Ibanez vs squire for metal

[onlyneedsone]

I've tried both an ibanez and a squier p, pj, and j bass...and im stuck. Ive tried to get a bass several times and ended up not getting it due to sudden expenses and guitar center making me jump through hoops to get my used bass that eventaully led to a refund and a bassless me. But ive been trying out different basses and I really liked the ibanez sr300, ibanez gsr200 and the squier vintage modified pj. I prefer the feel of the pj but I tried three; 2 down at guitar center and a friend's i tried his squier pj and his sr700 and all the squires I noticed tended to be on the heavier side. Im looking to join my singer friend's band as a fill in and he mostly does metal with some occasional punk. So I was wondering which bass is better for metal.

 

[Absumone]

For metal I would most definitely go for an Ibanez bass with active pickups. The growl and the punch you get from those are way better that a squier in the same price range, unless you can replace a squier's pickups with something Quarter Pounder like. Ibanez should be the way to go if you're deciding between Squier and Ibanez for metal

 

[Remyd]

Prepare yourself for lots of jokes. "What's the best bass for metal" is a running joke around this forum. The (my) answer is "any bass you can shred on is the best for metal".

That having been said, I have an Ibby GSR200, and find it to be incredibly versatile. I play folk, blues, country, and jazz, and it covers all of those without trouble, although sometimes I get funny looks when I bust out my "rokker" bass to play old-school folk or whatever. With the little preamp that's built-in and an appropriately sized rig, it'd be a good choice. My amp has a teensy-bit-of-built-in OD and I like the sound of the dirt, even if I only get to use it once in a blue moon.

DO NOT BUY IT NEW!
DO NOT BUY IT NEW!
DO NOT BUY IT NEW!

In St. Louis, you can buy those at GC for $200, then walk out the door and sell on Craigslist as NIB for $70. Do yourself a favor and avoid the "taillight tax".

 

[Gorn]

Squier.

(Not a recommendation for which bass but rather the correct spelling of the brand name that has existed for 124 years)

 

[onlyneedsone]

Fixed, my bad

 

[Right_Butterscotch64]

The Squier VMs and CVs are very good quality. I had a GSR200 as my first bass also and it was also excellent. Can't go wrong with either in my opinion.

 

[KevInDaBassment]

Squier.

(Not a recommendation for which bass but rather the correct spelling of the brand name that has existed for 124 years)

Think of how much money an overseas knock-off company could make passing off copies under the name "Squire" and technically not violate anything. They could make the Squire Retro Vibe series and soooo many people would be none the wiser. Kind of scary

 

[Solarmist]

If you're going with Ibanez - I get the SR rather than the GSR plus the SR300 is a great buy for the money having an active 3-band EQ.

As for metal - I don't think it matters which one - get the one you like best.

 

[chuck norriss]

 

[chuck norriss]

 

[chuck norriss]

Link Removed

 

[el murdoque]

i think an Ibanez looks much more metal than a Squier.

 

[Samus C]

Is it odd that, as someone who's been in several metal bands, I've never taken this kind of thing into account and just bought whatever basses I've liked? LOL

 

[Thebrownarrow]

My vote would be for a used Squier VM P bass. Those things are sweet. I am sure either company could give you what you want.

 

[smogg]

@ Chuck,
Why are you posting pics of 80's Glam Bands in a Metal thread?
Me thinks thou art confuzed....

 

[charlie monroe]

Is it odd that, as someone who's been in several metal bands, I've never taken this kind of thing into account and just bought whatever basses I've liked? LOL

It isn't odd. As a metal bassist you likely haven't accrued a vast collection of Gretsch Hollowbodies or Steinbergers.

These things have a way of sorting themselves out.

 

[charlie monroe]

Btw, a mid to late '80s BC Rich NJ bolt on with a DiMarzio is a way better bass for metal than your Ibby or Squier. Prob just as cheap, too.

 

[mpdd]

ime the 80s sr1000 we have is more metal than my 84 squier jazz, however i think i'm getting a lot of my aggressiveness from the rat tail and the mesa d180, therefore i don't think it makes a whole hell of a lot of difference

 

[onlyneedsone]

@VanillaThundah I see a future buisiness opportunity here.

Thanks for all the opinions. I'm going back to gc again to double check my choices and im definitely gonna try before I buy. I'll bring my friend to play and show me what to look for in a bass and hopefully I'll walk home with one this time ^^. I really like the feel of the squier more than the ibanez but I like the growly tones that the ibanez can get. Im a smaller person so its most likey be between the vm pj and the sr300. My friend sean was telling me im gonna want a bridge pickup for a lot of the metal stuff we'd play and the jazz bass, though most metal bands that I like (of mice and men, crown the empire, asking alexandria) play them, is too big for me to sit and practice with and is a bit heavy for me.

 

[SteveV74]

ANY bass is good for metal, doesnt matter, crank it and shred, question is........are YOU better for metal?!

Lol, naw seriously get the Ibanez