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GOSPEL BASS PLAYERS,STEP UP!

#21
Daniel LeClaire said:
What type of "gospel" music do you mean anyway Firestarter?

When I hear gospel I think of Fred Hammond, Kirk Franklin, Hezekiah Walker, etc. Thumping bass lines and big choirs.

Now contemporary is more like pop or rock. I think of the Vineyard or Hosanna music.

These are both totally different styles.
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I pretty much play the above mentioned, but I did not want to limit Gospel to just that, so I kind of left it open. :cool:
 
#22
Currently using my MIM P with Bill Lawrence P-46, Raven pre & Thomastik-Infeld jazz flats. I'm a recent convert to five strings and semi-patiently waiting for Lakland to build a 55-94 to make joyful noise with. The next instrument that I'd like to check out would be the Villex-equipped Modulus Genesis 5... Keep sending up the praise!
 
#23
Both my Professional Series 5 string Spector's get rave reviews. I use the fretted neck through loaded with EMG DCs for the "praise"gigs, and the defretted bolt on for the laid back and/or laid back "worship" gigs. The B string on both of them are solid. D'addario Slowounds on the former, and Chromes on the latter. I'm back to Yorkville/Traynor bass amplification as well. For the upbeat "praise" gigs, I sometimes further beef things up with a dbx 120A Subharmonic Synth, and add some spice with a v-wah...it all depends on what kind of service/gathering it is, the right tools for the task at hand...
 
#24
The thing I've found to be most important about playing contemporary gospel (Fred Hammond, Kurt Carr, Isreal & The New Breed) is you'd better have a good B string.

If I were to take a tour of Detroit area churches, especially the mega-churches (3,000 members and up) I'd expect to find mostly Ken Smith and Fender Jazz, with some Sting Rays sprinkled in.

As for myself, my 1st "church bass" was a Ken Smith Burner 5 string. I've long since switched over to my main bass, a 5 string Alembic Series II. It's overkill, but I like it ;) .

Fire-Starter,

When I first read your tag line under your screen name, I figured you were a Fred Hammond fan. That's one of the refrains from "Let The Praise Begin". For anybody who cares, that song has a really tight thumpin' bass line. Marcus Miller would be proud of it if it were his :bassist: . And, btw - nice set of toys listed in your profile.

Peace,

James
 
#25
I use my regular rig in church. There's no need to change what I play for the situation. Besides, most of the contemporary music sounds just like secular music, so I go for my best tone no matter what. To comment on what others have posted, I kind of wish I had a 5 string for certain songs that call for it. There is a lot of 5 string playing being done on the contemporary recordings. But I manage.
 
#28
malthumb said:
The thing I've found to be most important about playing contemporary gospel (Fred Hammond, Kurt Carr, Isreal & The New Breed) is you'd better have a good B string.

If I were to take a tour of Detroit area churches, especially the mega-churches (3,000 members and up) I'd expect to find mostly Ken Smith and Fender Jazz, with some Sting Rays sprinkled in.
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I've been playing a nice Ken Smith 5 for awhile now, but I've gone back to playing mostly Stingrays (a five, a four and a fretless four). I also have a Jazz that gets some playing time.

Have you seen the Fred Hammond 'Speak Those Things - LIVE' DVD. A little quiz, what kind of bass do you think is played throughout?




I thought it was going to be an MTD 535, but it's not......
 
#30
todd 4ta said:
....Have you seen the Fred Hammond 'Speak Those Things - LIVE' DVD. A little quiz, what kind of bass do you think is played throughout?




I thought it was going to be an MTD 535, but it's not......
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Yep, got it. I was equally surprised that Maurice Fitzgerald didn't touch his MTD in that one. Fender & Warwick.

Peace,

James
 
#31
Years ago I played a Ric, Peavey, and now I play a Carvin 5 string fretless. They all worked well, but the only thing I think you need for Gospel is a 5 or 6 string. I know I do for just about all the music my worship band plays is in Eb or Db. (Dropping down the the C or B is kinda fun too, heh heh heh.)
 
