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Bass for metal

#61
socialleper said:
Hey responders, could you please READ the OP's statement ALL the way through.

He said he wants to play in the style of Cliff Burton. @Andersr123 can correct me if I have this wrong, but to my mind that means he is looking to take a lead every once in a while. He also explicitly said 24 frets.
Do Fenders have 24 frets?
Is any Precision style bass, Fender or not, known for its quick high register playing easy access to the high frets?
Does the bass player for Ghost, Steve Harris, or the bass player from Elder play shredder solos like Cliff did?
Why don't you try to help him find the answer to his question and find the right tool for the job, rather than try to convince him that your ill fitting idea is the best one.
Click to expand...

Wait. Are you being serious about this thread?

Are you new here?
 
#62
socialleper said:
DO NOT just go buy a Fender P bass. The tone is wrong, the neck isn't right for leads, and the heel at the neck joint will cause problems.

One of the characteristics of Cliffs basses were the relatively thin necks. He recommended the Aria Pro to Billy Gould of Faith No More based on the neck. Something with a neck thru body will give you easier access to the upper register. The pickup situation is a little complicated because Cliff used two basses with mid-centric pickups not quite at the bridge position or the neck position. A standard 2 humbucker bass will not have one in the right place for you if you are after that tone. They are ridiculously expensive, but maybe you can find a used Zon Sonus that will work for you.

Beyond the ability to solo a little, what are you looking to do and sound like the rest of the time?
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A Precision is perfectly usable in a metal situation. It might not be perfect for the OP, but your opening generalizations are just... weird.
 
#64
bolophonic said:
A Precision is perfectly usable in a metal situation. It might not be perfect for the OP, but your opening generalizations are just... weird.
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CONTEXT.

OP: "I want to play Cliff Burton style."
Me: "DO NOT just buy a Fender P bass. The tone is wrong, the neck isn't right for leads, and the heel at the neck joint will cause problems."

If the last two statements are clearly pointing towards the OP's desire to play like Cliff Burton (ie leads) why wouldn't you tie my statement about the tone into the same CONTEXT?
Of course P basses can be used for metal. Geezer Butler used one and Black Sabbath made the template for metal. However, P basses can't do high register stuff. As I stated they sound like crap in the higher register, the neck pocket is hard to get to, and the heel is a sharp block. The Aria Pro Cliff Burton was famous for was a neck through with a finished neck and good access to the higher frets.
 
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#65
This is a metuhl as it gets!!

gaga_brits2.jpg
 
#66
socialleper said:
I know actually answering someone's question seriously sounds crazy.
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I think it's crazy that you think there's an answer to the silly question the OP asked.

Do you really think there's a specific best bass for metal under 2K, with 24 frets that would sound better than any other played in the style of Cliff Burton?

I dunno, why not an Aria bass like Cliff Burton used.... or any other bass with 24 frets?
 
#67
socialleper said:
CONTEXT.

OP: "I want to play Cliff Burton style."
Me: "DO NOT just buy a Fender P bass. The tone is wrong, the neck isn't right for leads, and the heel at the neck joint will cause problems."

If the last two statements are clearly pointing towards the OP's desire to play like Cliff Burton (ie leads) why wouldn't you tie my statement about the tone into the same CONTEXT?
Of course P basses can be used for metal. Geezer Butler used one and Black Sabbath made the template for metal. However, P basses can't do high register stuff. As I stated they sound like crap in the higher register, the neck pocket is hard to get to, and the heel is a sharp block. The Aria Pro Cliff Burton was famous for was a neck through with a finished neck and good access to the higher frets.
Click to expand...

The miscommunication is due to the thread title. We saw: Best bass for metal: don't buy a P (ever). The necks suck. ...
 
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#68
socialleper said:
CONTEXT.

OP: "I want to play Cliff Burton style."
Me: "DO NOT just buy a Fender P bass. The tone is wrong, the neck isn't right for leads, and the heel at the neck joint will cause problems."

