Why Would Gear Be Different In A Church?

[jackdoom]

I don't mean this in an insulting or condescending way even slightly, but I've noticed lots of threads specifically asking about gear to be used in a church - the best mics, overdrive pedals, amps, etc. Why would a church setting require different gear than any other venue? Are you afraid of something that'll come off as too aggressive, or is it just that churches are often times large cavernous rooms with lots of natural echo/reverberation and you're worried about how articulate the sound will be in a big space?

It's not like it bothers me, I'm just curious. If you like the sound of a Tube Screamer, and you're playing a song that warrants a bit of grit, what difference does it make if you're in a church, or a bar, or your own garage?

 

[RicFreak]

I don't mean this in an insulting or condescending way even slightly, but I've noticed lots of threads specifically asking about gear to be used in a church - the best mics, overdrive pedals, amps, etc. Why would a church setting require different gear than any other venue? Are you afraid of something that'll come off as too aggressive, or is it just that churches are often times large cavernous rooms with lots of natural echo/reverberation and you're worried about how articulate the sound will be in a big space?

It's not like it bothers me, I'm just curious. If you like the sound of a Tube Screamer, and you're playing a song that warrants a bit of grit, what difference does it make if you're in a church, or a bar, or your own garage?

I know where you are coming from
I used to think about that as well. But I guess its all about the image .
Many worship musicians are influenced by what they see on youtube (Hillsongs etc) and those worship musicians uses mainly Taylor , Macpherson, Gretsch, Duesenberg and some strats and Les Pauls.
The important thing about worship music is to lead the congregation in a meaningful time of worship without turning it into a metal concert. Hence, too much overdrive may kill the mood and may be frowned upon by more conservative folks.
IMHO, some signature gear may not be appropriate for Church worship . For example, Tony Iommi SG or even Kirk Hammett's monster ESP. (Don't get me wrong, I love those guitars).
Having said that, most Churches have different style of worship and attract diiferent groups of people , different age groups etc.
There is no right or wrong as long as we worship and praise God in a proper manner with due respect.
Just my 2 cents .........BTW, I play bass for worship with my Rickenbacker 4003.

 

[Vax]

True that. I'm primarily a worship musician and I think there's little value in broadly asking about "church" applications. However, I think some of the questions are valid--there are some tones that are prominent in the context of contemporary worship music, and achieving those tones can be a cause for anxiety for complete beginners. Case in point, 10 years ago, reverb pedals were not featured on any worship board, but the big names in recent years started using reverb pedals for the shimmer/cavernous reverb tones (from pedal manufacturers whose names start with "S" and "N").