Bass for metal

[socialleper]

A J:



A P:

The jazz sounds OK, but that P is exactly what I was talking about. That thing sounds like rotten butthole.

As an example of what a Warwick is capable of, this is Nick Schendzielos of Cephalic Carnage, Havok, and A Job For a Cowboy.


Here's Rob playing Orion on a Warwick (not his P)


Here's Erlend Caspersen of Blood Red Throne, Emeth, and Deeds of Flesh rocking a Warwick in a way I have never seen or heard on a Fender of any kind.


Here's Alex Webster with a Spector:


If the difference is in the attack. If you are playing quick you need a tone that articulates and a neck that keep up with you. A P is a solid tone in the low and mid register but stinks at the high, has lousy access, and a neck not known for speed. P basses articulate in a different way. A Jazz bass articulates well, which is why they are preferred for slap, but are limited in their mids, and still lacks 24 frets or a comfortable heel, if that's what the OP is after.

 

[rob2966]

How about a Dingwall NG2, the thing was practically designed for metal from the drawing board.
About $1600US so seems to also be in your budget. 24 frets, Darkglass pre. \m/ \m/.

 

[Funk³]

Disagree.

Disagree.

 

[arbiterusa]

My neighbor kid has one of these modern metal bands. I don't even know why they bother having a bassist; the two drop tuned guitars and 100-watt ENGL heads are putting out WAY more than enough bass for any outfit.

That being said, if I were much younger and putting together a metal band I'd be looking for a Jackson five string like Ellefson uses. But OP VERY specifically mentioned 24 frets, so a Spector 5. Or Warwick. Not my thing but so many guys get good tones out of 'em I don't think the OP could go wrong there.

 

[Korladis]

Unless you are going to really need those 4 extra frets, I still say Rickenbacker 4003 or 4004.

The old Arias are not that expensive, either. I was looking at some of them before I got my 4003S.

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

Rick 4003 in jet glo

 

[Blaargh]

Nick from Mutoid Man gets pretty Cliffy tones from a Aria Pro II ZZ, I think it's fairly similar to what Cliff used to play except for the shape and lairy colour schemes. Not having the Cliff connection means prices are quite a lot lower.

That said, get some 35-90 gauge strings, a Big Muff and a Tube Screamer and you could probably get pretty good Cliffy tones with most basses.

 

[highway]

6 pages? i know we can hit 10 on this topic.

 

[Herrick]

Some people really have a hardon for Metal and not in a good way The OP never asked "What's the best bass for metal". He had gave some decent specifics on what he was looking for and he already said it's unlikely he can get the same type of Aria Bass Burton played. I'm sure it would be different if someone said they wanted to go for a Victor Wooten or Anthony Jackson sound but couldn't afford a Fodera.

 

[anavar]

I hear Steve Harris, Geezer Butler, and Geddy Lee on Rush's first album just fine.



OP, for your criteria, I'd be looking at a 5 string Ibanez SR. Get one with the Nordstrand Big Singles.

Steve Harris would disagree

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

Just want to clarify, when i said the fender P isn't good for metal, i meant "Metal" metal. not Dad trash (love maiden BTW) or rock (Ghost, who i also love).

if he is 19, chances are he loves death metal, or slam, or breakdowns or something like that (just like me )

 

[SickAura]

Just to weigh in on the P vs J discussion for metal.

I have a P with GZR's
and a J with DiMarzio Model J's

The P sounds better solo. Very clear. Great tone.

But in the mix - the J cuts through like a buzz saw.

Using For Whom the Bell Tolls as an example - similar volume and tone settings...

the P disappears in the intro.
The J stands out and makes it sound like it should

My vote....buy a J and put the DiMarzio's in it - add a Darkglass VMT and you're done with cash to spare

 

[anavar]

My vote....buy a J and put the DiMarzio's in it - add a Darkglass VMT and you're done with cash to spare

model J and a Vintage Deluxe would be nuts!

a big part of me wants to ripp out the Nordstrand pickups and darkglass tone capsule preamp out of my thumb bass and roll with a set of model J's and high quality pots. pure passive growl.

 

[SickAura]

model J and a Vintage Deluxe would be nuts!

a big part of me wants to ripp out the Nordstrand pickups and darkglass tone capsule preamp out of my thumb bass and roll with a set of model J's and high quality pots. pure passive growl.

Yeah - when I said buzz saw - I meant a 6 ft 200lb buzz saw - I was actually kind of shocked.
My J went from the trade block to a keeper

 

[anavar]

Yeah - when I said buzz saw - I meant a 6 ft 200lb buzz saw - I was actually kind of shocked.
My J went from the trade block to a keeper

i imagine it was like a HM2 tone for bass.

and i like that lol.

 

[higain617]

I have an 80's Tobias 4-string that's neck-thru with a single Bart humbucker in the center/neck P position. The neck is really fast and it has great access to the upper frets. My buddy is a grindcore ripper, and he has remarked that it's great for fast metal styles.

 

[VinnyIuspa]

Just want to clarify, when i said the fender P isn't good for metal, i meant "Metal" metal. not Dad trash (love maiden BTW) or rock (Ghost, who i also love).

if he is 19, chances are he loves death metal, or slam, or breakdowns or something like that (just like me )

Every metal musician I know of is influenced by maiden including death metal and black metal fans. I think a steve harris type tone would work for death metal. As a matter of fact I'd say that metallic clanky tone so many metal bass players shoot for is heavily influenced by the sound he had on the 80s albums. This is on another note, but check out the band necroptic engorgement. They're an underground brutal death band from middletown ny. Their bassist/vocalist plays a very detuned pbass and they're one of the heaviest live bands I've ever seen. They were much heavier and intense than Cattle Decapitation, whom they were opening for, no disrepesct to those dudes. As a 3 piece none the less. A pbass can work for any genre, and theres alot of different tones to be had. I will also note that I don't and never have owned one. But they definitely sound great in metal.

 

[Captain Chaos]

Rickenbacker 4003 and P bass are my favorites.

 

[Korladis]

Just want to clarify, when i said the fender P isn't good for metal, i meant "Metal" metal. not Dad trash (love maiden BTW) or rock (Ghost, who i also love).

if he is 19, chances are he loves death metal, or slam, or breakdowns or something like that (just like me )

The shag is "slam"?

 

[Korladis]

Also, when I saw Converge, their bassist was using a Fender P.

 

[anavar]

The **** is "slam"?

this

listen from 3:30 onwards for the slam (or sl00m as we call it)



also this









and one from my home country (42 seconds for the slam)



full ep