• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Nashville bound - 6 string "not cool"?

#63
ShoeManiac said:
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.
Click to expand...

Probably true :)

I guess that comes from proving you're THE man for any job... then you can do what you want :)
 
#64
To be a successful working player, you always pull out the right sound for the song/gig. If a producer/BL asks you to play a particular bass, you've already lost and it's gonna be a long day for both of you.

Nashville is all about songs and looks. If you're not fat, can sing great background vocals, and your bass parts fit the song, you'll be choosing which gig to take (I'm talking about gigs that pay you money). If you take away one of those components it will be harder for you, but not impossible.

I doubt you'll be playing that 6 string much, but who knows.

Good luck!
 
#65
ShoeManiac said:
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.
Click to expand...

Xotic, Fender and Sadowsky all look alike ... not a big stretch at all an Gibson and Hofner are classic so again it doesn't stretch at all.

Roy Vogt would be more interesting since he plays a lot of 6 and 7 strings or Adam Nitti who again only play 6 strings
 
#66
punkrocko said:
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.
Click to expand...

damn, taking all those shots may have been doable, but not without cowboy hat privileges! Mainly using a Rick & Markbass combo these days. Guess I'll stay here in my socialist igloo a while longer
 
#67
I have friends in Nashville. Country is not the only kind of music being played in Nashville. All kinds of music is happening there and a six string is not out of place. Think Adam Nitti. Roy Vogt!!!!
 
#68
phillybass101 said:
I have friends in Nashville. Country is not the only kind of music being played in Nashville. All kinds of music is happening there and a six string is not out of place. Think Adam Nitti. Roy Vogt!!!!
Click to expand...

Seems to me that most Nashvillers are saying that if you are Michael Rhodes, Adam Nitti, or Roy Vogt then you can (usually) play whatever you damn well please, but if you are new and trying to work your way in, then you most definitely want to take the path of least resistance.

That definitely makes sense. Okay, perhaps it's not fair to be judged on what you play rather than how you play, but that's reality. Why fight silly battles? Do you really want to risk your career just because you happen to love your "funny looking" bass? As noted by many, attitude is at least as important as talent. Do you want word to get around that you're not a team player?

I currently play five string exclusively (mostly Fender-style), but even though five string is extremely common in modern country, if I had any plans on being a Nashville pro I would own a couple of fours just to make sure all basses were covered, so to speak.
 
#69
I've been in Nashville since 1980, so usually people call me for what I do and trust my judgement. That being said, if you're a newbie people will often make up their minds about you in 30 seconds or less. I would probably sell all of those cheap basses, OP, and get some sort of modern FSO (Fender-shaped object: Mike Lull, Sadowsky, Lakland, MIM Fender, MIA or MIJ Fender, etc.) in a 5 string mode and then add some sort of FSO 4 when you can to augment your Ibanez 6 (just heard a guy playing one of those on a MegaChurch gig and it sounded great, BTW!).
I arrived with an Alembic and a fretless Ibanez and added a 66 P w/J pickup and Musicman Stingray within about 6 months.
P.S. IME, owning a certain piece of gear won't get you gigs.
Here's a column I wrote for Mel Bay's Bass Sessions a number of years back. I note with amusement that all of those basses are 6/7 strings! :)
Link Removed
 
#70
Fuzzbass said:
Seems to me that most Nashvillers are saying that if you are Michael Rhodes, Adam Nitti, or Roy Vogt then you can (usually) play whatever you damn well please, but if you are new and trying to work your way in, then you most definitely want to take the path of least resistance.

That definitely makes sense. Okay, perhaps it's not fair to be judged on what you play rather than how you play, but that's reality. Why fight silly battles? Do you really want to risk your career just because you happen to love your "funny looking" bass? As noted by many, attitude is at least as important as talent. Do you want word to get around that you're not a team player?

I currently play five string exclusively (mostly Fender-style), but even though five string is extremely common in modern country, if I had any plans on being a Nashville pro I would own a couple of fours just to make sure all basses were covered, so to speak.
Click to expand...

Agreed. I do happen to have two Jazz Basses in my stable and would recommend as most have some type of Fender looking bass. I just wanted to add that there is Funk, Fusion, R&B, etc, being played in Nashville so for that the 6 string would not be out of place. I have personally been invited to Nashville by some locals to come down and play some Funk. Of course any Pro Level player has to have some kind of Fender looking bass in the collection. I live up north near Philly and on a gig the BL said to me onstage why don't you play that one. I like that one. He pointed to my JB. Hey he was paying and it was his gig so I played the JB all night. Cooperate and Graduate is what I say!!!
 
