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Best Bass for Metal?

Which bass best for metal/rock?

  • Ibanez SR670 w/bartolini pickups

    Votes: 30 58.8%

  • MTD Kingston Super 4 w/bartolini HH single coil pickups

    Votes: 21 41.2%
  • Total voters
    51
R

Rnr..........4

Guest
Jul 8, 2019
1,491
945
#1
Hey again. One last question as I've narrowed down my choices for my next bass. Can't decide between the Ibanez SR670 with Bartolini dual humbuckers or the MTD Kingston Super 4 with dual Bartolini humbuckers with magnet exposed pickups spaced closer.

I was wondering if anyone has the SR670 and if that is able to be blended like the MTD? Since that is almost half the cost of the expensive MTD.

Thanks.
 
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#2
You'll be disappointed if you're expecting either of those to be metal, they're mostly wood.
For Heavy Metal, almost anything will work, but I'd choose an Ibanez Premium SoundGear with Nordstrand Big Singles.
The Bartolinis in the SR670 are not great for Heavy Metal with lots of Gain or Mids, IME.

BTW, there are also many sub-genres of Heavy Metal.
So you could be specific.
Do you just want something growly?
because the Nordstrand Big Singles are super-growl
 
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#4
Killed_by_Death said:
You'll be disappointed if you're expecting either of those to be metal, they're mostly wood.
For Heavy Metal, almost anything will work, but I'd choose an Ibanez Premium SoundGear with Nordstrand Big Singles.
The Bartolinis in the SR670 aren't great for Heavy Metal with lots of Gain or Mid, IME.

BTW, there are also many sub-genres of Heavy Metal.
So you could be specific.
Click to expand...
Well anything from Motorhead style distortion to bands like Slayer, Behemoth, Black metal type stuff.

I already own a passive bass with P/J pickups. I wanted to get an active next. Most I've seen like the ESP LTD have stock dual humbucker pickups anyway.
 
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#5
Just want something along the lines of Cliff Williams in AC/DC. Big, punchy sound with mids to cut through heavy distortion, etc. I have looked at Sterling MM but didn't really care for the sound and it's pretty much the same as the MTD.
 
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#7
Rnr..........4 said:
Best Bass for Metal
Click to expand...

Your innocence is refreshing. Anyway, just a friendly FYI....”The best bass for metal” is a long-running inside joke on Talkbass. Please do not take it personally if many of the members here reply with seemingly disconnected comments. More to your actual question, I personally wouldn’t pick anything with Barts for heavy/aggressive music. I’ve had good success with basses outfitted with EMGs and Nordstrands for that genre. Ultimately, any bass can be successfully used for metal, however.
 
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#8
Warpeg said:
Your innocence is refreshing. Anyway, just a friendly FYI....”The best bass for metal” is a long-running inside joke on Talkbass. Please do not take it personally if many of the members here reply with seemingly disconnected comments. More to your actual question, I personally wouldn’t pick anything with Barts for heavy/aggressive music. I’ve had good success with basses outfitted with EMGs and Nordstrands for that genre. Ultimately, any bass can be successfully used for metal, however.
Click to expand...
I'm sure you get quite a few people posting such threads. I guess since I am somewhat new to bass (used to play guitar) trying to gather info about pickups since Guitar Center are useless.. the guy there told me Bartolini's are the Cadillac of pickups and would be good for metal or anything.
 
#12
The PowerSpan pickups are alright, but they're no Nordstrands.
There's also no Titanium reinforcement in the neck & IME those SR Standard necks can be flimsy w/o the reinforcement.
The Premiums have an Active/Passive switch, but the SR300EB doesn't.

Here's my anecdote, which I have shared before.
I've owned two SR300E. One sounded fantastic, because the neck was really stiff.
The other, a SR300EB, just sounded average & the neck was flimsy.
You couldn't even down-tune a full step w/o losing playability.

Also, I've had heaps of trouble with the machine-heads on Standard SR Ibanez.
The GOTOH machine-heads on the Premium & Prestige are far superior.

In summary, a pre-owned Premium is a lot more bang-for-buck than a new Standard.
 
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#13
Killed_by_Death said:
The PowerSpan pickups are alright, but they're no Nordstrands.
There's also no Titanium reinforcement in the neck & IME those SR Standard necks can be flimsy w/o the reinforcement.
The Premiums have a Active/Passive switch, but the SR300EB doesn't.

Here's my anecdote, which I have shared before.
I've owned two SR300E. One sounded fantastic, because the neck was really stiff.
The other, a SR300EB, just sounded average & the neck was flimsy.
You couldn't even down-tune a full step w/o losing playability.

Also, I've had heaps of trouble with the machine-heads on Standard SR Ibanez.
The GOTOH machine-heads on the Premium & Prestige are far superior.
Click to expand...
Well in that case is there any other type or brand out there with a good bass similar but with a good price?

I was looking at this too [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
but the pickups would be no different from the SR670 really.
 
#15
Rnr..........4 said:
Just want something along the lines of Cliff Williams in AC/DC. Big, punchy sound that can scoop the mids to cut through heavy distortion, etc. I have looked at Sterling MM but didn't really care for the sound and it's pretty much the same as the MTD.

I can't afford to go over $900 roughly.
Click to expand...
The close together MM pickups of the MTD is closer to what Cliff uses now. Back in the day he used a Fender P.
I am not familiar with the MTD, so I can't say what the tone is like. Ibanez SR basses have a particular tone that I would call modern and a little scooped.
 
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#17
Killed_by_Death said:
IF you don't mind a Heavy instrument, LTD has these:

[This invalid link has been removed]

The Big-Splits get close to the growl of the Big-Singles, but w/o noise, because they're hum-canceling pickups.
See if you can find one pre-owned, but I have investigated them & they're usually over 10 lbs.. My Ibanez Premium SR is under 8 lbs..
Click to expand...
Too much scratch for me and yeah weight would be an issue.
 
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