Fave basses for extreme music?

[Burlington]

well to those that play those genres (i don't, personally) or listen intensively (i do!), there's a pretty big difference. Obviously we're still talking death metal so there will be overlap between genres, but there's a pretty big difference between bands like Atheist and Cynic (tech death) and Cannibal Corpse and Devourment (brutal). Some people might argue that brutal death is an umbrella term for all non-melodic death metal (melodic death metal meaning bands like In Flames, Dark Tranquility, etc), but these days its seemed to become a more specific sub-genre. Ah, the infinite complexities of metal, haha. I know its all lost on the non-fans out there, so apologies if i'm boring you. Think of it like the differences between bebop and acid jazz, if that helps.

I was just trollin. I'm in a melodic death metal band myself

 

[ishouldbeking]

I'm going to play devil's advocate and say... What does it matter? You can never hear the bass in death/black metal anyway.




And yes, I am a fan of extreme metal so don't get your panties in a bunch. It's a joke.

its nice on those occasions when you can though, right? just dug up an old Cryptopsy album and I was really surprised how much of the bass you could hear. the production was still pretty crap (think it was their first album), but the bass actually cut through!

EDIT: actually another really good one i just heard, on the black metal side of things, was the new Dark Fortress album "Ylem"... its actually mixed like a rock album, with a real bass presence, without sacrificing br00tality, and its a fantastic record. hearing a bass did throw me for a loop at first tho, ha

 

[ishouldbeking]

I was just trollin. I'm in a melodic death metal band myself

ahhh nice!

 

[vegas532]

Lately I've been enjoying my old beat up G&L SB-2JJ in C/Drop A# tuning.

 

[Diogenes]

... Ah, the infinite complexities of metal, haha. ...

Back in the day at the dawn of a new genre of 'punk' I was in a hardcore band. Nowadays that would be like saying I'm in a rock band. It seems like there's a different version of 'core' depending on whether the vocalist screams, cries, raps or growls not to mention how many people are in the band, what they wear and what their instruments look like.

 

[Burlington]

Back in the day at the dawn of a new genre of 'punk' I was in a hardcore band. Nowadays that would be like saying I'm in a rock band. It seems like there's a different version of 'core' depending on whether the vocalist screams, cries, raps or growls not to mention how many people are in the band, what they wear and what their instruments look like.

But there is still good ol' hardcore

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

When I'm called upon to do so, I can get ALL kinda extreme crankin' out the Abba and Air Supply on my Hello Kitty Fender played through a sparkle blue Kustom tuck&roll amp...

now THAT'S extreme!

 

[Diogenes]

When I'm called upon to do so, I can get ALL kinda extreme crankin' out the Abba and Air Supply on my Hello Kitty Fender played through a sparkle blue Kustom tuck&roll amp...

now THAT'S extreme!

Xtremely Glitteracious!

 

[Josh Pelican]

Spector.

/thread

I couldn't agree more.

Ever since I bought my Spector, I've been using it for everything.

I like my Yamaha RBX765A, too. Really thin neck. A beautiful player.

 

[Rockingbird]

In all honesty, I'd play my Michael Kelly for all of that, purely for the novelty factor. However, given the choice of any bass to use, more than likely it would be a Fender American Deluxe Ash V. Jazz basses sit in the mix all too well, and the Am Deluxe is just comfy to play. However, if we're talking Drop G brutality, i'd have to sat the Warwick Dark Lord Vampyre. Can't get much more brutal than that.

 

[stevebago]

esp J- Four. Perfect mix of metal/grind looks and classic styling. I've owned one since 97 and I love it.

 

[Korladis]

This would include death and black metal along with experimental, noise, psytrance, industrial, and acid jazz.

My Faves for these styles of music due to their to me greater overall playability, better suited modern sound, fit, and asthetics are: BC Rich, Jackson, Schecter, upper end ESP Ltd, Traben, Monson, Peavey Cirrus, and most boutique basses. I include the latter due to the usual individual customer input for basses makeup and fit along with these basses being most often imo bought by those who dont want the ordinary and are pushing the limits of their playing rather then just doing the standard thing bass playing wise. I inlcude Peavey Cirrus in part from the bass Player for Emperor useing em. Lol.

So whats your fave basses for extreme music?

I actually tend not to use a modern sound at all for black metal, or just about anything I do. Seems less organic and natural.

Rickenbacker, an Ibanez Rickenbacker copy, and a modded Peavey (original P pickup ripped out and a 4001 pickup installed) are what I use for black metal, death metal (when I rarely play it) and doom metal.

 

[Korladis]

I'd think Ibanez deserves a place in your list for sure. Affordable, very decent quality, and the tonal options and playability work great for that style of music. Personally their styling isn't really my cup of tea with the exception of the natural finish ATK and a few others, but sonically and feel-wise they fit the bill.

