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Best Bass For Hardcore/Metal Music

#2
I suggest that you provide a lot more info if you want answers that you'll find useful.

Do you play a 4 or 5 string? What tuning? What are some examples of bassists who have a sound you like? Do you prefer traditional Fender bass style looks, or more exotic looking basses?
Fingers or pick? Active or passive? etc.

Generally speaking my recommendation would be some kind of P-Bass, only because it covers a lot of different players, but a P-bass could be entirely the wrong bass for you.
 
#4
um, need more info. Probably an active 5-string Ibanez or something for that kinda stuff.


Wait, it doesn't matter.



Anyway, if you tune down you might want a nice 5'er. We just need more info from you
 
#7
One major consideration is what kind of stage show do you put on. I would never use a bass worth more than $200 on stage because of the antics we pull. You'll quickly see how much destruction our type of music can bring on your gear.

That being said, I use an SX P/J bass. It works great, sounds great, and I'm not afraid to throw it around!
 
#8
JFace said:
One major consideration is what kind of stage show do you put on. I would never use a bass worth more than $200 on stage because of the antics we pull. You'll quickly see how much destruction our type of music can bring on your gear.

That being said, I use an SX P/J bass. It works great, sounds great, and I'm not afraid to throw it around!
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+1

I have retired my good basses from the majority of gigs, it's actually very liberating to be able to not give a damn if the bass i'm playing gets scratched/beat/dropped/spilled on.
 
#9
triplebasshunte said:
right sorry.

4 string
Drop C
Bands would be Still Remains, Mychildren Mybride, Haste the Day and Means
I don't want anything exotic, something that's not too weighty and can take a beating
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What bass do you have now? What do you like about it? What do you dislike about it?

How do arrive at dropped C tuning, are you using a heavy E string brought down or a light B string that's really tight?

I don't know what basses the guys you mentioned use, do you know?
 
#11
I'm not sure what they use to be honest.
I just got into the market so sorry for not giving the right info.

I use heavy gauge brought down lower.

I'm just looking for a general style of bass because I'm not totally sure where to start looking, once I've got an idea I'll go look into it.

I've got a Godin that I bought off my friend for $100 like 2 years ago out of lack of money and necessity
 
#12
In Absentia said:
Music Man Stingray. Strictly because of how well it cuts through walls of distortion.
Click to expand...

I like this answer. Also some of the stuff Schecter and Ibanez are putting out these days are awesome for metal if you're looking for an active bass. You also cant go wrong with a P.

On a side note, the dude from Opeth uses a Marcus Miller Jazz. Goes to show that it more had to do with the way you play the instrument and not the instrument itself.
 
#15
OK...so there is no "best". There are actually a lot of basses out there that would fit the bill. My personal favorite bass for that style would be a Spector. Being that you are drop tuned, I think a EuroLX 4-35 would be fantastic because it has 35" scale in a 4-string. I was developed with the idea of being a lower-tuned 4-string and it will work great for your style. Of course, a regular EuroLX-4 or ReBop would be able to handle the low tuning as well. All Spectors have a really great, throaty grind that cuts through really heavily distorted guitars without getting muddy.

That said, you would also do well with a MM Stingray or Sterling, G&L L2000 or SB2, Warwick Corvette, or even a Fender P-bass. Try out as many of these as you can and pick the one that floats your boat the most.
 
#17
I ask about your tuning and strings because I'm wondering if you like or dislike the string tension on your C string? Do you find it floppy or is it comfortable? You may want to look at a 35" scale bass if you're after a tighter C string, which would narrow the field of choices quite a bit.

Given you're Canadian and your budget is $1500 you might want to talk to Mike Kinal about a bass. At that price from him it'd be a passive, bare bones bass (no fancy wood, etc.), but he could make you a 34.5 or 35" scale 4 string that'd play like a dream.

If you want something more traditional and are OK with the 34" scale I'd check out a Fender Precision or Lakland Glaub bass, or if you want an active sound maybe look at one of the new Musicman Stingray HH basses. A Gibson Les Paul or Thunderbird bass might work for you too, again if you want a bass with classic looks and passive electronics in a two pickup set up.

I play heavier music too and I prefer P basses for the most part. I use a Lakland Glaub and a '73 Fender P as my two main basses. I like the simplicity, the sound, the ruggedness and the look. It just works for me.
 
#18
Double Agent said:
OK...so there is no "best". There are actually a lot of basses out there that would fit the bill. My personal favorite bass for that style would be a Spector. Being that you are drop tuned, I think a EuroLX 4-35 would be fantastic because it has 35" scale in a 4-string. I was developed with the idea of being a lower-tuned 4-string and it will work great for your style. Of course, a regular EuroLX-4 or ReBop would be able to handle the low tuning as well. All Spectors have a really great, throaty grind that cuts through really heavily distorted guitars without getting muddy.

That said, you would also do well with a MM Stingray or Sterling, G&L L2000 or SB2, Warwick Corvette, or even a Fender P-bass. Try out as many of these as you can and pick the one that floats your boat the most.
Click to expand...

The Spector and the G+L are both great suggestions too.
 

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