Yeah, me too... the neck and spacing just feels like home to me.
my next one I might try the Bassmods preamp /fatties .... thanks
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Gospel Bass
- Thread starter Harvey4strings
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Yeah, me too... the neck and spacing just feels like home to me.
my next one I might try the Bassmods preamp /fatties .... thanks
Like anything, one must use the low notes in only appropriate places and not over-use it
Is it considered trolling to suggest Abominable Effects "God Botherer" Fuzz/Phaser?
If you were playing a song that was recorded with a five, stick to playing the low notes where the bassist played them on the recording, don’t sprinkle low notes everywhere because you can. It may also be that your church simply is not playing music that lends itself to below low E notes. As we all know, all churches are not playing the same sorts of music.
My old sterling 5 HS worked fine last year when I was playing gospel and my SBMM ray 25 is working for playing contemporary, hymns and bluegrass at the church I am playing at now. Years ago a bongo and peavey grind worked. When I was on tour Modulus brought it.
Below is a 2013 Facebook post by Sharay Reed you may find interesting.
This is not a post to brag, but to give Testimony to God. I have been playing Fender basses since I was 10 years old. When I was in 5th grade, I went to see a jazz band performance of the high school band I would later be a part of. The bass player was playing a white, American Fender Jazz 4string. They were playing the theme to "Flashdance" and I remember just being Mesmerized by the Tone and the presence of this bass.
I couldn't afford one of my own, but my teacher had a 4string Sunburst Fender Squire at the school and he let me take it home to practice. All of my heroes of the bass either played Fender or owned one: Jaco, Marcus, James Jamerson. If you play Gospel bass and you're from Chicago, you have a Fender or you've owned one- it's a part of the culture. It's a rite of passage.
In 1996, I asked God to lead me to a bass that would be my Main axe for years to come. I went to Kagan and Gaines in Forest Park Il and there was a 1996 Sunburst American Jazz 5string hanging on the wall. The neck was warped so nobody was really trying to play it. I had the worker straighten out the neck and I plugged it in. I would go on to record over 40 records and Dvds with that bass.
In 2004, I was looking to upgrade my bass and I again asked God to bless me to find a bass that would last. I went to New York and found a 4 string Fender that had the sound and the power- but I play 5string bass. I bought it though for $1200. I took it to church rehearsal when I got home and my lil bro Rodney Jones was there. He had a red 5string, American Deluxe with a mother of pearl pick guard on it. I said " let me see that". I plugged it in and I ended up giving him my 4 string that I bought in NYC, Plus $800 in cash for it. That's the bass that I play today.
I said all that to say- Fender and I have a Long history together. I never DREAMED that I would one day represent the brand that has helped to represent me and my music for all of this time. It was the endorsement that they don't just give out. When I was contacted that they wanted me to represent them- I Literally started to tear up. Jimi Hendricks, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn, are All my fellow endorsees. I'm soo Excited to be a part of that Family- you have NO idea. And I want to thank God and encourage you young musicians out there that God Rewards faithfulness, and its not just with things. He rewards you by making you into something Special, just like Himself.
This is not a post to brag, but to give Testimony to God. I have been playing Fender basses since I was 10 years old. When I was in 5th grade, I went to see a jazz band performance of the high school band I would later be a part of. The bass player was playing a white, American Fender Jazz 4string. They were playing the theme to "Flashdance" and I remember just being Mesmerized by the Tone and the presence of this bass.
I couldn't afford one of my own, but my teacher had a 4string Sunburst Fender Squire at the school and he let me take it home to practice. All of my heroes of the bass either played Fender or owned one: Jaco, Marcus, James Jamerson. If you play Gospel bass and you're from Chicago, you have a Fender or you've owned one- it's a part of the culture. It's a rite of passage.
In 1996, I asked God to lead me to a bass that would be my Main axe for years to come. I went to Kagan and Gaines in Forest Park Il and there was a 1996 Sunburst American Jazz 5string hanging on the wall. The neck was warped so nobody was really trying to play it. I had the worker straighten out the neck and I plugged it in. I would go on to record over 40 records and Dvds with that bass.