If the last two statements are clearly pointing towards the OP's desire to play like Cliff Burton (ie leads) why wouldn't you tie my statement about the tone into the same CONTEXT?
Of course P basses can be used for metal. Geezer Butler used one and Black Sabbath made the template for metal. However, P basses can't do high register stuff. As I stated they sound like crap in the higher register, the neck pocket is hard to get to, and the heel is a sharp block. The Aria Pro Cliff Burton was famous for was a neck through with a finished neck and good access to the higher frets.
Click to expand...

Fair enough.
 
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#70
Nev375 said:
I think it's crazy that you think there's an answer to the silly question the OP asked.

Do you really think there's a specific best bass for metal under 2K, with 24 frets that would sound better than any other played in the style of Cliff Burton?

I dunno, why not an Aria bass like Cliff Burton used.... or any other bass with 24 frets?
Click to expand...
Good question.
The old Aria Pro IIs are hard to come by and very expensive because collectors are after them. The Sig model is also very expensive. Well outside the OPs generous $2k mark.
Is there something that might sound better? I don't know but the suggestions I made were based the build of the instrument and its potential for leads. Is there something that might play better? Probably. The Warwick basses that have been suggested are very comfortable instruments for playing up high. I love the feeling of the neck on my ESP\LTD TA-600, and it has the 24 frets with a nice neck through heel. However the pickups don't have the mids the OP might want for leads.

I'm a little meh about Cliff's overall tone, I was more impressed with his control of the instrument and ability to see beyond it being a rhythm instrument.
 
#73
 
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#74
anavar said:
+1

Warwick all the way. Also Op, the question "what is a good bass for metal" is easily answered.

Anything.

Anything you like the look of, its comfortable and is affordable will work great for Metal. The Fender P bass is the only thing i would avoid, not enough mids and snap from them to be heard, a Fender jazz would do better. That being said a fender P will still work though. Whatever you buy, string it with DR strings and slam it into a Sansamp/Darkglass and you'll be fine.
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The two biggest bassists in metal play a pbass. I think passes have more low mids and jazz basses are more scooped.

Other than that, definitely what this guy said. With that budget you can get any non boutique bass. Make sure you shop around a lot to find what you really like. Don't buy before playing
 
#77
Andersr123 said:
Yeah I wish I could get my hands on an Aria Pro II like cliff burton had, but it's not really possible since I live in Norway and fees from buying from ebay would get more expensive than the bass it self and there's like none around in norway.
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Norway?
The most expensive country in the world. With wages and salaries to match it...?!

Here's one from you neighbor country! Not a black Burton signature though...

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

445 USD = 3.700 NOK.

Fees exceeding 2000 USD ?! It ain't simply true. You can shop around for like 1.200 USD used black Aria Pro II Cliff Burton signatures within the EU. And Norway is out of EU, so ... well, you had it coming.
 
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#78
On a serious note, really whatever feels comfortable to you. I play a PJ configured Iceman with a fretless Warmoth neck for metal. Aside from that I usually play Ibanez basses, I love the necks. Also, my modified EB-0 works great for metal, I find it easier to play faster on a shortscale bass.
 
#79
Thanks to the serious tips, I'm leaning towards an Aria Pro II SB1000, but the problem is that I have to pay 25% extra since there's no Arias to get inside of norway.
Honch said:
Norway?
The most expensive country in the world. With wages and salaries to match it...?!

Here's one from you neighbor country! Not a black Burton signature though...

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

445 USD = 3.700 NOK.

Fees exceeding 2000 USD ?! It ain't simply true. You can shop around for like 1.200 USD used black Aria Pro II Cliff Burton signatures within the EU. And Norway is out of EU, so ... well, you had it coming.
Click to expand...


It was an exaggeration, but it's a 25% fee + shipping to buy anything outside of Norway so it gets a bit expensive.
 
#80
It doesn't really matter as long as the instrument feels good to you and sounds good. If it has to have 24 frets, I think all Ibanez basses have 24.
Side note: There's a ton of identical threads like this already that you could have read.
 

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