Nashville bound - 6 string "not cool"?

[therhodeo]

Given the popularity of Aldean and the like if you're wanting to cover radio stuff 4 strings won't work. I know of a local country cover band guy who had to make the switch over to 5 because the new music and alot of the guitar work on some of this stuff if Drop C#.

 

[Lee Moses]

Given the popularity of Aldean and the like if you're wanting to cover radio stuff 4 strings won't work. I know of a local country cover band guy who had to make the switch over to 5 because the new music and alot of the guitar work on some of this stuff if Drop C#.

Absolutely, if that's the direction the band is taking. But for your typical band playing lots of George Strait, and mixing classic favorites with more country-sounding modern country songs, a 4 should be adequate.

I'm not really saying what anyone should do, but you ought to be able to do just fine on a 4-string if that's your thing.

 

[Tom Howland]

A good 5-string, and a Fender 4-string will cover any Nashville gig.

 

[Blue_Whistle88]

Anyone that's gonna tell me what brand of guitar I need to make the right sound isn't someone I wanna work with. I've played with gear snobs before and I won't be entertaining any more of them, unless I get paid a decent wage to do so.

I've spent years experiment with different amps and basses to find what I'm most comfortable playing on, so that I can play to the best of ability. I'm not saying I don't like Fenders, but their refusal to make basses with 24 frets puts them at odds with what I've chosen, in addition to the fact that the basses I have were cheaper than Fenders that had similar electronics features and note range.

I paid less, got active eletronics and more frets, and didn't compromise on playability or looks; I'm not throwing that away because of headstock snobbery or a sound engineer being too lazy to turn a couple of knobs. It's also why I've taken an active interest in sound engineering; to understand what it takes to produce good tone, and not just on my instrument.

That said, I completely sympathise with Nashville conservatism. Nashville is ultimately a pretty conservative place, musically, and you don't really move there to break the mould. You move there to get paid good money as a musician, and like any job opportunity, you conform with pre-existing paradigms to ensure job security. I like country, but unless it's around the top of your musical palette, I'm not sure you're doing yourself a great service by moving there. If you ended up spending years being musically at odds with the surroundings because of such a discord, your move probably hasn't really fostered progress (though it'd be a great experience nonetheless).

Please bear in mind that I've never been to Nashville before though, let alone lived/played there, so this is all conjecture on my part.

 

[Bill Staudt]

Please bear in mind that I've never been to Nashville before though, let alone lived/played there, so this is all conjecture on my part.

As are almost all the responses to this thread.

 

[TRichardsbass]

Since this thread is about someone moving to Nashvegas to be a working player, then in my experience in town most of the responses are correct. You need to have a small arsenal of basses for studio work, or as one said borrow what is needed from a friend or other player you know. Now yes, if you are playing in a band for tips at Tootsies, you can bring whatever the hell bass you want to play and by and large no one in the crowd or behind the bar will give a crap. But, most of the people who work regularly conform to some degree, because that gets you more gigs and more work.

I'm a guy who is known for my outlandish bass guitars (Gibson 20/20, Vaccaro, Kramer, Steinberger, Kubicki, J. Backlund Design, Retronix, Brubaker, Hartke to name a few) but my go to's in Nash have always been my Jerry Jones or Danelectro long horns. Not exactly Fender, but definitely tic-tac so it works.

I'd love to hear Roy Vogt or Dave Pomeroy chime in.

 

[TRichardsbass]

Anyone that's gonna tell me what brand of guitar I need to make the right sound isn't someone I wanna work with. I've played with gear snobs before and I won't be entertaining any more of them, unless I get paid a decent wage to do so.

I've spent years experiment with different amps and basses to find what I'm most comfortable playing on, so that I can play to the best of ability. I'm not saying I don't like Fenders, but their refusal to make basses with 24 frets puts them at odds with what I've chosen, in addition to the fact that the basses I have were cheaper than Fenders that had similar electronics features and note range.

I paid less, got active eletronics and more frets, and didn't compromise on playability or looks; I'm not throwing that away because of headstock snobbery or a sound engineer being too lazy to turn a couple of knobs. It's also why I've taken an active interest in sound engineering; to understand what it takes to produce good tone, and not just on my instrument.