Other good instruments for extreme music include Spector, quite a few Peaveys both vintage and new, and honestly... i think there are quite a few traditional passive basses that work great for metal, whether we're talking traditional hard-rock type metal or even the extreme genres, just depending what you're looking for (how fast / thin of a neck you need, whether you need the ability to sculpt the tone on the bass or not). Enslaved make good use of both thunderbirds and rickenbackers, and I even saw Primordial playing with an Epiphone Thunderbird of all things, still sounded great. A lot of local metal bands in Los Angeles have been reverting to the classic instruments lately as I keep seeing Rics and P basses around. You could theoretically use a Fender Jazz I suppose, but generally I feel like they're not quite hard-hitting enough for what i'd want out of a metal bass. Personally I think I could make do with a passive PJ and an aguilar tone hammer type of preamp pedal for most metal situations unless i needed a reaaaaally fast neck.

Another really good option are G&L ASAT's and L-2000/2500's... as evidenced by the bass player from Dillinger Escape Plan. It really boils down to personal taste just like everything else.

T-bird, Rics and P-basses are all pretty common in black metal, actually. Primordial's regular bassist uses a Ric and their touring bassist for the US shows uses a T-bird.

 

[Korladis]

I thought Warwick's and Fenders were the best for extreme music, but after getting my Dingwall Combustion not anymore. The tone I get from it in series has all the growl that a 'wick has but it is a lot more balanced and with more "finesse", and this comparing with the 5000€ + models, such as the Infinity.
My Combustion costed me 1500 € and sounds even better than a friend of mine's Infinity!

So, for extreme music, where most of the times you'll need very low notes, you can't get better than a Dingwall with new stainless strings and, if you like it, a tube amp.

Depends what you're playing. Lots of black metal bands tune to standard.

 

[steelhead2]

hate to go off topic here but this thread DOES bring up the question=IS there a list of ALL `jonres',goneres,whatever=i can't keep up with it(i mean,blues rock classic rock,surf rock,indie rock,,disco,soul,funk,metal, heavy metal death metal screaming metal found dead metal,dented metal, rusty metal,,?,,gee i know i'm forgetting at least a hundred names here),fo sho!,and i have headphones on listening to the Skatalites/outback SKA(you tube) and that EUB he's thumping WILL ALWAYS have the BEST thump i ever heard>.<

if we hadn't come home so late from a BBQ at a daughters i'd have plugged in a plain old Fender J or maybe a Squire(one of those ~Specials~ they had made overseas for us,,,and have had some fun!

don't get me wrong i LOVE `new rock',listen to it all day on the raydiO,just crank up the pre knob and grind it with a pick=it's all good(sorry i wasted the space here,good ale does that to me,but my small opinion is; play what you want in your hands and make it happen),,butanyway IS there a list of jonres for us old folks,i mean so we can reference(don't forget the sound clips)

 

[Burlington]

hate to go off topic here but this thread DOES bring up the question=IS there a list of ALL `jonres',goneres,whatever=i can't keep up with it(i mean,blues rock classic rock,surf rock,indie rock,,disco,soul,funk,metal, heavy metal death metal screaming metal found dead metal,dented metal, rusty metal,,?,,gee i know i'm forgetting at least a hundred names here),fo sho!,and i have headphones on listening to the Skatalites/outback SKA(you tube) and that EUB he's thumping WILL ALWAYS have the BEST thump i ever heard>.<

if we hadn't come home so late from a BBQ at a daughters i'd have plugged in a plain old Fender J or maybe a Squire(one of those ~Specials~ they had made overseas for us,,,and have had some fun!

don't get me wrong i LOVE `new rock',listen to it all day on the raydiO,just crank up the pre knob and grind it with a pick=it's all good(sorry i wasted the space here,good ale does that to me,but my small opinion is; play what you want in your hands and make it happen),,butanyway IS there a list of jonres for us old folks,i mean so we can reference(don't forget the sound clips)

wut

 

[Wasted Bassist]

wut

Seconded...

 

[Gojiras_Hejira]

I think Michael Manring's music is pretty extreme. So is his hyperbass.

~Jimm

 

[calebbarton]

i JUST picked up an aria pro2 single pickup very simple rosewood fretboard for $100 on craigslist. it sounds fantastic for extreme music (through a 400+). after playing their basses i would suggest them for metal due to the high clarity mid range sound coming from their pickup(s) and EXTREMELY FAST neck profile. not to say that fender couldnt do it, cause they could. but aria has roots in metal (cliff burton). they deserve a spot in the limelight. not to say that fender dosnt have roots in metal because there are several examples of that, iron maiden included (Steve Harris).

http://ariausa.com/basses/sbcb.html

 

[eligos36]

wut

I can't believe he's from Oregon, honestly.

eligos36...> Bet that does sound great. Peavey Grind with mahogany wings, humbucker pups, active eq. Can I ask what mods you did to it?

Lace Alumitone Bass Bars in the bridge and neck, Audere 3ZB Configurable with a 4-band EQ for the preamp.

I'm going to play devil's advocate and say... What does it matter? You can never hear the bass in death/black metal anyway.




And yes, I am a fan of extreme metal so don't get your panties in a bunch. It's a joke.

I deal with this argument a lot, actually. My approach to the instrument has been shaped by the bassists in the following bands:

Human Rejection
Wormed
Krallice
Nocte Obducta
Behexen
Farsot
Marduk
Lord Belial
Deathspell Omega
Aosoth
Glorior Belli
Watain
Nagelfar
Cryptopsy
Borknagar
Windir
Vintersorg
Saturnus

... and if you can't hear the bass in any of these, you're ****ing deaf.