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Looking to get a new bass...

R

rary1

May 25, 2009
18
0
#1
So I play a 5 String Warwick Rock Bass through an Ampeg SVT-6 Pro head and an Ampeg 8x10 Cab.
My Warwick has a Emg pickups in it, I'm not 100% sure what they are. To be honest, when it comes to gear talk I'm a bit of a noob, but I know what kind of tone I'm after.
Anyways, my big question here, I guess, is what would maybe be a good bass/setup. I want a new bass, as I use drop C tuning, so I can even use the Low B. Now, I know that I could transpose so that I could use the Low B, but transposing is not at all what I want to do, I want to use a 4-string and the idea behind the way I play is to just pump the hell out of the low-end.
Anyways, I had considered a Spector, as a lot of them are actually MADE for drop tunings, but I'm not crazy about the look of them, they look quite metal for my liking. I'm in to metal, but I just don't want to look like a metal bass player. I have been told that Music Mans are good, but I find they have a bit of an attack-y/metallic sound.
I play with my fingers in the studio, which is where I find it counts the most, and with a pick live, as I prefer the way it looks.
Anyways, the sound I want is something SUPER bassy, and really warm and smooth. I pretty much just push the low end like crazy, I don't play a TON of lines, but I still do a little bit.
Anyways, I like the looks of some of the music mans, but I pretty much like the look of the Fender Precision. Is there a bass out there that would have the qualities I'm looking for, or would I be best to buy a bass that I like the look of and just swap out the pickups? And also, would Active pickups or Passive pickups be better?
 
#3
The bass player I replaced in my last band used to rock one, it seemed pretty legit. A bit pricey though, I think. I'm pretty sure he paid like...1800 for it...? I'm looking to stay under 1300 if possible :p
 
#5
I own the same rig as you and LOVE it. Just be aware that the 8-10 does low-MIDS better than it does super lows. That, to me, is GREAT. But it may not be the tone you are looking for. You may want to look for something ported. Good luck!
 
#6
Ya, I was wondering if maybe switching to a 4x10 and a 1x15 live so that I have a good low end, but having the 4x10 would be good so I can keep an articulate tone, as I find sometimes going too bassy makes things a bit muddy. Would this work?
 
#7
Good on ya!

It's hard to beat a Gibson SG/EB3 for super bassy. I used to have a '73 EB3, and you couldn't play it around pregnant women, because it could induce premature labor. The first time I ever heard one live was the first time I was ever physically assaulted by a musical instrument. :D It will massage your innards.

The Les Paul Money Bass should work well too, though it's probably a smidge less dark than the SG, but just a smidge. Maybe it's the Maple top. There's a nice one on GBase, right now, for $795.
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They both have very high output for passive basses, too.

If you want to save a few bucks, I read here on TB that the Schecter Diamond DV4 has a "huge" sound, and a "ridiculous" bottom end. It looks like a Gibson, too...............like a Money Bass mated with an SG. It has Gibsonesque construction also, as it is all mahogany with a set neck.

Mahogany will help you, I believe. I know there's an ongoing debate whether or not the type of wood used makes a difference, but mahogany is reputed (and I can testify to it) to have a warmer sound, with low-mid emphasis. I never heard one that didn't.

And put flats on it.

Fat ones!
 
#8
So using flatwound strings will give me a warmer or smoother tone? Would using thick gauge strings help at all as well? I play with a pick live, so I don't want to be breaking strings, because I recall snapping a lot of them when I played with a pick before...
I like the qualities you've listed from the money bass, I'm just not totally sold on the look. Is there any way to get some of the stuff going on with that in a more P-bass style look?
 
#10
:) IMO, your always gonna get a completely different sound if you practice differently than than you play live.

IMO, If you switch between fingerstyle and pick, your constantly going to have to change EQ settings, attempting to get a similar sound, and never will sound the same.

IMO, you should practice the same exact way you play live, and vice versa. Not saying you shouldn't do both styles, but for example, if you play songX and prefer the way it SOUNDS with a pick verses finger, then always play THAT song with a pick. If song Y sounds better with fingers, always play it with your fingers.
Just my opinion...:)
 
#12
rary1 said:
So using flatwound strings will give me a warmer or smoother tone? Would using thick gauge strings help at all as well? I play with a pick live, so I don't want to be breaking strings, because I recall snapping a lot of them when I played with a pick before...
I like the qualities you've listed from the money bass, I'm just not totally sold on the look. Is there any way to get some of the stuff going on with that in a more P-bass style look?
Click to expand...

