I was kinda planning on it being a dance band, not a snoozefest band, so no prob maybe?
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Nashville bound - 6 string "not cool"?
- Thread starter OmNomNom
- Start date
I had Jerry Reed offer to burn my Steinberger, Ray Price liked it when I subbed with his band, I am fairly sure I was the first guy to play a 5er with low B on the Opry, and never had a Fender or clone the whole 7 or so years I was there, show up sober, nice and on time and you will probably be in the top 60 per cent right off the bat
Interesting posts.
In my world how you sound is more important than how you look but I'd play a Fender P or J if the band leader wanted me to.
It's not news that this is the bass players "requirement" for many gigs in Nashville, so if I was moving there to work I'd have already bought the right tools for the job.
It seems to me to be tough enough to break in to a closed shop without putting people against you at the start.
In my world how you sound is more important than how you look but I'd play a Fender P or J if the band leader wanted me to.
It's not news that this is the bass players "requirement" for many gigs in Nashville, so if I was moving there to work I'd have already bought the right tools for the job.
It seems to me to be tough enough to break in to a closed shop without putting people against you at the start.
I know it goes against TB standards but I would say at this point a good sounding and somewhat vintage looking 5 will get you farther in Nashville than a 4 string P will. Sure you show up with a Fodera and you might get some funny looks but those Sadowsky P/J 5's are pretty standard out there it seems and most new top 40 country has a 5 in it. No one says that you have to use all 5 strings on every song, and if you don't have the musical instincts to know when to stick to the top 4 for a style then you don't belong in Nashville anyway.
Absolutely not. Most country BLs would rather you show up with a 4-string than anything else. The lower notes can give you more options, and allow you to play some of the more modern country note-for-note, but 9 times out of 10 you will be just fine playing a 4-string for country. And that's tuned E-A-D-G.
By the way, that's not directed to the O.P. who is looking to get on with a major touring act. That's a different story.
Ask me about the time I showed up for a subbing gig in a Broadway pit orchestra with a Steinberger!
What happened when you brought a Steinberger to a Broadway pit orchestra?
What happened when you brought a Steinberger to a Broadway pit orchestra?
A friend of mine plays a Steinberger in a pit orchestra and has for about 30 years.
Ask your piano player- all those notes are on an 88 key keyboard as well.
Ive never seen any pianist asked to limit his lefthand activity based on the genre of music (I have seen requests for smaller keyboards due to limited room on stage however!).
- Jun 3, 2009
- 3,330
- 398
- Disclosures
- Bassgearu, Music Industry Consulting and Sales. Tech 21, NBE Corp, Sonosphere.
This thread made me think of Michael Rhodes....
Can your Ibanez do this? If not....
Isn't Mr Rhodes one of the major session players down there? (I have no idea, I'm on the other side of the Atlantic). So I cannot really say anything, but he can
Note that the Xotic is basically a 5 string Jazz bass. So it would be acceptable on most gigs. Its a bit different but not soooo diferent that anyone has to think about it. And Michael probably brings about 6 basses with him per session. P, J maybe the Xotic, either a Jerry Jones or Danelectro 6 string, an uprights and maybe a Gibson.
Just google and you will seee.
I've offered to cut the left hand off of keyboard players who keep playing 8va in the low register, trampling all over the bass parts...
I've been meaning to pick up a small chainsaw to have handy :scowl: .I've offered to cut the left hand off of keyboard players who keep playing 8va in the low register, trampling all over the bass parts...
I have been out of the main Nashville scene for 3 years, but prior to that I spent 10 years playing the Nashville scene in both live and studio settings. In 2001 I made it using 2 Lakland 55-01's and a DJ4 (a few years later for a passive J sound) and a Fender MIM P. In a live situation most BL's are open to your choice of bass (I used my 55-01's for about 98% of my live gigs) as long as you know how to play and most importantly are a down to earth person. Attitude (as in being a laid back non arrogant player) will get you far in Nashville. Versatility is a key ingredient to the Nashville Live scene. For example I started a Saturday at a Broadway Honky Tonk for a lunch show, had a 7-8:30 country showcase (modern), and finished with a 10 - 1:30 R&B/Funk/Soul show. The 55-01 covered it all. On a rare occasion I would take a gig that had "specifics" like wear a 10 gallon hat, large belt buckle, rustler jeans, and play a P bass, but for the most part it was open and a lot of fun.
Now, as far as studio session work goes. This is where you choose your battles wisely. It is always good to have the "basics" in your arsenal (a Jazz and P). If a Grammy/ACM winning producer tells you this will be a P w/ flats session....show up with a P w/ flats (who are you to argue with a seasoned pro)! You will not receive a call back for any session and you will struggle to get work elsewhere if you don't bring to the table what they want. So, what happens if you don't own what they are looking for? That's what friends are for. I know there was a strong group of guys that I worked with and we would support each other. So, if I needed a Hofner for a session and I have never owned one...I could ask a friend who had one and he would let me use it on a session.
The key in Nashville is attitude. Be chill and supportive of your fellow musicians.
Now, as far as studio session work goes. This is where you choose your battles wisely. It is always good to have the "basics" in your arsenal (a Jazz and P). If a Grammy/ACM winning producer tells you this will be a P w/ flats session....show up with a P w/ flats (who are you to argue with a seasoned pro)! You will not receive a call back for any session and you will struggle to get work elsewhere if you don't bring to the table what they want. So, what happens if you don't own what they are looking for? That's what friends are for. I know there was a strong group of guys that I worked with and we would support each other. So, if I needed a Hofner for a session and I have never owned one...I could ask a friend who had one and he would let me use it on a session.
The key in Nashville is attitude. Be chill and supportive of your fellow musicians.
What happened when you brought a Steinberger to a Broadway pit orchestra?
I saw Enio Morricone yesterday. Among the musicians in the orchestra was a guitarist with a very pretty burst Suhr... and a bassist with a burst Steinberger (or copy - it was an oar bass for sure). Cat played very good, too. (Muted) Pick, fingerstyle, thumb.
(btw, "ectasy of gold" live blows your head off!)
Take your pick a 5,er either Stingray,Precision or Jazz its easy and there all Great Basses.Also i noticed a Fender Demension HH at the Country Music awards.
- Jun 3, 2009
- 3,330
- 398
- Disclosures
- Bassgearu, Music Industry Consulting and Sales. Tech 21, NBE Corp, Sonosphere.
Yeah, low C or Db are being used a fair amount these days in country... I'm currently in a top 40 country cover band, and use a 5er atleast 1/3 of the time...
- georgestrings
I got asked to move to Nashville more than once. I just don't like country and would rather play other genres. Personally I have moved to Lakland full time as an artist, and I have a 5 string J and a 4 string P made by them. That would cover me for anything I could possibly encounter in my world now and also in Nashville as well.
I don't know that I agree with that - alot of the stuff we're covering wouldn't work well at all that way, and it *seems* like country is trending towards lower notes...
- georgestrings
