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Bass for Modern Pop?

F

fra00

Sep 30, 2025
3
4
#1
Hi There, this is my first post so I hope i'm in the right section.
So I started playing in a modern pop/dance pop band recently (kinda like Dua Lipa, Miley Cyrus Lady Gaga) after many years playing Metal, and i'm considering buying a new bass for the occasion, but I'm struggling to decide which one. I've considered a Pbass, the warm tone surely serves the purpose, but it feels a little too vintage for this kind of stuff, I know I could get a Jazz and just close the neck pickup, and open it just when I need a little more of attack on the string but i'm not sure. A good compromise would be a PJ to get the split coil and still get an active electronic, but PJs are not really my thing. So i'm kinda stuck and can't decide. What do you think? If you have any suggestion i'm open to it, thank you guys🤙
 
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#2
There'll be so many (conflicting) opinions, your head will probably spin! There are many unknowns (such as budget, neck profile prefence, aesthetic preferences), so this is a little bit of a stab in the dark. I'd begin by suggesting a 5 string, active, two pickup bass.

For a traditional aesthetic, the ubiquitous active Jazz bass fits the bill, and should provide you with the appropriate tonal palette, provided the preamp isn't rubbish. The starters here would be Sire V7 and Sadowsky MX. If you're looking to spend up, there's a world of possibilities. In addition to the usual suspects, there are a number of great Japanese brands that will fit the bill (Atelier Z, Kikuchi, and ESP amongst many). I'm a big Atelier Z fan - you get great build quality, excellent playability, and top notch electronics. They also will build to order.

I'll leave modern aesthetic suggestions to others. It's outside my wheelhouse!
 
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#7
mikeswals said:
What's wrong with the bass you already have? Why would it be any differnt?
I use my StingRay 5 for those artists, since I'm also coping the low synth notes.
Click to expand...
This was my thought. What kind of bass(es) do you have already? As nice as a new bass can be, it could be money better spent on something else (bass synth effect, preamp, etc.)
 
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#11
P bass. When it comes to playing a bass that will mix well in any room, the industry standard for the past 75 years is the way to go. With modern pop, you’re loading in drums, guitar, keys, and a ton or subs/monitors. For you, the gigging musician, you want a load in to be as easy as possible. I’m talking minimal sound check time so other instruments can sound check quickly as well. When in doubt, pee
 
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#12
fra00 said:
Hi There, this is my first post so I hope i'm in the right section.
So I started playing in a modern pop/dance pop band recently (kinda like Dua Lipa, Miley Cyrus Lady Gaga) after many years playing Metal, and i'm considering buying a new bass for the occasion, but I'm struggling to decide which one. I've considered a Pbass, the warm tone surely serves the purpose, but it feels a little too vintage for this kind of stuff, I know I could get a Jazz and just close the neck pickup, and open it just when I need a little more of attack on the string but i'm not sure. A good compromise would be a PJ to get the split coil and still get an active electronic, but PJs are not really my thing. So i'm kinda stuck and can't decide. What do you think? If you have any suggestion i'm open to it, thank you guys🤙
Click to expand...
I'm in cover bands that do music like this and have continued to sub in on them. I feel the RANGE of the instrument, is CRITICAL. That means 5-string. I have used Stingray 5s and Jazz Bass 5s to great effect. I would NOT use a 5-string Precision Bass because although the range is right its tonal versatility is not what I want and that's a passive instrument. I WOULD use a 5-string ACTIVE PJ. I have 4-string PJs (active and not) and love the tonal versatility. More so with the active one. I much prefer ACTIVE ELECTRONICS in addition to the low B string for a lot of tone shaping flexibility for the sonic diversity and demands of modern music. Passive 5-strings are cool, but not quite as useful as active 5-strings for what I do. Good luck with it.
 
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#14
Dabndug said:
There'll be so many (conflicting) opinions, your head will probably spin! There are many unknowns (such as budget, neck profile prefence, aesthetic preferences), so this is a little bit of a stab in the dark. I'd begin by suggesting a 5 string, active, two pickup bass.

For a traditional aesthetic, the ubiquitous active Jazz bass fits the bill, and should provide you with the appropriate tonal palette, provided the preamp isn't rubbish. The starters here would be Sire V7 and Sadowsky MX. If you're looking to spend up, there's a world of possibilities. In addition to the usual suspects, there are a number of great Japanese brands that will fit the bill (Atelier Z, Kikuchi, and ESP amongst many). I'm a big Atelier Z fan - you get great build quality, excellent playability, and top notch electronics. They also will build to order.

I'll leave modern aesthetic suggestions to others. It's outside my wheelhouse!
Click to expand...

Dabndug said:
There'll be so many (conflicting) opinions, your head will probably spin! There are many unknowns (such as budget, neck profile prefence, aesthetic preferences), so this is a little bit of a stab in the dark. I'd begin by suggesting a 5 string, active, two pickup bass.

