A bass that's great for metal?

[Koncept17]

Hello, so I wanted to buy a new bass for a long time and now I'm at it. The thing is, I'm in a new band that tunes C-F-A#-D#. That's pretty low and with my current crappy jay turser bass, I can notice a lot of fretbuzzes and snaping sounds when I play, it's just not comfortable and doesn't sound right but I don't know if it's because my bass is cheap or if low tuning always does that.

I was thinking of buying a musicman stingray but I don't know if it's a good bass for low tuning, maybe you have other suggestions? Lets say I would like to be as eased as when I'm tuning standard, if ever that is possible...

Thank you.

 

[Argali]

In my last band, we tuned to dropped-C. My friend experimented a few basses with that tuning and ultimately settled on a Stingray. I thought it sounded great.

 

[Sam Evans]

Something with a long scale (35") and heavy strings, or go with a 5-string?

 

[knuckle_head]

Try getting the right string gauges first and see if the bass you have will work.

Look for a 5 string set that has between a .115 and .120 on bottom and lose the top string, or if not then come by singles; .125 .090 .070 .050

FWIW a .125 tuned to C will have slightly less tension than a .100 would tuned to standard E.

 

[superfunk47]

Get a 5 string.

 

[Obese Chess]

this thread again?

 

[Koncept17]

It's my first thread loll 0_o But I'm not sure if a 5 strings would suit me. Anything else?

 

[spade2you]

Get a 5 string.

Try playing in C minor all night on a 5 string. Subbed for metal band once and did this for a few entire evenings. Never again. Pretty sure it will give me arthritis a few years earlier than had I not done this.

this thread again?

What are you talking about, this is the longest I can recall without a thread like this. Subsequently, I don't think there is a metal band today that doesn't tune to C or dropped C.

 

[remigioremigio]

warwick thumb NT
warwick streamer stage 2

 

[Ric5]

A bass that's great for metal?

Pretty much any 5 string bass.

 

[low-endz]

SO, your not sure if a 5 stringer would suit you?
OK string your four banger with 130-075 BEAD strings lose the g
done deal

 

[depalm]

If a Sadowsky was good for Mettalica it should be good for you.

 

[Matt Till]

Fretbuzz and snapping sounds (don't know what snapping sounds are really) are more than likely a case of bad setup. My advice, more or less echoing what's been said, get a heavier gauge of strings and then get your bass set up. Magically, you'll find you're problems you mentioned will disappear.

Sure there are better basses for metal, but what you have is probably fine, it just needs to be fine tuned into a metal bass.

 

[arjune]

Fretbuzz and snapping sounds (don't know what snapping sounds are really) are more than likely a case of bad setup. My advice, more or less echoing what's been said, get a heavier gauge of strings and then get your bass set up. Magically, you'll find you're problems you mentioned will disappear.

Sure there are better basses for metal, but what you have is probably fine, it just needs to be fine tuned into a metal bass.

+1000

 

[ster]

I But I'm not sure if a 5 strings would suit me. Anything else?

Get used to it, its easier than you think. You need those low bombs for modern metal.

 

[Skywalker83]

For the love of god!!! Can people paleeeseeee stop with these threads!!!! EVERY WEEK we get one!!!

 

[lowendmafia]

It is not about the bass, it the way you play it. I played metal and hardcore for years and in that time I used, MM Sting Ray, Warwick Thumbs and Streamer Stage IIs, Fender American DLX P-basses, Active J basses, Lakland 55-02, and Gibson Grabbers and they all worked fine. Later in my metal career I played the Grabbers exclusively through an old SVT with a little bit of overdrive and it killed. The band played in drop C and we had 2 guitar players one using Mesa the other Bogner. I was constantly searching for something that cut through the mix, I found passive with a little OD was the way to go.

 

[René_Julien]

For the love of god!!! Can people paleeeseeee stop with these threads!!!! EVERY WEEK we get one!!!

Why does it bother you so much?

The OP asked a specific question: a bass suited to downtune to CFA#D#.



I was starting to miss the metal bass threads.
Although my suggestion for, as usual, a precision bass wouldn't help the OP.

Get something in 35" scale minimum and thick strings.

 

[Koncept17]

Fretbuzz and snapping sounds (don't know what snapping sounds are really) are more than likely a case of bad setup. My advice, more or less echoing what's been said, get a heavier gauge of strings and then get your bass set up. Magically, you'll find you're problems you mentioned will disappear.

Sure there are better basses for metal, but what you have is probably fine, it just needs to be fine tuned into a metal bass.

Sorry I'm french but what does "get your bass set up means" ? And I forgot to say I've got average sized fingers so I'm not sure if I'd dig a 35" scale.

 

[Eminor3rd]

If you don't want a five string, get a Schecter Scorpion. It's a four string, but it comes tuned BEAD, so it's like the low four strings of a 5 String. Plus it's 35" scale (which isn;t that much of a difference for your small fingers, trust me, I have small fingers too), I believe, and it looks really "metal."