Does Jason Newstead play a 5 string live?

Jason uses Sadowsky 4 and 5-strings, Fender P-Basses and ESP (that I can think of). I don't think I have ever seen him use anything less than a fiver when playing live.

 

A few more to the list;

Alembic (on the "And Justice For All" and "Black Album" tours - mostly fives, with an occasional four, and six during "Sad But True")

Spector (his "recording" bass - used since the "black" album on - often strung B-E-A-D)

 

Was there any bass guitar in Justice For All? I heard James said that they only put a picture of Jason but actually no bass player in that album.

 

There is bass on the Justice album... the problem is you need a REALLY good speaker system to hear it. It's buried way down in the mix, but I have actually heard that bass on a few systems, my current system in my truck actually does reproduce the bass. For the most part, it's just doubling the rhythm guitar anyways, and the rhythm guitar is so huge and phat... well... it doesn't leave a lot of room sonically for the bass. I love the sound of the kick and snare on that album by the way, it's huge.

 

Hi guys, I seem to remember reading somewhere that in the earlier days - like when the action figures are modelled, he had a liking for Wal basses. Could the bass in the model be a Wal 5 string custom job with button, switches, go faster thingies!!!???

About 'And justice....' I wondered about the bass too, but it is there for sure. Just hard to pick out most of the time!

 

Jason uses both 4s and 5ers live, check out the Cunning Stunts and S&M videos for proof.

Very few Metallica songs actually require the low "B", "Sad But True" is one, BUT I beleive he uses the extra string to improvise live and/or give him more hand positions when playing some of Cliff's old lines.

His full equipment list:

Sadowsky E-Bass Guitars:
Sadowsky - Black Vintage - Ash body
Sadowsky - Black Vintage (x2)
Sadowsky - PJ - Cherry Sunburst
Sadowsky - PJ - Caramel Sunburst
Sadowsky - Vintage - Lake Placid Blue #1 (4 strings)
Sadowsky - Vintage - Lake Placid Blue #2 (5 strings)
Sadowsky - Vintage - Cherry Sunburst
Sadowsky - Black Vintage - 24 Fret (x2)

Further Basses Used For On-Stage:
Alembic - Elan - Black (5 strings)
Alembic - Europa - Black (6 strings)
Alembic - Europa - Black (5 strings)
Alembic - Europa - Black (4 strings)
Alembic - Spoiler - Black (4 strings) (x2)
Alembic - Spoiler - Natural colored
ESP Bass - Red
ESP B-1 - Black
Guild acoustic bass
Stuart Spector Designs 4 - 5 - 6 strings
Stuart Spector SP5
WAL - Black (5 strings)

Further Basses Only Used For Recording/Non-Stage:
Alembic - Europa - Black (4 strings)
Alembic - Europa - Black (10 strings)
Chandler Metro Baritone
Dingwall Voodoo Bass
1933 National Dobro
1958 Fender Prescision
1968 Fender Telecaster Paisley Bass
1963 Gibson EB-3
1981 Spector NS (4 strings)
Gibson EB-6 (6 strings)
Hagstrom 8 string
Hamer (8 strings)
Hamer Mandocello (12 strings)
Music Man Sting Ray (4 strings)
Music Man Sting Ray 5 (5 strings)
Parker Fly guitar
Zon fretless

He also used one of Cliff's Aria Pro II basses from time to time.

 

the bass in the action figure isssue is the alembic