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Help me choose (Thumb, Corvette, Ray, P bass?)

M

Marauderin

Apr 2, 2012
9
1
#1
Okay, so these basses are all different, can we get that out of the way? I'm not here to compare apples to apples.

I'm a guitarist primarily (...:ninja:). I have a little home studio and record all the instruments myself. I have had a cheap parts P-bass for a while but I just sold one of my guitars and have ~$1100 kicking around and I want to upgrade my bass and give mine to my friend.

The P-bass served me well. I'm sure I could have taken it further but now is as good a time as any to upgrade.

Cutting to the chase, here is a short sample of the tone I lust for:

http://youtu.be/HmiJ2hIEOtg?t=2m19s

(time selected for really impatient, but the first few minutes of the song show it well enough.... fast forward and you'll enter a maelstrom of awesomeness that doesn't really help divulge into bass tones)

Here's another clip:
Invalid Link Removed

Obviously it's hard to convey this with samples in a variety of speakers, but this bass tone is to me very powerful, growly... and cool. Youtube won't show it but that album has the best mix as far as guitar/drums/bass goes that I've ever heard. Everything sits the best I've heard. So it's my primary reference album.

Anyway, my cousin has a warwick corvette and I like it. My ex bandmate had a stingray and I like it too. I loved my P-bass also. I don't think I could go wrong with any of those. I'm adaptable as far as body shape goes, big neck, small, whatever, these are not big details to me. All that matters is sound.

Now it's been a while since I played any of the aforementioned basses (save the P), and I no longer have access to them.

I think one of the basses I have mentioned would cover the ground (likely one of them is exactly what the bassist in that album is using) What sort of bass pops into your head when you hear those clips above? (ibanez through a metal zone? metal is awesome? find your own tone? ya ya I know)

Thanks in advance bassers
 
#2
I doubt you'd find a thumb for that price point. With that said, I used to have a couple Warwick Corvettes and currently have a Stingray. Either one of them would cover you nicely, but I'd say go with a Corvette if that is the type of music you plan on recording mainly. It has a really nice midrange that would peek through the mix without being overpowering.
 
#5
Keep in mind that it's more likely than not that the bassist in those songs is also running through an OD or distortion which will add to the growl of the tone. Just saying that which ever bass you go with will still probably not get you the EXACT tone you have in your head without some effects too.
 
#6
totallyfrozen said:
Keep in mind that it's more likely than not that the bassist in those songs is also running through an OD or distortion which will add to the growl of the tone. Just saying that which ever bass you go with will still probably not get you the EXACT tone you have in your head without some effects too.
Click to expand...

Ya I am anticipating this. I have used OD before, I have quite a few to choose from. I have found splitting the signal to a guitar amp and bass amp and mixing to taste to get a sound I like more than just using a boost/OD through the bass amp though.
 
#8
I think the standard has a great mid presence dry growl that would record well...those passive sonic correction MEC pickups r the best ceramic magnet passive pickups ive heard. Usually they r boomy, bassy, and lack articulation but not those ....
 
#11
I've owned everything you're looking at except a thumb. In most instances I'd say go with the Stingray, but listening to your clip I have to agree on the Warwick. Not sure I agree however on the $$, but as AshdownMad said, it's probably more personal preference than anything else. I've owned 5 Warwicks. Still own 2 (Fortress One and a Flashback). Owned a Streamer Jazzman, A Streamer Pro M, and an active bubinga Corvette. Of all those basses, the Corvette got the deepest, darkest, gnarliest sound, and I think a lot of that had to do with the bubinga body, and wenge neck. I'm not a fan of the ovangkol necks... and truly believe that there's a bit of extra growl that comes out of the older wenge ones. Not sure why also, but the humbuckers I've had on the warwicks I owned didn't have the guts that the single coils did. Could be pickup placement, I dunno. Anyhow, all that being said for the sounds in your clip I think you'd be happiest with a pre 2000 corvette. They can be had for under $600 if you're patient, going price is around $700, and people try to sell them for all kinds of crazy prices. I wouldn't ever pay more than 7.

My second choice would be Stingray HS. Pretty certain you'd be happy with that too, and if you're planning on getting sounds other than what's in your clip and looking for versatility... then the Stingray would be my first choice. Hands down.

My opinion, my $.02, my best wishes in your search for the perfect bass. :)
 
#13
I would save some $$$ and get a Warwick Thumb NT5: you can find them used for $1600-$1900 online. You will get the growl for sure with this one and the extended range you might need to play heavier type of music.

Keep us updated!
 
#15
Thank you to everyone here for weighing in. I anticipated at least one person backing each option haha.

I think when it gets down to it, as mentioned, probably any of the basses I mentioned would get me a tone in the neighborhood I am looking for.

Being that I live in Canada my options in the used market are slimmer, so I will just keep my eyes posted for the best deal on a corvette or stingray (or P bass... because I do have a spot in my heard for them).
 

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