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Best Bass for Metal?

Seten

Seten

Guest
Jun 8, 2014
350
63
Columbus, Ohio
#1
Just kidding. Well, sort of.
I'm trying to decide what bass to get. I can't decide whether I want to go 4 or 5 string, so suggest both. I want passive electronics, and I like a warmer sound. Right now looking at the American Deluxe or Standard precision basses, but want other options. 1.5k price range (willing to go used). I play mainly grunge/punk/hard rock, but also will use it for other genres, especially jazz or motown.

If I should clarify more, let me know.
 
#10
scourgeofgod said:
To me there is no sense in paying 1.5K on a new p bass. I mean p basses are cool and all, but it's still just a p bass for crying out loud.
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My current GAS pains are for a Fender American Standard P-Bass. I'll probably pay $1500us.

I just paid the same for my American Standard Jazz.

I just wish I could find it in artic blue. Don't really want a second TSB.

And to me the American Standard plays and sounds better. That's what I pay for. My Jazz plays better than any MIM that's crossed my path. Granted picking are slim but they are there. Both new and used.

The quality of my Jazz is perfect and I consider it a bargain at twice the price. And yes I did try the American special which "is" twice the price. The standard won hands down.
 
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#12
joel406 said:
My current GAS pains are for a Fender American Standard P-Bass. I'll probably pay $1500us.

I just paid the same for my American Standard Jazz.

I just wish I could find it in artic blue. Don't really want a second TSB.

And to me the American Standard plays and sounds better. That's what I pay for. My Jazz plays better than any MIM that's crossed my path. Granted picking are slim but they are there. Both new and used.

The quality of my Jazz is perfect and I consider it a bargain at twice the price. And yes I did try the American special which "is" twice the price. The standard won hands down.
Click to expand...
I can't really believe that an American and a Mexican with the same set up, pickups/eletronics, and wood could sound all that different, and yes I know the parts on the American are upgraded from the Mexican, I'm just speaking hypothetically. Not trying to start the same old tired debate up, but as simple and effective a design as the p bass is, I can't see how one mass produced assembly line bass can sound/feel amazing compared to another purely based on where they were assembled. I would LOVE if someone were to conduct a blind taste test study across all levels of Fender/Squier Ps, throw in a Sadowsky and a Lull too, have them all set-up the same by the same person, and have the test-ees guess what each bass was, which they thought felt/sounded best, without knowing which was which before hand.
 
#15
scourgeofgod said:
I can't really believe that an American and a Mexican with the same set up, pickups/eletronics, and wood could sound all that different, and yes I know the parts on the American are upgraded from the Mexican, I'm just speaking hypothetically. Not trying to start the same old tired debate up, but as simple and effective a design as the p bass is, I can't see how one mass produced assembly line bass can sound/feel amazing compared to another purely based on where they were assembled. I would LOVE if someone were to conduct a blind taste test study across all levels of Fender/Squier Ps, throw in a Sadowsky and a Lull too, have them all set-up the same by the same person, and have the test-ees guess what each bass was, which they thought felt/sounded best, without knowing which was which before hand.
Click to expand...

Well here's the thing. MIM's and MIA"s really aren't the same. MIM Jazz bass's (to me) have chunkier necks. The sound is not as distinct and the tone controls are wonky. Playing an MIM always demanded more work and allowed less fluidity. Felt good to slap cause it feels like a slab of wood.

To me.

The MIA (American Standard) has a sleeker neck (as well as graphite truss rods) and smoother frets. Better tuners(big deal). The finish is amazing. The rosewood fingerboard sustains forever. The pickups (CS-60s) are incredible. The tone variations are limitless.

To me.

Now can I turn a MIM into something that rivals my MIA?

Probably.

Change the pickups and all the electronics.
Change the neck.
probably a little work to the body shape and a refinishing. Then I could get that artic blue..

So... What were we talking about?
 
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#16
Noob speaking here... Before you listen to any of the advices, check out a few basses for yourself, test them out, listen and find the sound you want. Who knows, you may even find a cheap-ass bass that sounds just the way you imagined you should sound, don't go for a "here is all my life savings and a kidney" priced bass just because someone said it sounds great. You may not like it after all :)
 
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#17
Urosh said:
Noob speaking here... Before you listen to any of the advices, check out a few basses for yourself, test them out, listen and find the sound you want. Who knows, you may even find a cheap-ass bass that sounds just the way you imagined you should sound, don't go for a "here is all my life savings and a kidney" priced bass just because someone said it sounds great. You may not like it after all :)
Click to expand...

This is the very reason I avoid stuff over the 2k zone.
 

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