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Help a drummer out

O

Ozz316

Aug 5, 2007
12
0
#1
Hello all, need a little help. I jam with some friends, nothing serious and one of our buddies wants to start playing bass with us. He can play guitar somewhat, though he doesn't own one now and he was interested in learning to play bass. Anyway, since I am a research junkie, I figured I would help him find a setup. He doesn't want to spend a ton, but doesn't want junk either. We mainly play more what I call sludge metal, some call stoner metal, such as COC, Down, Sabbath. I have been reading around and what I can tell a Spector or Warwick bass would probably fit our style the best, but I am not sure if that is actually the case with Spector's lower end basses in the ~$500 or less range and it doesn't look like Warwick even has a bass in that range. Any help from this knowledgable group would be greatly appreciated. Also, even though this is the wrong part of the forum, any advise on amp and cabinet? Thanks a ton. :D
 
#2
Ozz316 said:
Hello all, need a little help. I jam with some friends, nothing serious and one of our buddies wants to start playing bass with us. He can play guitar somewhat, though he doesn't own one now and he was interested in learning to play bass. Anyway, since I am a research junkie, I figured I would help him find a setup. He doesn't want to spend a ton, but doesn't want junk either. We mainly play more what I call sludge metal, some call stoner metal, such as COC, Down, Sabbath. I have been reading around and what I can tell a Spector or Warwick bass would probably fit our style the best, but I am not sure if that is actually the case with Spector's lower end basses in the ~$500 or less range and it doesn't look like Warwick even has a bass in that range. Any help from this knowledgable group would be greatly appreciated. Also, even though this is the wrong part of the forum, any advise on amp and cabinet? Thanks a ton. :D
Click to expand...

Shhhh!!! Drummer's aren't welcome around 'dese parts!!!

Hehe I kid.... :D

No but seriously! :eek:


ANYWHO... Yeah, Spector's and Warwicks suit metal well. Low end Spectors wouldn't really suit it though I don't think, I have always found them a bit tinny and bland.

Is your friend a fan of Rex Brown? He must be if you guys like Down! The Rex sig Spector is really good, I've played it and it's a mighty fine bass, it's far better than any other Spector in that price range, very bassy, nice tone... Warwicks are pretty pricey, but they are good instruments.

I have a MusicMan Stingray, they suit metal REALLY well, I love mine to death! If you could get a price range that your friend would like to stay within I'm sure a lot of us can recommend some basses for him.

Never underestimate the power of an Ibanez! :p The BTB series are great for metal, and they would be an awesome starter/beginner bass. I'd also check out Schecter and Epiphone!

Hope this helps! :)


EDIT: And as for cabs/amps I would check out Gallien Krueger and Ampeg (if he can afford Ampeg!). You can head over to the amps section if you want to learn more. :)
 
#3
a used spector or warwick would fit the bill very nicely for hard rock.

It's all about the woods,pickups and construction.
Do a little research on the different pickup types, such as P-bass, J-bass, Soapbar, and Humbucker. Each has a different and unique sound to it.
The placement of the pickup also plays an effect (closer to the bridge=more articulate and cutting).

Woods vary a lot even withing a manufacturer. Look up some basses in the price range and then do a google for "wood tap tones" or something of the like to see what sound that wood will put out.

Bolt-On vs. Neck through is another to consider.

Lastly, I would look up some of your favorite bands using warwicks or spectors to see which type of sound you like.
 
#4
I was just looking at the Schecter's and they look interesting. Some have good things to say, some not so good, but interestingly enough nothing terrible. I am trying to nail him down on what kind of money he is looking to drop. I am an ebay freak so I have been looking on there to see what kind of prices I can find. The problem is that when I'm looking I don't know what is what so.... Anyway, that is why I turn to you guys.

I personally am a fan of buying quality. I learned my lesson a long time ago that buying an instrument with no resale value is no bargain. If I buy a drumset for $1000 but can only get $300 out of it if I decide to change that just cost me $700. That is why I would rather see him buy something decent and be able to sell it if it isn't his thing or can upgrade later and not get hosed. I would guess that his price would be deffinately in the sub $1000 range, hopefully about a grand for everything, I imagine this is realistic.
 
#5
Ozz316 said:
I was just looking at the Schecter's and they look interesting. Some have good things to say, some not so good, but interestingly enough nothing terrible. I am trying to nail him down on what kind of money he is looking to drop. I am an ebay freak so I have been looking on there to see what kind of prices I can find. The problem is that when I'm looking I don't know what is what so.... Anyway, that is why I turn to you guys.

I personally am a fan of buying quality. I learned my lesson a long time ago that buying an instrument with no resale value is no bargain. If I buy a drumset for $1000 but can only get $300 out of it if I decide to change that just cost me $700. That is why I would rather see him buy something decent and be able to sell it if it isn't his thing or can upgrade later and not get hosed. I would guess that his price would be deffinately in the sub $1000 range, hopefully about a grand for everything, I imagine this is realistic.
Click to expand...

