best bass for a growl without overdrive?

[perfektspace6]

You can get a "growl" out of just about any bass with jazz or soapbar style pickups and some roundwounds. It's more about how you play and how you EQ. Just find a bass that fits you like a glove and make it growl.

 

[jokerjoe23]

Crappy Squier PJ, Out of whack Intonation, flats, a big ass peavey combo amp with every EQ all the way down except mids and extreme highs and lows, mess with the EQ on the bass and you will have the mikeypbass patented fretless-sounding growling mud machine

Hahahaha, that sounds EXACTLY like my friends rig!!

 

[Hollow]

just get a high end schecter bass. There only around 500-700 too and you get awesome quality not to mention they look awesome.

 

[maddrakkett]

I've been looking over various basses over the past few months, trying to find one that had 'the growl'. Pedullas, Warwicks, Modulus, Alembecs, along with the high-end ones from common builders like Ibanez and Peavey. Some of them very nice basses that came very close to the tone I wanted...but...

I purchased a Thumb last weekend. People have always said that a Thumb had that growl...it's unmistakable once you hear it. The ones that came in second and third of my big tone hunt was the Pedulla Thunderbass and, surprisingly enough, the Ibanez Soundgear Prestige.

+1! I have a Thumb NT and there is no other tone like it. It is the very definition of "growl!" And I got mine for a very reasonable price by buying used off eBay, yet for a 2000 model, it is still in brand new shape!

 

[dirtgroove]

Another vote for the Thumb. Some people might find it a little sterile sounding. Alternatively, try a Jazz bass (Geddy?) as a cheaper alternative- go easy on the neck 'pup and full tilt on the bridge.