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Why no P-bass in gospel?!?
- Thread starter Billy Low
- Start date
Can I have a Amen!
Actually our church has a P-Bass and My G&L's. The Lord loves it when I make it growl! The pastor, not so much.
I'm not religious and have never played in a church, but I get the impression that many preachers want to project an image of ostentatious affluence, so as to show that God looks favorably upon their congregations. Maybe this ties in with the preference for costly boutique instruments in a peer pressure scenario? (Disclaimer: this is not an attempt to bring religious principles into the discussion.)
Time for a new sig. Irresistible, more even since I'm waiting for a P (Squier CV 50's!) to be delivered... and then to be defretted and strung BEAD. Better not enter any church with such a devilish instrument!
Billy Low said:Yeah, I guess that's the part that I never got caught up in, as far as having what my favorite artist played. Never understood that much. I can say that I have tried instruments based on sounds that I have heard when others played them, but I have always approached the instrument from the point of having my own voicing as much as possible. I try to sound like ME! As much as I love Stanly Clarke, the only Alembic I ever wanted was an Epic 1. I dig Marcus, but never cared for his signature bass much in my hands. You will never see me with a Yin-Yang Fodera, no matter how much I dig Vic W0010, and there is no 7-string Conklin on the horizon for me a la Bill Dickens.
Maybe I'm just a different kinda cat.
I'm waiting to see how hard I will laugh when I bust out the Rumblefish and folks see the name REVEREND across the headstock!! This is gonna be rich!
I've often been guilty of buying gear like that of my heroes. I've also been guilty of listening too much to other posters instead of trusting my own ears and hands. I guess I just like the validation of others.
Somebody educate me. Would Jesus play a $2000 bass? Or would he play an SX (or MAYBE a Squier) and use the difference to help the poor?
- Nov 8, 2010
- 1,391
- 9
- Disclosures
- Unofficial Endorser: Ibanez, D'Addario, Zoom
Hmmm, I think I would disagree on this unless you're talking about the older cats. A good number of the younger cats are church bred and have little outside/secular experience. While some become monster players, many could not play outside the church (not that they'd want to). This has been my experience.
I played gospel in a large southern church for 3 years.
I switched between a Roscoe Beck V and a P.
I tended to use the Beck, but only because it was a 5er. The P fit in fine sonically.
I switched between a Roscoe Beck V and a P.
I tended to use the Beck, but only because it was a 5er. The P fit in fine sonically.
- Nov 8, 2010
- 1,391
- 9
- Disclosures
- Unofficial Endorser: Ibanez, D'Addario, Zoom
As a younger cat myself, I'd say part of the church bred shows them what instrument to look for. You won't find many young cats with a boutique instrument unless they were brought up in a church that had players using them. Or pretty much any background where their mentor(s) had one/suggested one. I honestly would never have even considered owning a 5 string if not for church.
I play at two different Baptist churches and have played with lot's of other musicians. What I find is that most of the bass player particularly younger ones tend to play 5 string basses and that most of the gospel tunes written in the last 25 years or so all tend to be played on 5 strings basses. I'm an old school kinda guy so I keep slogging away on my 63' precision strung with flats but a lot of the songs really need a five to go for that low note.
You're right, but many are familiar with r&b, since so many end up touring with r&b acts.
BTW, when I say a P-bass would work, I do not mean a P-bass set up the way Jamerson would have used it in 1964. A P-bass, preferably with five strings and roundwounds woud work, IMO.
I play at a large church in Montana (insert joke here), yes we have large churches, actually just one. I switch between a 4 and 5 depending on the week and the song selection. The B on the 5 does tend to add comfort to the sound. It is also impressive sounding when you really get the subs working.
Some would say that worship is not supposed to be impressive sounding but I would disagree. To the non-believer, sometimes the performance is enough to bring them back and sooner or later they will here the word and calling in their lives.
As far as how expensive the bass is, play what you love and love what you play. I donate almost 20% of my income and still have nice basses. This doesn't make me bad, just blessed.
God doesn't care if you play a $99 P or a $6K MTD.
BTW I own a P and in my avatar I'm playing a 4, it all works
Some would say that worship is not supposed to be impressive sounding but I would disagree. To the non-believer, sometimes the performance is enough to bring them back and sooner or later they will here the word and calling in their lives.
As far as how expensive the bass is, play what you love and love what you play. I donate almost 20% of my income and still have nice basses. This doesn't make me bad, just blessed.
God doesn't care if you play a $99 P or a $6K MTD.
BTW I own a P and in my avatar I'm playing a 4, it all works