In 2004, I was looking to upgrade my bass and I again asked God to bless me to find a bass that would last. I went to New York and found a 4 string Fender that had the sound and the power- but I play 5string bass. I bought it though for $1200. I took it to church rehearsal when I got home and my lil bro Rodney Jones was there. He had a red 5string, American Deluxe with a mother of pearl pick guard on it. I said " let me see that". I plugged it in and I ended up giving him my 4 string that I bought in NYC, Plus $800 in cash for it. That's the bass that I play today.
I said all that to say- Fender and I have a Long history together. I never DREAMED that I would one day represent the brand that has helped to represent me and my music for all of this time. It was the endorsement that they don't just give out. When I was contacted that they wanted me to represent them- I Literally started to tear up. Jimi Hendricks, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn, are All my fellow endorsees. I'm soo Excited to be a part of that Family- you have NO idea. And I want to thank God and encourage you young musicians out there that God Rewards faithfulness, and its not just with things. He rewards you by making you into something Special, just like Himself.
@Hambone70, it’s ironic that you posted that.
About four or five years ago, I was at the local Guitar Center, and they had recently received a white 5 String StingRay (with gold plated hardware), just as the one you posted. I commented to my friend that, that was a pretty Bass, but I couldn’t exactly picture a Rock and Roller playing one of those. He went on to say that Rockers didn’t play them, Gospel players did.
He’d been been at that store for quite a number of years, and they’d only received a handful of them in that time, and that about half the the time they were purchased by a (Gospel) bass player, and the rest of the time, they were purchased by the Pastor of the church to be used by whoever was playing bass on the Worship Team.
I’m guessing it must be a “thing”. Most rockers I see playing StingRays, usually play black or Sunburst.
YMMV. Clarkko
About four or five years ago, I was at the local Guitar Center, and they had recently received a white 5 String StingRay (with gold plated hardware), just as the one you posted. I commented to my friend that, that was a pretty Bass, but I couldn’t exactly picture a Rock and Roller playing one of those. He went on to say that Rockers didn’t play them, Gospel players did.
He’d been been at that store for quite a number of years, and they’d only received a handful of them in that time, and that about half the the time they were purchased by a (Gospel) bass player, and the rest of the time, they were purchased by the Pastor of the church to be used by whoever was playing bass on the Worship Team.
I’m guessing it must be a “thing”. Most rockers I see playing StingRays, usually play black or Sunburst.
YMMV. Clarkko
JeezyMcNuggles
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Well, I find a lot of worship music actually tends to be in B, D, and C. Which should justify a 5er. It just so happens that there's always a lot going on. 4 or 5 singers, drums, two guitars, keys, and then me. And there's never any kind of professional sound engineer either. From listening to recordings, I learned that using my B string flooded the room with low end. Sure, it feels good. But everything gets washed in bass. Playing the same notes on another string always came out so much cleaner. So, I stopped bringing the 5. Turns out, I much prefer a 4 string anyway. So much more comfortable, spacing is perfect, lighter, and no extra string in my way. Haven't once considered getting another one.
You make a good point about the usefulness of a sound crew.My church has a sound crew, but the operative phrase is that you like the four. That is the biggest difference.
Ibanez BTB, Yamaha, MTD, Cort Artisan, and Squier make good 5-string basses with an active pre and are well under $1K. There are others, of course, but these come to mind first.
Sharay Reed plays Fodera now. That is not a knock on Fender because Foderas are often Fenders in boutique clothing. An even bigger point is that Sharay mentions that Fender dominated the Chicago Gospel scene. This reflects the influence of great local players on what those following after them choose. I see this in Gospel all the time with players buying whatever the hot player of the day is using. That is really why I am reluctant to pick out any one bass as best for Gospel because it is a moving target.
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There’s some very different types of worship music. I’ve seen everything from 6 string Ken Smith basses played very clean to fender p basses played with effects and even keybass stuff
I saw this yesterday, but decided to see where it went before jumping in.
Pretty decent.
