.

 

[Lync]

Without a doubt that is the current "style". I basically use the P5 since it looks pretty authentic and I don't want to have to learn tunes differently depending on the instrument (sometimes I play certain tunes on the upright, and sometimes electric).

I'd like to see what the guy who plays live with Darius Rucker uses live since there are a bunch of low notes in his tunes.

I have to say...that Little Big Town gig is very cool=congrats on that. Great band with excellent tunes/harmonies. Plus the women in the band look pretty good to me.

Those are all older clips, 2-3+ years old and with the older artists. The last time I saw Michael Rhodes and the players play he was using a 4 string p/j Sadowsky. There are definitely tons of people playing 5 string basses, but it is becoming less common and Nashville artists are always trying to be more "authentic" . Nathan and I are just telling you what we see as Nashville guys playing with National acts and it doesn't mean anything outside of that world. Play whatever you want but I would show up to an audition in Nashville with at least one passive four string.

 

[JackANSI]

It has alot to do with this thread. Don't be scared to own a 5 string for playing country just because some people in Nashville said so. If Nashville is that stuck-up... sheesh.. Get a life!

 

[JohnThomasson]

Without a doubt that is the current "style". I basically use the P5 since it looks pretty authentic and I don't want to have to learn tunes differently depending on the instrument (sometimes I play certain tunes on the upright, and sometimes electric).

I'd like to see what the guy who plays live with Darius Rucker uses live since there are a bunch of low notes in his tunes.

I have to say...that Little Big Town gig is very cool=congrats on that. Great band with excellent tunes/harmonies. Plus the women in the band look pretty good to me.

Ha.. thanks. I'm blown away every night by their harmonies. Funny thing about this gig is getting my in-ear mix right. I'll get the mix right for the band and it's fine for one singer and then they all sing and it's like "Where are the drums?" In other words they sound huge. Oh Kimberly and Karen are really easy on the eyes.

It does seems crazy playing my p-bass at C#/F#/B/E but they are totally against a 5 string. I only use that bass on a couple of songs and only one requires the low C#. Jimmy Lee does it that way, so they figure I can do it that way. My jazz is only down a whole step and it feels and sounds really nice that way.

 

[Craig_S]

What gauge stings do you use for C# tuning?

 

[JohnThomasson]

It has alot to do with this thread. Don't be scared to own a 5 string for playing country just because some people in Nashville said so. If Nashville is that stuck-up... sheesh.. Get a life!

Not really since you were saying that players that don't like 5 strings just need to practice more. Part of me having a life is having a job that I really love, so I go with what I'm using and I prefer it that way. I would have a stronger stance about it if I liked 5 strings, but I don't care for them so it doesn't matter to me what the artist things about it. You might think differently about if you were paying your mortgage with you gig.

 

[gm2_in_co]

It has alot to do with this thread. Don't be scared to own a 5 string for playing country just because some people in Nashville said so. If Nashville is that stuck-up... sheesh.. Get a life!

I love these "change the powers of the world threads." Reminds me of when I was on my own 22 year old head trip. Let me know when you succeed in tumbling all those brick walls. At 55, I'd rather recognize them for what they are and learn to navigate them peacefully.

PS: I should also add that I like to think my "country" is at least half way "authentic" and I prefer it to look traditional and homespun or kitschy to go along with that. Most of the artists referenced thus far in this thread I associate more with Brittany Spears, Justin Timberlake, and Boys to Men than they do anything that I consider country. Not noticing anything about Steve Earle or Gillian Welch and their 17 string bass playing bassists...

 

[JackANSI]

I love these "change the powers of the world threads." Reminds me of when I was on my own 22 year old head trip. Let me know when you succeed in tumbling all those brick walls. At 55, I'd rather recognize them for what they are and learn to navigate them peacefully.

I know limitations and have learned to accept many of them..

but you always have to fight the asinine ones... no matter how old you get. Otherwise you might as well be dead and buried.



Besides I'd rather gig with people who get excited that I brought out something new, no matter how many strings it has.

I come from a long, long line of bluegrassers. They poke and make fun of my collection of 'new fangled' gadgets and make comments like "why in the world would you need that many notes in one song?" (reference to some sheet music I was carrying around once). But it always comes down to "can you run?" not "what you brung"... Guess country kinda lost that...

 

[DavidE]

"I don't care what type of music you play, if you can't play it on a five or even six string bass, you need to sit down and work a bit harder (physical limitations aside). "

That's me. I am 47 and have been playing guitar since I was 7. I just picked up bass to play in my country band and yes, I'm really trying to play like a bass player and not a guitar player with a bass. Having folk lessons in my youth and learning how to run bass lines with my thumb while fingerpicking really helps. But I just can't wrap my head around a 5 string as having that low string any lower than a drop D just isn't in my vocabulary and I don't have the time to really work with a 5 string to get it right. Fortunately, a hipshot does the trick since the band takes the Aldeen tunes up to D. ;-)

 

[JohnThomasson]

What gauge stings do you use for C# tuning?

Just 45-105 D'addarios nickels. I was going to go higher but it is working for me at the gauge.

 

[lowfreqgeek]

Just 45-105 D'addarios nickels. I was going to go higher but it is working for me at the gauge.

How do you have your nut set up? For that matter, how is the whole bass setup?

I'm a low-action guy, but I have been using a slightly higher action lately - especially for recording. I've always cut my nut slots very low, but they're cut for a specific gauge at a specific pitch. If I wanted to detune the whole bass, I'd have to start over with a new setup.

But I might try it anyway as I have an extra 4-string I just took in trade that would sound great BEAD, or some other lower tuning like you're using.

 

[JohnThomasson]

My nut is the standard factory set up. I just raised the saddles and adjusted the intonation. I've been trying to play with a lighter touch over the past couple of years and you kind of have to when tuned down that much. I've spent years playing upright and that led to me being kind of heavy handed and this has been good for me. I wish I could get the low tension Thomastik flats to work with this set up, but that is too extreme for me.