Need to play more dance music

[SanDiegoHarry]

I have been an old Ampeg 70s-80s rock guy playing mostly southern rock. Recently the lead guitar player retired due to health reasons and the band wants to switch about 50% of the music to dance such as Prince, Billy Idol and Beatles. The keyboard player tells me I need to get a cleaner sound with more pedals and even some electronic sounding stuff. I run a pair of PF500s into Ampeg 410s and rarely any pedals. I suppose I can bypass the preamp and get some newer pedals. I sill feel the Ampeg will do the job but before I spend weeks researching this, are there any top of mind suggestions for me?

Keyboard player telling you what you need? Feh.
Just play a bit punchier - no need for pedals. Hit that downbeat a little harder, work with the drummer to get your kick/notes in sync. That's pretty much dance music. Heck, southern rock is dance music of a sort, isn't it?

 

[bassman10096]

I sense that your guitar player is clueless about bass equipment.

+1 Most of them are. I wouldn't anticipate useful input on bass sound from most guitarists. Bass lives in the mix entirely differently than guitar sound. I have played for years with a guitarist who wants to "hear me play a few notes" which he generally decides he likes the sound of - then accuses me of adding an effect (I use none whatever) once he hears that sound in the band mix. He's also convinced the rackmount parametric EQ I sometimes use is some kind of nefarious bass effect...

My guess is you have most of the gear you need and can mostly EQ your way to the sound you want. As D. Thoreau said (paraphrasing broadly): "Beware of new endeavors that require new clothes."

 

[jamro217]

I'm not aware of any pedal on the market that gives you an octave UP that's any good. Fishman had that Powerchord pedal, where the description was enticing - but it sucked. Tone was awful and it couldn't track for beans. I think another company used to have one, can't remember the name but it's out of production now. If you're going for an octave effect, the pedals do an octave down and you play high on the neck.

That's not going to help a bassist trying to reach a higher register, though. Haven't tried any, but they're out there.

 

[Luckydog]

I would say the amp gear you have is fine. I find a P-bass with flats works very well for 90% of stuff, and a Jazz with flats, ala Rick Finch/Bootsie Collins will easily get the rest.

 

[Skasteadyb]

Both were mentioned as potential songs - but it would be like Johnny Van Zant singing them. Maybe Wrecking Ball? Mostly 50 year old women in these clubs

Shout. Do you love me.

 

[madurolover]

Thanks for the great ideas. I may have limited myself mentioning those 3 bands. The idea being stressed to me is more that a pure Ampeg sound may not be my goto sound in 6 months and I should start exploring new areas such as a synth or envelope filter. I canceled my order for the new Ampeg pedal to use on some interesting new sounds. I am concerned about it getting lost in the mix live so I won't go crazy just yet