Yes, flats will certainly give you a warmer, fatter, smoother, deeper tone. The fatter the better.

If you like the PBass look, I'd check out the Schecter Model T. It's a '51 PBass clone, with Seymore Duncan PJ pickups. I forget which model they are, but they are deeper tone than the SD Quarter Pounders.

http://www.schecterguitars.com/
 
#16
Well, as far as going between fingerstyle and pick playing is concerned, to be honest, I don't care about the sound live too too much. My reasoning for this is that whether I have incredible tone or not so great tone, it doesn't make a ton of difference. What is more comfortable for playing live, for me, is playing with a pick. What sounds better, for recording, is fingerstyle, and I am way more accurate with my fingers.
Not that I'm saying I don't care at all how I sound live, BUT, for what I do, and what my role is in my band live, I don't need stellar tone I need to be able to move around and to be comfortable with basically throwing my bass all over. For me, playing with my fingers and rocking out 100% is awkward, so that is why I made the switch to playing with a pick live.
Either way, usually, when you are in the studio your setup is different from what you play live anyhow. Not to say I don't totally care, I would like to get to the stage where in the studio I have the sound I want, and the changes that playing live with a pick make will just be there, and thats how I kind of look at it. I get a lot of flak from bassists saying how can you play with a pick when you know better lol, but it's just what is comfy :)
I tried finding a demo of Lace Sensor pickups in a bass online, but I didn't come across any, I looked on google and on youtube, but couldn't find any, and I also looked on their website but didn't come across any. Is there anywhere in specific or any bass players who would have these sounds I can check out?
So far, the schecter looks quite legit, I'd also like to hear a bass player who uses their basses so i can get a good idea of how it sounds.
Also, I have tried a few spectors, and I LOVE the way they sound, and the ones I have tried are very light, but I'm very picky when it comes to the look, and I just find they look very metal, not that I have ANYTHING against metal players, but a metal bassist I am not lol.
Anyways thanks a ton for all the help/advice guys, keep it coming!
 
#17
Here ya go..................

http://www.lacemusic.com/soundbites/sound_bites_details.php?userID=5

I just listened to it again. I might have to get one of these myself, one day. VERY bassy, and nice growel, too. They have a P version, a J version, and a PJ set. :hyper:

"So far, the schecter looks quite legit, I'd also like to hear a bass player who uses their basses so i can get a good idea of how it sounds."

Robert DeLeo (Stone Temple Pilots) plays a Model T much of the time. Google him, and I'm sure you'll be able to find some clips.

Also, Spector uses EMG HZ passive pups on many of their basses. So does Schecter, including that DV4 I mentioned, the Stilettos, and C Custom (another nice bass). They also use mahogany in many of their basses, but not the model T. The 'T' is alder with a maple neck, just like a Fender. I've heard some very bottomy sounds coming from the Stiletto Elite. The Schecters with the EMG HZ pups all have active tone controls.

One Schecter I'm really curious about is the Stargazer. It looks a little like a Rick, has a JB neck pup, and a EMG MM HZ bridge pup (like the DV4). It also has a series/parallel switch. Running pups in series will increase output, and put emphasis on the lows and low mids. Actually, you can install one in any bass that has 2 pups.
 
#18
IMO/IME with 8x10 cabs you're not going to get super bass out of them. 10's are more mid-range defined than bass defined. IMO you'd be better off adding either a 1x15, 2x15, or 18", speaker cab to your rig than you would be in buying a new bass.
 
#19
Here's something I find interesting................

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These were made in Houston, from '89 until '97. The last MSRP for a Robin Ranger was $1695, so they were pretty expensive. They are supposed to be superb basses.

Robin isn't making basses currently, but the Ranger 6 string guitar starts at $2500.
 
#20
If you want "bassy" - you want a bass with an active EQ, and most active basses have passive pu's. Bartolini pu's are pretty ''bassy". If you want a 4-banger with a low B why not try out some 5ers? With all the different brands out there you can get pretty much find something to your liking. Go try some out, and see.

On cabs I also like 'bassy" with nice bright clean crisp highs, and not so much upper mids - I use 115 cabs with horns.
 

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