6-strings for metal

[Thundar]

Peavey Cirrus 5 or 6...either one, Baby! 35" scale...you can drop that low B to an A if ya want and tear down the walls. The Cirrus neck is perfection. I am a Spector man for the last 30 years, so I love a 35" Spector 5 too, but the Cirrus, for me, is a masterpiece.
I'm a DT fan too..."Burning My Soul" and "Forsaken" are the Shiz!

 

[uOpt]

I cannot recommend buying an expensive 6-stringer new if you never played a 6-string bass before. The aircraft carrier flight deck sized fretboard can be a serious problem for playing. And the extreme note ranges are more useful for progressive rock than standard metal (of course there also progressive metal). For the same reason, resell of a 6-string bass is slower.

I'd get a used LTD or Ibanez to try the concept before committing $$$.

 

[burgerdj]

What kind of metal? I ask because you really can play any bass in any genre but some basses are a bit easier to navigate for more technical stuff - and if you're looking for a particular tone profile. Aesthetics may also be important.

You mentioned Dream Theater. I recall John playing Yamaha, EBMM. You might want to start there.

I'm a Warwick fanboy, so of course I'm going to support that path, too. And of course there are Spectors. Ibanez is also punching way above their weight these days.

 

[TheSeagoats]

I'm pretty sure the bassist for Ensiferum uses a six string bass. Bass is flexible enough of an instrument that you can use 4, 5, or 6 in really any genre you want, but I wouldn't shoot for 6 strings just because you feel like you have to.

 

[HaMMerHeD]

 

[Thumpin6string]

A 6 is the best for all genres, but that could just be me.

 

[themickster]

I'm considering getting a 6-string bass, but I play mostly metal/rock (huge Dream Theater fan). Is a 6-string recommended for metal? I'm considering Warick RB Corvette Basic 6 SBHP, is the model good for metal?

Anything with bass strings will be OK for metal. It's how you play that matters.

 

[perfektspace6]

The Warwick will work well. If you don't think you will use the C string then go for a 5'er. Your hands and back will thank you.

 

[CJC6]

Yes! Get a six string for metal!
I use sixers setup with Low F and with high C, there are huge benefits to both. Especially chords, fast scales in an isolated location and obviously low chugs.
Get a Barefaced cab (usable 30hz) if you go Low F.

 

[GreyBeard]

Thanks man! Do you recommend a 5-string instead then, as the high-C really ain't no use off (for me)

I'm a 5 string player and the major advantage would be for drop tuning. A good 5 string will have a B string designed to play in that lower register.

 

[micguy]

You can play Beethoven on an upright bass. You can also play Rockabilly on the same instrument.

It's much more about how you play the instrument than the instrument itself. If I were to get a job playing in a metal band (I play church gigs), my first thought would not be that I need a new bass - my first thoughts would be that I need to work on different licks, and yeah, I might need some new clothes. But the basses would be fine.

 

[RGerhart]

It really depends on the style of metal you are playing, as metal has so many sub-genres at this point. It'd be the equivalent of someone asking, "what's the best bass for popular music?"

When I think of modern metal sounds for bass, I think a Dingwall played through a Darkglass pedal, i.e. Nolly from Periphery.
Old-school metal? A slightly fuzzy, overdriven signal from a P bass or J bass i.e. Geezer from Black Sabbath.

Honestly I think a great 5 string will get you where you need to go. I love 6 stringers, but unless you have a very hot output pickup, the high C string kind of gets lost in the mix. I think these 5ers will work in most cases:

EBMM Stingray 5 (HH or H model)
Lakland 55-94 or 55-02(people might argue on this one, but I've used it before for some down-tuned Mudvayne and it killed!)
Any Dingwall
Ibanez BTB, or Soundgear (I played a SR2605 that was just killer!)
Fodera (Ryan Martinie now has his own custom model)

 

[smogg]

Best bass for metal

• Dingwall
• USA Peavey Cirrus or Millennium (I use USA Millennium 5ers but getting hard to find)
  
• Spector
• Warwick
• ESP/LTD
• Schector
• Ibanez
• Lakland
• G&L
• Jackson
• Kramer
• Charvel
• EBMM Stingray
• Kiesel/Carvin

Just to name a few.
Let your hands and the music decide if you need a 5 or a 6. Or, you could just string a 4 B-E-A-D but then you would need to find a new excuse to buy another bass.
Edit: And a nice dirt pedal.

 

[OptimalOptimus]

It seems what you are confortable with is way more important than the number of strings.

Also choose what will offert you all you need for your creativity.

I did play 6 strings bass exclusively for more than a decade and I'm back on the 5 because I just feel like I like better. The 5 was my first love.

Also the C string was useful only when playing classical music, otherwise I could make it work without it... including many Dream Theater line.

 

[GTHintz]

I'm considering getting a 6-string bass, but I play mostly metal/rock (huge Dream Theater fan). Is a 6-string recommended for metal? I'm considering Warick RB Corvette Basic 6 SBHP, is the model good for metal?

Warwicks are badass! Great for metal or really anything else you can think of. Yamaha and music man bongo basses like John Myung plays would definitely do it for you. Otherwise Ibanez btb and SR basses are great as well! I used to sleep on Ibanez until I grabbed one for myself. They are deceptively deep in the lows and growly. Not what you'd expect from a lightweight slender bass.

 

[songwriter21]

I'm considering getting a 6-string bass, but I play mostly metal/rock (huge Dream Theater fan). Is a 6-string recommended for metal? I'm considering Warick RB Corvette Basic 6 SBHP, is the model good for metal?

John Marshall (Lamb of God) has played a 4 for a long time now. No, you don't.need a 6, or even a 5.

 

[Killing Floor]

6 string basses are equipped with many of the notes found in some metal songs.

 

[ArtechnikA]

Thanks man! Do you recommend a 5-string instead then, as the high-C really ain't no use off (for me)

Some people tune F# -- G...
just sayin' ...

 

[shade_1313]

Thanks man! Do you recommend a 5-string instead then, as the high-C really ain't no use off (for me)

You may not want to use the highest notes, but that's not all the C string is good for. The C gives you more flexibility to play in different positions, and different tone than playing higher on, say, the G.

 

[Shanannigan]

If you feel like a 6-string would be of use to you, get a 6 string. If not, don't.

There's no specific type of bass that's right for a specific genre. There are bass players in the metal genre that play 4, 5, 6, 7 strings, roundwounds, flatwounds, fretted and fretless, etc. It's about what instrument is right for you.