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Metal basses?
- Thread starter Ender21w
- Start date
For my money I would go with ESP F series. It comes in a 4 and 5 string (F-404 and F-405). These are around $700 but can be negotiated down to $650. They also have the less expensive F-254 and F-255, which look the same, have the same pickups, but different hardware and tuners.
I've played metal/hard rock for 35 years. Within the suggested price range, I'd look for a Lakland 55-01 or 55-02, both of which you can find here or on eBay for that price. Get the maple fingerboard and I think you'll be happy. The coil splitter switch on the 55-02 helps add some crunch when you need it, or take it away if you're playing power ballads. I've got a 55-01, and I can nail everything from Disturbed to Led Zeppelin. Of course, my 55-94 is really nice, but it's way out of that range.
for 600? hmmmm... i'll just list a few ideas
schecter stiletto studio (although i think nahagony is a little to murky for a low B)
ibanez SR505 (mahogany body as well)
peavy cirrus
dean edge pro5 (i really like the 3D preamp)
you should be able to find those in a store as well. so i would go play em all
~gR~
schecter stiletto studio (although i think nahagony is a little to murky for a low B)
ibanez SR505 (mahogany body as well)
peavy cirrus
dean edge pro5 (i really like the 3D preamp)
you should be able to find those in a store as well. so i would go play em all
~gR~
I guess I'll be the first to chime in with the obligatory Fender P-bass suggestion. But I can understand if they don't look "metal" enough these days.
The LTD stuff fits the price range and has the look. The Ibanez SRX series also gets a lot of work. I'm not too familiar with Schecter, but their stuff looks nice if nothing else. You might also look into the Spector Legend series.
I went back to Fender because I prefer passives, though I will admit I've been sniffing around for a Peavey Cirrus lately.
The LTD stuff fits the price range and has the look. The Ibanez SRX series also gets a lot of work. I'm not too familiar with Schecter, but their stuff looks nice if nothing else. You might also look into the Spector Legend series.
I went back to Fender because I prefer passives, though I will admit I've been sniffing around for a Peavey Cirrus lately.
For me, what you need in a metal bass is; a rock freakin' solid low end, and the ability to overdrive well. If I could only have one bass to play metal with, it would be a crazy modified Fender Precision Bass (BAII Bridge, D-Tuner, DiMarzio Will Power P-pickup or maybe a SDQP, etc).
I've owned a boatload of Fenders. Examples: 2005 Custom Shop P-Bass January NAMM '58 Relic (one of 100 made), Custom Shop Jazz Classic 5 (Aguilar 18v Pre w/Nordstrand pups), 24 Fret Jazz (Korean made but a killer w/lot's of overdrive & little distortion), '76 P-Bass Walnut Special (formerly owned by M5Yates & actually played by Jaco!), '51 Reissue (Aguilar 18v Pre w/Nordstrand pups) and a weird FrankenFender (odd year body & neck w/'66 P-Bass pup). Passive Fenders just don't have the punch for metal and I've played them thru 3 massive Trace Elliot heads--350, 1250 & 1000 watt heads. For a reasonable price, a Lakland 55-01 will overdrive w/o distortion better than any bass in it's price-range.
well a friend of mine spot welded one out of aluminum. very heavy, but he liked it. put EMG's in it. sounds alright. bit like a steel guitar, y'know, the resonator style. you can't really thrash it around or else you'll kill someone, but that's the price you pay. he made it for cheap too.
seriously though. i just bought a Squier Deluxe Jazz 5 with active pickups and a slap switch. this thing kills!!! volume all the way up, pickups blended, treble and bass at midpoint, throw on the slapswitch and crank up the mid control, it's punchy as all h*ll!!! and it looks friggin cool too!!
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Well. Everyone is going to give you different opinions.
What makes a good metal bass isnt just the bass but a host of other things like the tuning, the way its played and what amp and cab set-up you have.
That being said, I would hunt down a good used bass. I play an G&L SB-2. It's passive. Much like a P-Bass a bit more growl to it than a P.
Other basses I've looked at are The Fender Frank Bello, The Fender Aerodyne, Music Man Stingray, Rickenbacker 4001.
Do you like 'P-Bass' style necks or "jazz" style necks? I prefer jazz necks and Music Man necks.
The Schectors are good basses for the money, quick necks. They feel good to. They dont feel cheap like Ibanez, ESP or Epiphone.
The SB-2 Tributes are a good bass. They arent american made, but they have the exact same parts, just assmbled overseas.
So you might look at the G&L Tribute line. It ultimatley depends on what you are comfortable with, how you play, how you tune and the sound you are going for.
I've seen alot of metal guys using warwicks as of late.
I respectfully disagree, and so do Steve Harris(Maiden), Frankie Bello(Anthrax), Eric Forrest(Voivod, E-Force), Leif Edling(Candlemass), and Leo Smee(Cathedral).
I saw Judas Priest on their most recent tour, and Ian Hill was playing a Warwick. Looked like a Corvette to me. I had a Warwick Infinity 5 that was a killer metal bass. I just don't think Fenders have the midrange boost that gives that overdrive capability, w/a treble boost pushed to the max, where you can get that metal clank/midrange/hurricane Katrina stormsurge you can get w/o a separate treble boost/cut, mid boost/cut, bass boost/cut & pickup pan like you get w/a 55-01 or other Lakland...............that sound you get when doing the solo entry to "For Whom The Bells Toll". You can nail that on a 55-01 w/very little effort...........and that is the quintessential metal sound we all want. Is it not? If you don't have a 55-01, you can't contradict me. I can do it, note for freakin' note. Those extra controls coupled w/that preamp are something a Fender just doesn't have, and I own and love Fenders. Harris is playing one, but my God, look at the sound system he's playing thru. We're talking someone looking for a metal bass on a reasonable budget. 55-01 fits the bill.
55-01s are out of his given price range.
Personally, I think Leo's tone from "Garden Of Unearthly Delights" or Eric's tone from "Phobos" are more in line with great metal bass. I hate clankyness, and usually play with the tone rolled back a little bit. I sold a Warwick exactly for that reason. It just wasn't what I wanted. I also like having simple electronics on the bass, and dialing in my sound at the amp. There's less to go wrong in a live setting that way. That's the cool thing about different people though, we all have different opinions.
Not me.
I try to go for a more distorted sound and mid-rangey sound.
I often felt Cliff got buried in the mix and felt the sound engineer was confused as to what to do in recording since CLiff had such a potent bass tone, so his solo's came out sounding much like guitar solo's.
It's my understanding that Cliff played Rick's and Aria Pro II's. Behind a big muff for solo's.
Tone gods in my world are:
Geezer Butler
Fabio Testy (Pungent Stench)
George Rice (listen to blood from Zion by High on Fire! That is THE tone!)
Dave Elefson (particularly, Countdown to Extinction)
Kenny Hokansson (Hellacopters)
Cyrus Comiskey (Saviours)
Troy Sanders (Mastodon)
Frank Bello (particulary on Persistence of Time)
Very Overdriven with lots of low-mids, punchy and "woody." Thats the tone I go for. Think of geezer on war pigs with lower midrange.
I play a passive bass "P-Like" bass and it lacks no punch what so ever. Alot of it has to do with amp, amp-settings/EQ and cabinet choice as well.
But I still suggest a used american made G&L SB-2 or a new tribute SB-2. These would both fall in the $600 price range. Better build and quality than an MIM Fender (on par with American) plus you get a reliable, quality instrument.