That said, I completely sympathise with Nashville conservatism. Nashville is ultimately a pretty conservative place, musically, and you don't really move there to break the mould. You move there to get paid good money as a musician, and like any job opportunity, you conform with pre-existing paradigms to ensure job security. I like country, but unless it's around the top of your musical palette, I'm not sure you're doing yourself a great service by moving there. If you ended up spending years being musically at odds with the surroundings because of such a discord, your move probably hasn't really fostered progress (though it'd be a great experience nonetheless).

Please bear in mind that I've never been to Nashville before though, let alone lived/played there, so this is all conjecture on my part.

Someone who is going to tell you what to play is going to be paying you at least scale or better, which is good money. However, there is nothing wrong with going your own way. Just don't move to a place that has some rules for people who want to work regularly.

 

[TRichardsbass]

As are almost all the responses to this thread.

Hey PunkRocko, I noticed you have a Fender Jazz V and a Fender P V in your arsenal. So I'm guessing that has nothing to do with where you live and play?

 

[Bill Staudt]

Nope, it's a coincidence.

 

[therhodeo]

Absolutely, if that's the direction the band is taking. But for your typical band playing lots of George Strait, and mixing classic favorites with more country-sounding modern country songs, a 4 should be adequate.

I'm not really saying what anyone should do, but you ought to be able to do just fine on a 4-string if that's your thing.

Never once had a problem playing George Strait on a 5 string. I have had problems hitting a Low C on a 4 string.

 

[stonewall]

This is one of those times owning a copied Fender P and J bass may come in handy.Do they mind copies down there?

 

[Lee Moses]

Never once had a problem playing George Strait on a 5 string. I have had problems hitting a Low C on a 4 string.

?

The question was

Minor hijack - are the notes below a "D" on the "B" string really needed in Country? I recently started up a Country cover band and play shortscale - so I'm trying to "make do" with DGCF tuning.

I never said you couldn't use a 5 string. I merely said you could get by with a 4.

 

[therhodeo]

I never said you couldn't use a 5 string. I merely said you could get by with a 4.

And I'm saying if you plan on playing whats on country music radio right now in 2013 I don't think you can.

 

[Lee Moses]

And I'm saying if you plan on playing whats on country music radio right now in 2013 I don't think you can.

Okay. That's pretty much what I said too.

 

[ShoeManiac]

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

It's always fun to see Michael Rhodes brought up. The guy is definitely first call on the Nashville scene. And I've seen him play basses from a number of builders, from Xotic, Fender, Sadowsky, Gibson, Hofner and others. I get the sense that given his stature on the Nashville scene, he could probably play whatever he wanted as long as it sounds good.

 

[TRichardsbass]

This is one of those times owning a copied Fender P and J bass may come in handy.Do they mind copies down there?

No. Copies are okay. They look like a Fender and if they sound generally like a Fender, then cool. That is why Sadowsky, Mike Lull, Alleva-Coppolo, Nash, all good. Even old "vintage" Hondo P and J bass copies or Ibanez Silver Series from the 1970's.

The key being try not to show up with a BassLab, Ritter, Torzal, or any other bass that may be killer great and out do anything in sound but looks like it comes from outer space or some hipster boutique in NYC or LA.

 

[sloppy_phil]

I know this is a semi-derailing, but for any Nashville guys, what's the word on Rickenbackers out there? Definitely not a Fender, but nearly as old as them... wondering if the 'funny' look is balanced by their longevity and American roots?

 

[Basshappi]

Just curious, is there the same rigidity concerning amplification? I realize that DI is probably usual for recording sessions so bass amps for studio work might not be much of an issue (unless I'm wrong of course )

 

[Bill Staudt]

The punishment for using a Rickenbacker in Nashville is loss of cowboy hat privileges for two weeks. If you bring a Pedulla, they punch you in your daddy parts. As far as amps, we are allowed to use anything that starts with an A, or ends in Krueger. Using Markbass carries the same punishment as the Pedulla. Those are the rules. It’s really a great place to be a musician……unless you play a Pedulla…through a Markbass.

 

[Clef_de_fa]

The punishment for using a Rickenbacker in Nashville is loss of cowboy hat privileges for two weeks. If you bring a Pedulla, they punch you in your daddy parts. As far as amps, we are allowed to use anything that starts with an A, or ends in Krueger. Using Markbass carries the same punishment as the Pedulla. Those are the rules. It’s really a great place to be a musician……unless you play a Pedulla…through a Markbass.

LOL I had a good laught