If you want an EXTREMELY high quality instrument, with great resale value I'd go with a Stingray. They range from $1229 to $1429. Schecters are good, but they don't have very high resale value. Most Fender's do, have you looked into p-basses?

Here are some links!

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-American-Precision-Bass?sku=515118
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass/navigation?q=stingray
Link Removed
 
#6
+1 on the Ibanez BTB. I play everything from jazz to classic rock to Metal to Thrash on mine. Just a tweak on the tone controls and I'm dialed in for just about anything. I would highly recommend trying one out.
 
#7
Haven't looked into the Fenders yet, but will definately do so. The Ibanez sounds interesting, but it looks like you get more out of the Schecter basses, but that could just be my inexperience. Ibanez have basswood bodies with bolt on necks, where the Schecter Stiletto that I was looking at for $600 brand new is neck through with a mahogany body.

As far as resale, I just want to make sure that he doesn't get hosed like I did with my first drumset. I mean if he can get a good deal on it, and dump it and only loose $50-$100 that isn't too bad, but if he can't get $200 out of something that he just dropped $600 on, that is what I want him to avoid.

Also, I am thinking he should probably go for a 5 string, just from some websites that I have read suggest it for heavier music. Any thoughts on that?
 
#8
5 strings are cool, but you an just tune a 4 to drop D (All the kids seem to like a low D these days). I discovered a few months ago the a MIM P-bass is a mighty fine instrument and they are pretty cheap if you get a used one off E-bay. For a first time bass I think a P is a great choice. They are really dark sounding with a set of flats on them, and they are really bright with rounds. Get a used P for $300.00 or so off the bay, and you can likely sell it for the same if the need arises.
 
#10
5 strings are alright, but you can always down-tune. If he is just learning bass I think a 4-string would be more suitable. I play nothing but metal and I rarely ever have to tune down to B (that's the 5th string on a 5-stringer :D). Most metal is usually in DADG, one half step down or just standard tuning. I do sometimes have to go to BEAD.

If you play heavy music and down-tune the Ibanez BTB series are perfect, they are 35" models so you can have higher string tension when you drop-tune, which is always handy.

Also, better parts does not always mean better construction! I have an Ibanez RD300 that is made from agathis (eww:p) w/ a bolt on neck. And that plays and feels much nicer than my Washburn which is neck-thru mahogany, which cost me about 400 more than my Ibanez. Generally I'd say Ibanez have a higher build quality than Schecter, that's just my opinion though.
 
#11
Ok, so the BTB seems like it might fit the ticket for the price range. I was looking on Ebay under Ibanez and there are alot of the soundgear basses on there for cheap. Are they even worth looking at or are they as cheap as the price tags?
 
#13
Ozz316 said:
Ok, so the BTB seems like it might fit the ticket for the price range. I was looking on Ebay under Ibanez and there are alot of the soundgear basses on there for cheap. Are they even worth looking at or are they as cheap as the price tags?
Click to expand...

The Soundgear series are great, but they do range from low-end to medium to high-end instruments.

And example of a low end SR, pretty basic, not very eye catching.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Medium-ish, starting to look nice, better hardware and quality.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

High end SR, has great looks and good pickups.
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All depends on how much you wanna spend! ;)
 
#14
The soundgear ones look like the first one you put up, must be fairly cheap. So the Spector Professional lines aren't very good for the money, the Schetcer basses look nice but his money would be spent elsewhere. Sounds like for the money he has an Ibanez or a Fender is the way to go.
 
#16
It's great that you're doing this advance research and helping to target options that are likely to fit your band and style, etc., and buying used through ebay or here at TB is a good way to get value for the buck. However, at some point your friend needs to spend some time in a music store fooling around with a variety of basses to see what works for him. He needs something that feels good in his hands, has a neck comfortable for him, and has a tone that he likes. There have been lots of good suggestions in this thread regarding some of the options available, so maybe it's time for you and your friend to head to the local shop and let him get his hands on some instruments. Lots of places will have at least a few Ibanez basses on hand, so he ought to be able to try out some of them, and you never know what else you might come across that rings his bell.
 
#17
The BTB is good in the sense that it will give you a versatile tone (and on that topic, it does the boomy, fat bass tone very well!).

If you want something with a little more snarl, then a musicman will do the trick as well.

Look at USA Peavey Milleniums. I liked mine for metal and it fits your friend's budget.
 
#20
Ok, a little update. The buddy of mine was floundering around about it and his heart wasn't in it. But all this discussion has brought back my interest in basses and I went shopping :p . I have always wanted to learn bass myself but never found the time and was always tied up with drumming. So I went to the local music store and ended up walking out with a Ibanez SRX505. So now it is time to learn :D :bassist: . I am excited about the new challenge. So what do you guys think about the SRX505?
 

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