#32
I use a stingray 5 mainly ran to a sansamp bddi straight to the board. We mainly play pop / rock style praise and worship w/ some softer tunes towards the end. Im pretty much happy w/ the SR but sometimes something like a Ken Smith would come in handy

-Jason
 
#33
I`ve played in Praise and Worship Teams for going on 14 years. I`ve found that theres not one Bass for everything. Here in Nashville you will see everything. Several of the mega churches will cycle players seeing this is Music City USA and all have there own gear. The "in" thing now "at least here" is NO AMPS ON STAGE!! Going for the clean look. You run a head to the Soundman or just plug in direct and you here yourself in the floor monitors. This was a big problem for me at first. The soundman gos for a studio mix and its hard to hear yourself over the vocals and that one keyboard player..you know :scowl: The drummer and I wear cans so it helps a little. We recently moved into a new building and trying different things as to find a good sound so now I`m playing my Eden Rig and the drummer gets his acoustic set...hate electric drums. As far as Basses I bring my Roscoe LG6 most of the time. I get alot of positive feedback from it and its my fav. Sometimes we`ll do an acoustic service and I use my Double Bass with K&K Double Bassmax pickup. Todays P&W music is much different than just a few years ago. I personaly would not want to step on stage without a low B string.

Dave
 
#34
I use a Warrwick Corvette. For my tone I just try to make sure my strings are clean so they sound crispy since I spend most of the time having to thump and slap the hell out of the bass (pun intended.) Sometimes I get carried away and start thumpin and slappin during a 45 minute shout and then I get yelled at.
 
#35
As for myself, my 1st "church bass" was a Ken Smith Burner 5 string. I've long since switched over to my main bass, a 5 string Alembic Series II. It's overkill, but I like it ;) .

Fire-Starter,

When I first read your tag line under your screen name, I figured you were a Fred Hammond fan. That's one of the refrains from "Let The Praise Begin". For anybody who cares, that song has a really tight thumpin' bass line. Marcus Miller would be proud of it if it were his :bassist: . And, btw - nice set of toys listed in your profile.

Peace,

James[/QUOTE]

OH YEA! you are right about the tag, I took it from Fred Hammonds song :hyper: Terrance Palmer played bass for him on that, but now he is with New Breed. I no longer have my Smith 6string :bawl: or Warrior :crying: hey Mat, do you think a trade for my Alembic Rogue 5 for a Kensmith neck through five would be a fair trade? I know you are into Alembics too, so I thought you may have some insight. Thanks man! PEACE!
 
#37
I play P&W for my church and occasional outside gigs, and use mostly a Sadowsky modern 24-fret or PJ5 - both have killer B-strings! Others in the rotation include a Roscoe SKB 6 (gassing for a 5 currently) and MTD535.

I do agree with those who have stated that a good B-string is very important - lots of tunes in Eb when you play with horns! Nothing like dropping down to that low D or Eb at the end of a worship song and giving everybody on stage a foot massage with the subwoofers!

greg
 
#38
:) There has been some really really great comments on this, so what could an oldtimer possibly add?

There are many great sounding basses out there, and yes playing Gospel Music requires great variations in style and tone. Most of this comes from your heart through your mind and then executed by your hands. I agree, fretted and frettless, more than 4 strings (to get those low Eb's and Db's) (and to copete with the Hammond), and have quality equipment. Of course, an attidute of praise, and giving God the Glory are foremost to playing Gospel Music. Soo, what do I use? At church in the high nrg praise and worship: A G&L L2500 / Eden rig. In our weekender traveling Acoustic Gospel group: Modulus Quantum 6 & a Gogin A5 frettless, running through an ART V3 studio tube rack unit, straight through the PA.

Having top shelf gear lets non-Christain musicians who come to hear us play that we are indeed serious about our Music and our Mission.

deBassMan

PLAY SKILLFULLY WITH A LOUD NOISE
 
#39
Fire-Starter said:
.....do you think a trade for my Alembic Rogue 5 for a Kensmith neck through five would be a fair trade?......
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If it's a BSR5EG or BSR5GN I'd take the trade, if it's a BSR5MW I probably wouldn't.

I think the EGs and GN are comparable to, maybe even nicer than the Rogue. I think the Rogue is a better bass than the MW. Besides, you could sell the Rogue, buy a BSR5MW and pocket some change.

That assessment comes from somewhat limited time playing some of the Smith neck-thru basses at a couple local shops.

Peace,

James
 
#40
chingon said:
I use a Warrwick Corvette. For my tone I just try to make sure my strings are clean so they sound crispy since I spend most of the time having to thump and slap the hell out of the bass (pun intended.) Sometimes I get carried away and start thumpin and slappin during a 45 minute shout and then I get yelled at.
Click to expand...
Your church is definately nicer sounding than mine. If I "Slapped the hell" out of my bass in church I would be shot within seconds. The day I started playing at the church the minister came up and told me "Now some of the older congregation really don't like bass, drums, and electric guitar so be sure to keep it down."

As for me I play my fretless Fury Tornado's (sometimes the fretted ones) and I've played my space bass once in church. The looks on peoples faces were priceless.
 

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