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GOSPEL BASS PLAYERS,STEP UP!

I play either my Fender American Deluxe Jazz V or Sire MMV7 V. Both basses allow for great tone and expression. Sometimes active and sometimes passive...just based upon my mood and current worship song atmosphere. Unlike a lot of Talkbassers, I don't have a huge arsenal of guitars to choose from. Personally, I feel that a good musician can make almost any bass sound good. However, given a few simple requirements like 1) the bass should be in tune, 2) proper intonation and string height, 3) Decent amplification, effects...etc.
GBP
 
With the Baptist church choir that I present play for, I primarily use a EBMM Stingray 5 (H), as they are more focused on traditional Gospel music. In my opinion, the Stingray sounds better in this situation than my other basses.

However, when I play for one of the GMWA chapters in my area, I normal use a Warwick Streamer Jazzman LX 5 or Warwick Corvette ProLine 5, as they tend to lean towards more modern Gospel music.

Nevertheless, all three of my basses work well for any Gospel music scenario. If I had to choose just one bass, I would probably use my Stingray with DR Fat Beam strings.
 
I use a Ken Lawrence Brase 5 most of the time, but do alternate with a MTD 535 and a Lakland 55-94 - all of them do the job well, but I just feel more attached to the Brase.

BTW, I've seen everything from a trashed "I've been hosed" to a $8K Fodera used - it is not the bass, it is the player!

Dan K.

Well, I HOPE it is OK to quote myself 12 years after the post. I still have a 535 (not the same one) and the same 55-94. The electrical system at the church has something funking going on and I am down to one bass that I can use without getting a bad hum/buzz - a Fodera E5S. I use the other basses whenever I sub at another church and they still sound amazing. The last time I took a Roscoe SKB Custom fretless and the 535 but chickened out and used the 535 for the services.

I guess I have found one of the circumstances where it may be the bass AND the player!

Dan
 
I've been using my MTD Kingston AG5 for months now with the FBCA orchestra. Basically every since I bought it. Versatile to cover the range of styles we play. Also it is such a breeze to play that I don't have to fight it when trying to cold-read a cello or keyboard piece that can be difficult to play on bass.
 
Unlike many other "venues", you're actually playing for an audience that (in most cases...) is sober and actually listening to the music! ;)

Plus, much contemporary Christian is complex, and harmonically challenging and diverse.

Why not sound the best you can?

Jeff
Related to the sober crowd is security. While church PAs and backlines are targeted by thieves during the week you are playing before an audience doing their best to present their Sunday Best face forward. So on the security level your best stuff is probably safer with you at the church than it is sitting at home while you are away for a few predictable hours each weekend if someone is casing you.
 

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