• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Best Bass for Metal?

#101
Seten said:
Thanks for all the posts. A couple quick clarifications.

1. I was vague on purpose. I want to be able to check out a wide variety of basses.
2. I am not interested in playing metal. (Not that I don't like metal, I just don't play it in anything.) That's not to say I wouldn't welcome a bass that is also good at playing metal, but my main genres will be punk, grunge, and maybe some psychedelic rock, and I would like it to not sound completely out of place in a genre like jazz.
Click to expand...

You would have trouble finding a bass that is punchy enough for punk or grunge then smooth enough for jazz. One prefers a more scooped tone while the other prefers a warmer tone (unless you are slapping). A jazz bass might get you there if you have some way via EQ to manage your mids. A lot of basses with active preamps have a passive bypass if you want to look at that.

You also made the mistake of making a sarcastic title then relying on responders to actually read. So all the wrong answers are on you.
 
#103
I was doing my usual perusal of Dave's World of Fun Stuff and found the perfect bass for you. The moveable pickup should suit all of the styles you're looking for and when you have to play jazz, you just find yourself an end pin stand and you're playing an upright!

 
#105
Seten said:
Thanks for all the posts. A couple quick clarifications.

1. I was vague on purpose. I want to be able to check out a wide variety of basses.
2. I am not interested in playing metal. (Not that I don't like metal, I just don't play it in anything.) That's not to say I wouldn't welcome a bass that is also good at playing metal, but my main genres will be punk, grunge, and maybe some psychedelic rock, and I would like it to not sound completely out of place in a genre like jazz.
Click to expand...
Unfortch, being vague when questing for bass tones won't get you too far. There are literally a billion ways you could go and they will all lead to "Yeah nah," as we say in Australia.

So let's listen to cool stuff! I really dig Nate Newton's tone on Converge's Axe To Fall:



And Jon Stockman's tone on Karnivool's Sound Awake:



That is a Precision with a plectrum, and a Warwick of some description, respectively. Both are super-dominant without being annoying, like, "Oh ho, here comes the bass player," and I think that kicks ass - mostly because it's all about the tone. In Newton's case especially, his playing is not frilly. His bass just sounds authoritative and supportive. It's my fave sound by miles, and that's where I started when looking for my own tones.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GBassNorth and Lethgar
#107
I saw Converge live when they were on tour with Dethklok-- that experience kind helped me decide that Grindcore wasn't for me (and let's face it, I was much more interested in the act immediately following them-- Mastadon). But the gear used by the guitarist and bassist were very interesting in that they were very "vintage" in appearance-- the guitars looked like custom instruments vaguely resembling vintage Rickenbacker, Mosrite, and Danelectro/Silvertone, but they all had EMG humbuckers.

That's the first I've heard of Karnivool, though-- I rather liked that! Must find more... *clicks onto YouTube*
 
#108
calypsocoral302 said:
I saw Converge live when they were on tour with Dethklok-- that experience kind helped me decide that Grindcore wasn't for me (and let's face it, I was much more interested in the act immediately following them-- Mastadon). But the gear used by the guitarist and bassist were very interesting in that they were very "vintage" in appearance-- the guitars looked like custom instruments vaguely resembling vintage Rickenbacker, Mosrite, and Danelectro/Silvertone, but they all had EMG humbuckers.

That's the first I've heard of Karnivool, though-- I rather liked that! Must find more... *clicks onto YouTube*
Click to expand...
I think they have a big muso-boner for Orange gear. I was talking to Nate one time and he mentioned he'd record through Orange guitar amps, among other stuff.

Karnivool are great. They're from Perth, so they're pretty household over here. I think Sound Awake is their best record, but the one they released after it, Asymmetry, is really interesting and experimental. It's like, "How are you allowed to do this and get on the radio?" Most excellent.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GBassNorth
#109
Seten said:
?...my main genres will be punk, grunge, and maybe some psychedelic rock, and I would like it to not sound completely out of place in a genre like jazz.
Click to expand...

An interesting option that I don't think has been mentioned yet...
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
The Gibson RD would work perfectly for punk, grunge and psych/prog rock. I suspect it could even fit in a blues or jazz setting.
 
#110
I disagree with the members pushing the Fenders. Metal is inherantly visual therefore a common design like the P bass is a non starter for me.
My first build was essentially a metal bass. I designed a unique body with four horns that curved in on themselves. The top horn ended near the twelfth fret so it would balance well. The body was a solid one piece Basswood blank, for deep thunderous tone and serious light weight. I installed EMG PJ's and a fender style P neck. The tone was super deep and resonant. I painted it blue-black burst and hand painted Bill the cat on the back. I will be building a new one soon for fun.
 
#111
Interestingly, @Canadian APII, the OP isn't interested in metal (even though that's the title of the thread). He summarized his goal a page or so back as being:

"I am not interested in playing metal. (Not that I don't like metal, I just don't play it in anything.) That's not to say I wouldn't welcome a bass that is also good at playing metal, but my main genres will be punk, grunge, and maybe some psychedelic rock, and I would like it to not sound completely out of place in a genre like jazz."

Hence, all the Fender recommendations.
 