#71
Was watching Treme last night (for the music not the acting!).
They featured some elderly brotha playing what appeared to be a US MTD 6 string with great soul.
Treme features real music and real musicians, I would have guessed New Orleans is just as trsditional as Nashville but no one told that old cat to change basses!
 
#73
nukes_da_bass said:
Was watching Treme last night (for the music not the acting!).
They featured some elderly brotha playing what appeared to be a US MTD 6 string with great soul.
Treme features real music and real musicians, I would have guessed New Orleans is just as trsditional as Nashville but no one told that old cat to change basses!
Click to expand...

Again, a newcomer cannot expect the same latitude given an established pro.
 
#74
Got2SadowskyNYC said:
You're WAY ahead of yourself. Realistically it will take about 5 years for you to work into the scene. Remember EVERYONE goes to Nashville to make it. You don't know what competition is yet. It a pressure cooker and most people wash out. I know several people that thought they could just walk in a be gigin' in less than a year. When it didn't happen they went home. I saw that A LOT. You gotta be in it for the long haul.

You're going to have to pay the dues on Broadway, get to know the other players and prove yourself to be a good player and reliable. You're gonna do a lot of crap gigs.

There's alot of 4 and 5 string basses, but there is one guy that plays a Conklin 7. Lighter is better. If you've got a heavy 6, stand in one place for 4 hours and see how it feels on back.

Don't worry about road gigs. You're not there yet.

Most new country you're gonna want that low B. So I'd go 5. If you do a lot of gigs with female singers that B is gonna come in real handy.
Click to expand...

Most of this is correct if you're looking for a touring gig. Ibanez isn't Fender, so many old school producers/managers won't like that. A 5 string has only recently become okay.
You don't have to pay your dues on Broadway, either. That's a tourist trap. Get to know other musicians/songwriters by going to songwriter showcases and making it known that your out there and available. Those events occur all over town, and not on Broadway for the most part (maybe the Hard Rock Cafe).
Don't post on Craigslist that you're available. No one here looks at that for pro players. Learn the Nashville number system as well. That's how most charts will be written (if you even get any).
Forget about studio gigs unless you really want to starve. Someone has to die, or retire in order to do that no matter how good you are.
Build lots of bridges and don't burn any of them (even if you can't stand someone). The story of the wrong burned bridge will fly around town so fast that you won't have gigs by the next week. No one will call you, and you'll be blacklisted.
Lastly, always remember that there will always be someone better than you here. So, don't get frustrated about that. This city is full of people who play music, and it's a tight community. Everyone knows everyone else. Make sure you do the same and get to know as many people as possible (without bugging them like a puppy dog).
 
#75
OP, I just saw in your profile that you play DB-that's golden! Upright players are very much in demand. I'd just get a 5 string MIM Fender and call it good for now. You can keep your Ibanez and add a 4 string FSO later.
 
#77
A part of my income comes from playing bass. I'm in Canada, pretty far from Nashville.

However, as a semi pro bassist, I am used to doing whatever the gig calls for. Otherwise, I would sound really great and look really good in the bedroom, but that would be about it.

I've done much worse than switch to a Fender bass in order to get a gig. Oh yes.

John
 
#79
jfh2424 said:
I've done much worse than switch to a Fender bass in order to get a gig. Oh yes.

John
Click to expand...

Thats the thing to me. If you're going to be "pro" as in playing for others for pay then you follow that office dress code. I wear a collar to work for pay. If dress code in Nashville is wearing something fender shaped then so be it. If you're going to be a "pro" as in trying to make it on your own doing it your own way then its up to you what you take.
 
#80
therhodeo said:
Thats the thing to me. If you're going to be "pro" as in playing for others for pay then you follow that office dress code. I wear a collar to work for pay. If dress code in Nashville is wearing something fender shaped then so be it. If you're going to be a "pro" as in trying to make it on your own doing it your own way then its up to you what you take.
Click to expand...

This is also why I asked to begin with, as that is how I feel. It is a job. The employer knows what they want. I wanted a feel for the general "dress code", as you put it.

I had just gathered from my own research that, as mentioned in this thread, Fenders were the standard. I suppose they are anywhere, though! My 6 is my best bass and I am also ergonomically the most comfortable with the 6 as it is what I have played the most in the past four or five years.

I do sub work in the area where I am from (Wilmington, DE), mostly with local bands.. and I always ask if they would rather I play a four string (or even the upright).
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back