How to cut through a metal band?

[bassman1185]

I might get ripped a new one for saying this, but sometimes you don't necessarily WANT to cut through when you're playing in a heavy band. I know with my last band (Metal/hardcore, a la Haste The Day) I kicked in my EH Big Muff to basically copy the rhythm guitarist's tone. Granted, people in the audience probably couldn't make out my individual notes vs. the guitarists, but it made a HUGE wall of sound.

 

[Marley's Ghost]

Invalid Link Removed

 

[eyvindwa]

Get a Warwick

Seriously though, use a good EQ and boost the mids. A little bit of dirt can be good as well (but don't overdo it!). I play in a death metal band that tune in C, and with my current setup I cut through those guitars like butter. Also, talking to your guitarists and getting them to acknowledge that the bass is an instrument that should be heard as well as felt, and thus set their EQ's to make room for you, might be a good idea.

Stay hungry!

 

[roflol]

mids is the way forward pretty hard to cut through that **** most the time

 

[vtwo]

pick. treble, mids. my friend says that meshuggah has great metal bass, check it out.

 

[russjm]

Aphex Bass Xciter or Punch Factory.

 

[roflol]

meshuggah bass tone is all mids and gain on a pod xt using the mesa boogie setting

 

[Basshole]

Perhaps this STICKY would help:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=378173

I strongly siggest you read it. It is the most comprehensive guide to acheiving the tone you seek that I have seen yet on this (or any) forum.

 

[Paulitics]

I agree with those who say a sansamp will not help you to cut through. I have a GK and a sansamp and I ussually use the sansamp when I want to sit back in the mix a little. I would say boost your mids, use a pick and keep your strings pretty new. With a GK you should really punch through. As was stated earlier, having the mids boosted may not sound great when you are playing by yourself but in a band setting when you have the volume turned up things are different.

 

[eyvindwa]

To all those suggesting playing with a pick, I would advice against it if you are not already a pickstyle player, as I find that almost all my favourite metal bassist play with their fingers (the way God intended ), and the fingerstyle sound much more pleasing to the ear.

 

[Drucocu]

if you've got a graphic EQ or parametric EQ, boost 300Hz OR 800Hz, you'll be heard in a heartbeat!

 

[lemur821]

I have a squier p/j bass

Max out your mids and put your bridge pickup as high as you can go without making the strings rattle against it. Play right over it. That will give you an edge.

 

[air_leech]

I never played metal but I always thought that an active bass (or a a very bright sounding passive bass) with action set low sounds great for that music.

action should be low enough that when you play a little a bit harder with the plucking hand you'll hear a metallic click accompanying your actual notes.

 

[rhcp32291]

If you really wanna cut through get a louder amp......... but if that is not attainable at the time, of course like everyone said, boost your mids but especially your low mids because that seems to be the way my GK digs through my band. If the combo starts getting muddy then cut the bass for the bass produced by the combo probably wont be enough around metal guitards anyways. Boosting the treble as much as you can without getting a clanky sharp sound could be helpful as well.

However any boost or eq seems like the best idea for a pedal.

 

[redefine dave]

boost your mids way up. It may not sound great by itself but with a full band it will sound much better and cut threw.

Here is your answer. Boost your mid's and low mids to the point where its too much... Then boost them some more.
As AdamR said, it won't sound very nice when you're playing by yourself, but when everything kicks in, you'll cut through a lot better...
Also, if you're playing a four string, make sure you have your bass setup properly. There are a lot of metal guys out now that down tune and don't adjust the bass... The result is floppy strings and it doesn't sound very nice.

 

[Asa Samuel]

Here is your answer. Boost your mid's and low mids to the point where its too much... Then boost them some more.
As AdamR said, it won't sound very nice when you're playing by yourself, but when everything kicks in, you'll cut through a lot better...
Also, if you're playing a four string, make sure you have your bass setup properly. There are a lot of metal guys out now that down tune and don't adjust the bass... The result is floppy strings and it doesn't sound very nice.

any tips on what i can do to help the floppy strings?

 

[bassman1185]

any tips on what i can do to help the floppy strings?

Get heavier gauge strings. I used DR Black Beauties to tune down to C, and they worked out well. Now I'm using Ernie Ball Power Slinkies to tune to C#, and they sound great too.

 

[Asa Samuel]

Get heavier gauge strings. I used DR Black Beauties to tune down to C, and they worked out well. Now I'm using Ernie Ball Power Slinkies to tune to C#, and they sound great too.

yeah i know about strings i was more thinking the actual bass itself.

 

[bassman1185]

There is only so much you can do with the floppiness of the strings. If they're clacking against the fretboard, you can raise the action, but the laws of physics say that there's not going to be anything you can do to increase the tension of the strings.

 

[Low D.]

From my personal experience all I need for my down-tuned and really low bass tone is top notch quality equipment and VOLUME.