#112
Jamvan said:
Interestingly, @Canadian APII, the OP isn't interested in metal (even though that's the title of the thread). He summarized his goal a page or so back as being:

"I am not interested in playing metal. (Not that I don't like metal, I just don't play it in anything.) That's not to say I wouldn't welcome a bass that is also good at playing metal, but my main genres will be punk, grunge, and maybe some psychedelic rock, and I would like it to not sound completely out of place in a genre like jazz."

Hence, all the Fender recommendations.
Click to expand...
And the OP can design his own also. It just so happened my first bass was for metal. I don't play metal either. If I was recommending I would say that Aria and Aria Pro II have some nice basses that are affordable and in the mid tone range. Not too bass not to treble and decidedly underpriced. I have always been a rebel and try to stay away from what the masses use.
 
#113
honeyiscool said:
Weird for someone who just bought two Ibanez basses to say, but I think your average Ibanez SR isn't all that suited for playing simple rock music. For rock, I want clarity with both fingers and pick, and that to me favors a smaller sound than a larger one, because a distorted guitar takes up so much of the mix. So ideally I want a simple single or split coil tone, and most Ibanez SR basses I've played (and bought) have had a very full sound that I end up EQing a lot out to get it to work with a mix.

That said, any Ibanez that plays well can have its pickups replaced, and premium Ibanez basses have those Nordstrand single coils which should be well suited for playing rock or metal. And the one that I bought, the SR655, is even better because it's got PJ pickups out of the box. I think a P bass neck is the ideal thing to have for playing rock. A J bridge can add a little complexity to the tone that I really like, so a PJ is really beautiful in terms of versatility.
Click to expand...

I know what you mean, the SR basses have a very full thick sound based on how you mess with the onboard preamp, however it is a very versatile preamp and I can get lots of different sounds out of it. It also depends on how you like to mix your music. For my band I make the thick sound work with the two guitars and even though its heavy rock it still works pretty well. That being said, I did just buy a PJ bass and Ive decided to use the Ibanez for church where that thick sound is more appropriate, so I do agree with what youre saying too. Overall though I would say an Ibanez can work for most kinds of music YMMV.
 
#114
Canadian APII said:
And the OP can design his own also. It just so happened my first bass was for metal. I don't play metal either. If I was recommending I would say that Aria and Aria Pro II have some nice basses that are affordable and in the mid tone range. Not too bass not to treble and decidedly underpriced. I have always been a rebel and try to stay away from what the masses use.
Click to expand...
So you think THE BASS ASSOCIATED WITH METALLICA is actually more of a rebellious choice?
 
#116
for my money the Ibanez SR's (500 series and up, don't bother with the lower ones unless you're a beginner as they are great beginner basses) are the one. They don't look especially metal but they can nail that sound perfectly, and the looks/sound are versatile enough to look/sound right in just about any context.
 
#117
Seten said:
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.
Click to expand...

Seten said:
Thanks for all the posts. A couple quick clarifications.

1. I was vague on purpose. I want to be able to check out a wide variety of basses.
2. I am not interested in playing metal. (Not that I don't like metal, I just don't play it in anything.) That's not to say I wouldn't welcome a bass that is also good at playing metal, but my main genres will be punk, grunge, and maybe some psychedelic rock, and I would like it to not sound completely out of place in a genre like jazz.
Click to expand...

Apologies for not slogging through six pages of banter, valid/on-topic or not/neither. I'll just jump in with a recommendation and an accompanying sound clip…the Fender Blacktop Jazz.

It is easily the most aggressive passive bass I've ever encountered! I guess you can chalk that up to the additional Precision pickup and the neck-pup being nudged slightly towards the neck-heel. However…and this is in deference to the OP's want/need for something capable of Jazz or Motown…by easing up on the bridge pickup, you can cop a decent (if not spot-on) classic, mellow Precision tone.

And if cost is an issue, no problem. Brand new, they actually go for less than their Fender Standard counterparts by anywhere from $80 (P) to $100 (J).

But enough of this banter, here's a sound clip cut by fellow TB'er audiomitch. It's played with a pick, so there's a bit more bite, but you'll get the gist.

FenderBlacktopJazzTest.mp3 - File Shared from Box

And also, here's a pic of mine, with a couple of cosmetic enhancements (pickguard screws and tint along the guard's edge).
Post-ModBlacktop02_zps2053ced3.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Seten
#118
Malak the Mad said:
Apologies for not slogging through six pages of banter, valid/on-topic or not/neither. I'll just jump in with a recommendation and an accompanying sound clip…the Fender Blacktop Jazz.

It is easily the most aggressive passive bass I've ever encountered! I guess you can chalk that up to the additional Precision pickup and the neck-pup being nudged slightly towards the neck-heel. However…and this is in deference to the OP's want/need for something capable of Jazz or Motown…by easing up on the bridge pickup, you can cop a decent (if not spot-on) classic, mellow Precision tone.

And if cost is an issue, no problem. Brand new, they actually go for less than their Fender Standard counterparts by anywhere from $80 (P) to $100 (J).

But enough of this banter, here's a sound clip cut by fellow TB'er audiomitch. It's played with a pick, so there's a bit more bite, but you'll get the gist.

FenderBlacktopJazzTest.mp3 - File Shared from Box

And also, here's a pic of mine, with a couple of cosmetic enhancements (pickguard screws and tint along the guard's edge).
Post-ModBlacktop02_zps2053ced3.jpg
Click to expand...

The pickups are backward! :laugh:
 
  • Like
Reactions: Malak the Mad

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back