I switch back and forth between my Hamer 4 string p-copy and my Mid 70s Peavey Patriot with the Superferrite pick-up. I mostly used the Patriot until we had a change in pianists. The old one was more ..... "superfluous?" ....
I needed to cut through more. With the current one, the p-copy works fine.
Generally speaking in my area it seems most Southern or Traditional gospel players prefer Fender P 4 string, but be ready for working the fretboard. Mid song key changes abound!
Urban Gospel players in this area seem to really like 5-ers such as the Conklin Groove tools.
After playing one I see why. I would have one and hate myself for missing one at a killer price a few years ago.
If I were to go buy a bass just for gospel it would either be a Roscoe standard 5 just to keep from running the board ( and I want a Roscoe ) or a Conklin Groove Tools 5.
The Conklin just works for what I think it should sound like IMHO.
It also helps that I use an Acoustic amp with a single 15" cone.
Truthfully .... If I played what I really wanted at church with the people I used to play with, it would be an upright.
Pretty decent.
I switch back and forth between my Hamer 4 string p-copy and my Mid 70s Peavey Patriot with the Superferrite pick-up. I mostly used the Patriot until we had a change in pianists. The old one was more ..... "superfluous?" ....
I needed to cut through more. With the current one, the p-copy works fine.
Generally speaking in my area it seems most Southern or Traditional gospel players prefer Fender P 4 string, but be ready for working the fretboard. Mid song key changes abound!
Urban Gospel players in this area seem to really like 5-ers such as the Conklin Groove tools.
After playing one I see why. I would have one and hate myself for missing one at a killer price a few years ago.
If I were to go buy a bass just for gospel it would either be a Roscoe standard 5 just to keep from running the board ( and I want a Roscoe ) or a Conklin Groove Tools 5.
The Conklin just works for what I think it should sound like IMHO.
It also helps that I use an Acoustic amp with a single 15" cone.
Truthfully .... If I played what I really wanted at church with the people I used to play with, it would be an upright.
I'm sorry that your 5 was flubby. I've played 5s with bad Bs but I've never owned one, I can imagine it would be frustrating.
I for many years have used a Warwick Corvette 4 string. There are certain songs that I wish I had a 5 string for the low Eb and D. But it has always served me well and fit the mix perfectly.
This clip should set you up well. Starts out with Fred Hammond on his Ken Smith 6-string. Then he turns over the bass duties to Maurice Fitzgerald playing what I think was a Peavey Cirrus. He was also using a Tobias at that time, but the black headstock makes me think it’s his Cirrus. Maurice also has an Elrick on a stand next to him, though I don’t think he played it at all in this concert (I have the whole concert on DVD somewhere). So one video, two of the best gospel bassists I’ve ever witnessed, and a nice medley of some of my favorite Fred Hammond songs. If you get the Fred Hammond and Radical for Christ double CD “Pages of Life - Vol I & II” you will have a lot to work from.Sorry to say, I'm not a church-going individual
Back in my day, church music was played by a pipe/Hammond and sung by a robust 4-part choir (I was a BASS)!!!
What would be a good modern gospel playlist (In the Hammond/Tisdale vein)? Give me something to listen to!
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This is so true. Because Fred Hammond played Ken Smith when he was based in Detroit, a lot of the local church bassists quickly turned to Ken Smith. My 1st 5-string was a Ken Smith Burner Dlx. I had just been asked to play at a small church and decided I needed a 5-string. I asked a few of the locals what I should look for and they all said “Ken Smith”. So I got the Burner and they said “not that one”
I made it work until I eventually got my Alembic 5-string.
Basses I have played in churches in Detroit:
- Ken Smith Burner Dlx 5
- Alembic Mark King Series II 5
- MM Bongo 5
- Fender Marcus Miller 4
- Hanewinckel 6
- Roscoe LG3005 fretless
- Marchlewski 5
- Fender AmDlx P5
Honestly get what sits in the mix for your style of Gospel Music that’s being played and get what feels good in your hands.
Brand doesn’t matter. It’s about what feels good to you , fits the music, and is within your budget.
Brand doesn’t matter. It’s about what feels good to you , fits the music, and is within your budget.
