Gospel Bass

[Dr. Cheese]

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

I played mostly in small to medium sized churches (50 - 300 in attendance), and only one had anyone working a sound board. We played covers of Fred Hammond, Donnie McClurkin, Kirk Franklin, Donald Lawrence, Hezekiah Walker as well as a few of the old standards. The older standards could easily be played on a 4-string. Most of the more contemporary covers really needed a 5-string.

That Ken Smith Burner Deluxe does sound good even if it is not THE sound.

 

[SB300]

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!

I am not familiar with Tisdale but here are some of my favorite modern hymn/gospel tunes. I hope you enjoy them!
Cornerstone
In Christ Alone
What A Beautiful Name/Agnus Dei
How Great Thou Art

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I am not familiar with Tisdale but here are some of my favorite modern hymn/gospel tunes. I hope you enjoy them!
Cornerstone
In Christ Alone
What A Beautiful Name/Agnus Dei
How Great Thou Art

Not trying to nitpick, but I would put those songs in the Worship category rather than Gospel.

 

[WeAreAllOne]

short scale 4 string jazz?

 

[malthumb]

Not trying to nitpick, but I would put those songs in the Worship category rather than Gospel.

Yes. This is why I asked whether the OP was interested in more contemporary gospel, ala the artists I named, or CCR which is how I would characterize Cornerstone. The clips posted by @SB300 are songs I could play on any 4-string.

Also, since I introduced Wayman Tisdale’s name in this thread, I need to clarify. Wayman was not a gospel bassist. More of a modern jazz / bass soloist. I only mentioned him in that he is one of only two bassists for whom I know Fender made a 6-string Jazz bass. Contemporary gospel heavyweight Fred Hammond was the other.

 

[therealting]

Here’s my new favourite, just got it.

NBD: 1996 Sadowsky NYC Modern 5

 

[Williethump]

Hey, a 6 string short scale bass

Not only that, it's tuned an octave too high!