For a traditional aesthetic, the ubiquitous active Jazz bass fits the bill, and should provide you with the appropriate tonal palette, provided the preamp isn't rubbish. The starters here would be Sire V7 and Sadowsky MX. If you're looking to spend up, there's a world of possibilities. In addition to the usual suspects, there are a number of great Japanese brands that will fit the bill (Atelier Z, Kikuchi, and ESP amongst many). I'm a big Atelier Z fan - you get great build quality, excellent playability, and top notch electronics. They also will build to order.

I'll leave modern aesthetic suggestions to others. It's outside my AF
Click to expand...

Dabndug said:
There'll be so many (conflicting) opinions, your head will probably spin! There are many unknowns (such as budget, neck profile prefence, aesthetic preferences), so this is a little bit of a stab in the dark. I'd begin by suggesting a 5 string, active, two pickup bass.

For a traditional aesthetic, the ubiquitous active Jazz bass fits the bill, and should provide you with the appropriate tonal palette, provided the preamp isn't rubbish. The starters here would be Sire V7 and Sadowsky MX. If you're looking to spend up, there's a world of possibilities. In addition to the usual suspects, there are a number of great Japanese brands that will fit the bill (Atelier Z, Kikuchi, and ESP amongst many). I'm a big Atelier Z fan - you get great build quality, excellent playability, and top notch electronics. They also will build to order.

I'll leave modern aesthetic suggestions to others. It's outside my wheelhouse!
Click to expand...
Reading all the comments
Dabndug said:
There'll be so many (conflicting) opinions, your head will probably spin! There are many unknowns (such as budget, neck profile prefence, aesthetic preferences), so this is a little bit of a stab in the dark. I'd begin by suggesting a 5 string, active, two pickup bass.

For a traditional aesthetic, the ubiquitous active Jazz bass fits the bill, and should provide you with the appropriate tonal palette, provided the preamp isn't rubbish. The starters here would be Sire V7 and Sadowsky MX. If you're looking to spend up, there's a world of possibilities. In addition to the usual suspects, there are a number of great Japanese brands that will fit the bill (Atelier Z, Kikuchi, and ESP amongst many). I'm a big Atelier Z fan - you get great build quality, excellent playability, and top notch electronics. They also will build to order.

I'll leave modern aesthetic suggestions to others. It's outside my wheelhouse!
Click to expand...
I think I'm going with a V7, probably a 5 string to copy with low notes, also i prefer the C-shape neck, it feels way smoother than the pbass
 
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#15
I am playing in a modern pop/dance band. I recently switched from a 4-string Jazz to a 5-string Jazz for the low notes.

I think you are right to consider a 5-string for the job but beyond that I think it's probably your personal preference.

That said, I would *love* to have an Atelier Z, I think they are great.
 
#16
fra00 said:
Reading all the comments

I think I'm going with a V7, probably a 5 string to cope with low notes, also I prefer the C-shape neck, it feels way smoother than the pbass
Click to expand...
Good choice! Ultimately it has to feel comfortable first and foremost. If you can, try them in person, if not, shop somewhere with a good return policy.

I’d say the one thing you might want to tweak on it is upgrading to hum-cancelling pickups so you can solo one or the other. Bartolinis or Aguilars are great, and Aguilar’s DCB J5 has a really nice focused tone for modern pop (imho)
 
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#17
Basses I have used for this sort of music:

P-Bass with flats (fine, but underwhelming for slap bits)
P/J Yamaha with flats (surprisingly good)
Spector with Rounds (great)
P-Bass with Rounds (great)
Jazz Bass with Rounds (great)
P/J with Rounds (great)
 
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#19
Dabndug said:
There are many unknowns (such as budget, neck profile prefence, aesthetic preferences), so this is a little bit of a stab in the dark. I'd begin by suggesting a 5 string, active, two pickup bass.
Click to expand...
This. Practically any solid body bass could work in this situation, but for a specialized bass for this kind of work, an active five string would be my choice. That still leaves a ton of options. Some that I would consider are Sire V or M series, Yamaha BB (the active one) or TRBX, Sandberg. The new Ibanez Mode series looks interesting too.
 
#20
hooky_marr said:
Good choice! Ultimately it has to feel comfortable first and foremost. If you can, try them in person, if not, shop somewhere with a good return policy.

I’d say the one thing you might want to tweak on it is upgrading to hum-cancelling pickups so you can solo one or the other. Bartolinis or Aguilars are great, and Aguilar’s DCB J5 has a really nice focused tone for modern pop (imho)
Click to expand...
Lucky for me I live in a huge city so I've got plenty of choice for guitar stores. Yeah Aguilars are great but I think i'll just buy a V7 and if there's a hum i'll just shield it with copper
 
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