Most appropriate Bass for Country/Country Rock/Folk

[ivansc]

Blue nailed it. Its what you play not the instrument.

Several decades of country rock and straight country under my belt to prove it.
I have used a P/J, a Travis Bean, a Rickenbacker 4001 stereo and all three sounded just fine with me on the other end.
And remember that the number of songs that you will get to play that actually ARE just root 5 are vanishingly small if you are playing them right.
C/W is deceptive.

[Yank]

The foam under the bridge works for getting the thump, but it's more versatile to palm mute or in my case, thumb mute. I use fretless and flats, but any bass will do. It's all in how you play it and what you play (or don't play).

[lowdown]

Our two American friends, 'Blue & Yank' have summed it up for me.
It's how you play the style.
(Along with the Boots you wear).

[Happy Jack]

[quote name='gareth' timestamp='1501341780' post='3344150']
Jack Cassidy
[/quote]

Confused ... did you mean David Cassidy or Jack Casady?

[chris_b]

These days Country ranges from Jim Reeves to Jason Aldean and beyond.

From 4 to 5 strings, any bass will do just fine and the same bass can cover everything. Thud and clank can work but clarity is important.

But mostly it's how you play the song sound that counts, so just play good lines.

[spencer.b]

All the records I like that come out of nashville seem to have a P bass with flats or a semi with flats

[Bridgehouse]

I agree - P bass with flats.

I use Chromes, as they can add a bit of clang with some nail used fingerstyle.

[JapanAxe]

I play bass in a country band (mix of trad and modern) and I use a P with flats (occasionally a Mustang), but that's just my preference. As others have said, the way you accompany the song is much more important.

[yorks5stringer]

I use an Ibanez Artcore 5 with flats and a Squire Jaguar V on rounds with a PJ pickup config.

[tauzero]

I use a Sei Flamboyant 5-string headless.

[blue]

[quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1501401005' post='3344396']
We play a few country type songs at some gigs, I use my Thunderbird, round wounds and a pick.
[/quote]

I like that.

Blue

[FinnDave]

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1501531716' post='3345360']
I like that.

Blue
[/quote]

Cheers, Blue!

[TrevorR]

Hmmmm, don't know the country scene so well so let's have a look at the basses used in some fave classic and modern folk/folk rock bands...

Fairport Convention: P bass, Jazz bass, Ricky, Steinberger copy, Riverhead Burns Flyte-alike, Ibanez Soundgear, Carvin
Jethro Tull: P bass, Jazz bass, Ibanez Soundgear, Wal, Goodfellow,
Iona: Chapman Stick, Wal, Warrior, Steinberger, Stingray, EUB
Steeleye Span: Ricky, Fretless Jazz, Overwater, Fender Mustang, Tele bass, Gibson SG double neck
Jamie Smith's Mabon: Stingray, Wal, EUB
Oysterband: DB, Fender PJ, Squier jazz, Fender P bass.

So I think we can conclude that the best bass is whatever you like (probably avoid BC Rich and Dean though!).

[lojo]

Id use my PB62RI with the old flats that have been on it since I brought it years ago

But any bass that suits you , lots of country folk use bright sounding bass these days

Edited August 1, 2017 by lojo

[Bolo]

[quote name='TrevorR' timestamp='1501541480' post='3345458']

So I think we can conclude that the best bass is whatever you like (probably avoid BC Rich and Dean though!).
[/quote]
And nowt wrong wirh a B.C. Rich mockingbird, bich or eagle either. Dean does some great affordable basses for all styles too

[SpondonBassed]

Gear snobbery aside...
[url="http://www.thatericalper.com/2014/12/11/watch-two-musicians-play-a-guitar-made-from-a-broom-and-bass-made-from-a-shovel/"]http://www.thaterica...-from-a-shovel/[/url]
It isn't country but the geezer on the left could cut it.

The site itself looks interesting. I'm off to look at this bit now;
[url="http://www.thatericalper.com/category/isolated-tracks/"]http://www.thaterica...solated-tracks/[/url]

Edited August 1, 2017 by SpondonBassed

[TrevorR]

[quote name='Bolo' timestamp='1501569544' post='3345507']

And nowt wrong wirh a B.C. Rich mockingbird, bich or eagle either. Dean does some great affordable basses for all styles too
[/quote]

Indeed. I always wanted Neil Murray's quilted maple Mockingbird when I was starting out on bass... lets just say it was more of an "aesthetic" comment than a tone, quality or VFM one!!!

Edited August 1, 2017 by TrevorR

[Skybone]

The bass you have access to.

[seashell]

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1501342968' post='3344165']
On a serious note ([size=2][i]badum-tish[/i][/size]) if I ever went back to Country I think I'd string a P up as B-E-A-D.

It might make root-fiving in E and G a bit more convincing.
[/quote]

Hmm interesting. Might just try this, since I have recently joined a Country band by accident.

[Dad3353]

[quote name='seashell' timestamp='1501964309' post='3348554']...I have recently joined a Country band by accident.
[/quote]

Oooh, I do [i]so [/i]hate it when that happens.

...

Edited August 5, 2017 by Dad3353

[FinnDave]

[quote name='seashell' timestamp='1501964309' post='3348554']
Hmm interesting. Might just try this, since I have recently joined a Country band by accident.
[/quote]

I have a US Standard P bass strung BEAD that I am considering selling....

[SpondonBassed]

[quote name='seashell' timestamp='1501964309' post='3348554']
Hmm interesting. Might just try this, since I have recently joined a Country band by accident.
[/quote]

I wish I could get into the same sorts of accidents as you seem to. Good luck. It sounds like fun.

[Damonjames]

Stingray 5 worked perfectly for the country artist I was playing for a year or so ago. As blue has said, your understanding of how country bass is played is far more important than the bass you choose - technique and eq can get any bass close enough, but if the feel isn't right it's going to be a train wreck!

[Damonjames]

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1501342968' post='3344165']
On a serious note ([size=2][i]badum-tish[/i][/size]) if I ever went back to Country I think I'd string a P up as B-E-A-D.

It might make root-fiving in E and G a bit more convincing.
[/quote]

That's why I found the stingray 5 so useful!! You can go above or below the root with ease. Just have to watch, a B can be a bit thunderous on a quiet song 😂

[ivansc]

I forgot to mention in my earlier post that on eof the decades I spent playing country was spent in Nashville. So I can tell you not ALL the records coming out of Nashville are recorded on a P bass with flats. At least not the ones I played on!