• 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.

Good aggressive Tone

#22
I've found that my Warwick Corvette Std 5 string has a great versatile sound and the neck is perfect for me. I have passive pups, but you may want to consider the Corvette with actives for added punch/bite. The passives are incredibly growly and it sounds awesome playing metal, hard rock, and jazz styles.

The bass itself has great construction and I love the bridge as it makes changing strings incredibly easy.

I didn't see Warwick there on your list, but you should probably do some research on them as well, to get an idea of their sound:

Ryan Martinie from Mudvayne has plays a Thumb model I believe, which is much more growly with the Bubinga body, but is another model you may want to consider.

Stuart Zender of Jamiroquai (check out Cosmic Girl or Runaway...not 100% that they're both warwicks, but that tone sounds a lot like mine does)

P-Nut from 311 plays a Warwick
 
#23
RHCP250 said:
I played the three basses you posted at guitar center though a 700rb and Neo410 setup. My favorite was the Ray, followed by the P. I found the Ray to be the most aggresive sounding (to my ears). It had a very punchy sound, and was a tad brighter than the other two. Had the most "grind" out of the bunch. The P was the warmest/fattest sounding of the bunch. The bucker at the bridge sounded nothing like the Ray's bridge bucker IMO, its closer to the bridge that gives it a thinner more focused sound, but when coupled with the P, sounds great. J was my least favorite, a little more "grindy" than the P or MM, but not as punchy or fat.

To throw out a suggestion, the Spector euro's a couple hundred more than what your looking for and have a very growly sound. The Rebop series are like 1300 and are a little more tame, but have a more ballsy sound than the J.
Click to expand...

That's what I'm saying. A P may have been great 20 years ago, but the direction metal is going in is deeper & deeper guitar sounds, and go cut through you need some of the "clack" of a 'ray. A P will just emphasize the same frequency range as the other musicians.

Now if you can get yourself into a good blues situation where the guitar players know what's up & leave you plenty of room, a P is the way to go. But the OP plays rock, metal & "alternative type music" - the MM will cover all of the above well.

Ric5 said:
Aggressive tone quite often resides in the fingers of the player.
Click to expand...

I'm an aggressive player - pick style, finger style. When I need to punch through, I depend on my fingers to do it for me. When I need to play subtly, I depend on my fingers to do it for me. But when I play a J or a P (especially with the foam mutes I have on my P), that tone just doesn't "cut" it the way the MM does. Deep lows (courtesy of the pickups & the preamp's EQ), cutting highs (courtesy of a lot of fretboard noise & the preamp's EQ). I cut through the mix by going deeper & higher than the guitarists, and when given the chance, with a strong low-mid tone. The difference between the two is down to the fingers, but the properties of the MM do what I need better than other basses.

Now if by aggressive he mean's something more like the Gibson posted above, then MM is not the way to go. That's more of a P type sound, or maybe a J & definitely not an MM.
 
#25
can't get file to attach but was looking at the suggested videos and came acroos one of a guy comparing a ric 4003 to a old peavey t-40. So now I'm even more confused, 44 years, old finally saved to buy high quality bass, and now I,m gassing for my first bass i had when i was 16.LOL!
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back