Metal Bassists

[Zodion]

I was always surrounded by music as a kid. When I was about 12 or 13 I started listening to Iron Maiden, WASP, GNR, Queensryche etc; the late 80s/early 90s were a great time for metal (before Grunge destroyed it.)
Early on I saw Steve Harris in Live After Death and I knew that's what I wanted to do. Once I really figured out what the bass sounded like (not everyone does) I listened to Harris, Butler, McKagan, Bello, Eddie Jackson, etc and was sold on it.
I've been in classic metal bands, death/grind bands, and experimental rock. I always seem to gravitate towards heavier lines when I'm playing. I understand jazz, blues, and funk modes, but I get bored with them after a while.

Since other people are plugging their bands I'll go ahead and whore out mine too. We will be going into the studio next month with a new singer and drummer.

Kick ass song man I actually enjoy the metal from the 90's and early 2000's like korn disturbed Motograter spineshanke etc grunge was there but Alice in Chains is great and creed I liked and a lot of metal bands existed but they all played low. Check out flaw and Motograter I really enjoy the metal from that era again kick ass song which bass are you playing in it?

 

[socialleper]

Kick ass song man I actually enjoy the metal from the 90's and early 2000's like korn disturbed Motograter spineshanke etc grunge was there but Alice in Chains is great and creed I liked and a lot of metal bands existed but they all played low. Check out flaw and Motograter I really enjoy the metal from that era again kick ass song which bass are you playing in it?

Even though Korn gets slapped around a lot these days, I enjoyed them for what they were back then. Metal was at a real low point in the mid 90s and that's what we had. They haven't really stuck with me though. Now Slipknot is still one of my top 25 bands. I will listen to Mudvayne but really only to hear Ryan Martinie play.
It took me a number of years to appreciate Alice in Chains. Funny story: I saw them open twice, once for Ozzy at the Long Beach arena and once for the Clash of Titans tour. Both times no one gave two $#!&s about them. Four years later they were the biggest thing under the sun.

I recorded our first CD with a German Warwick $$ (same as the video) and a LTD TA-600. I ended up selling the Warwick because of ergo issues and tone problems. Right now I'm using a Lakland 44-02 and the ESP/LTD. I just bought another Lakland that is in the shop this week having the pickups replaced.
Glad you liked it. Our stuff is on Last.fm, iTunes, Beats Music, and Spotify if you want to check out the rest. We've geared ourselves a little bit more towards the sludge/stoner/doom side of things now than what is one the first CD.

 

[xUptheIronsx]

Great to have you here man I don't even know what year my basses are. How could I tell? First gig in 9th grade? Lucky man I didn't have mine til the 13th

Usually you start by researching the serial numbers. After that, there are many things that can determine the year a bass was made. I am only familiar with how to do it with Fenders and Charvels. Search this forum for the answers to the questions for other brands. there are threads all over about pretty much any bass brand/kind. Any of the "club" threads could probably steer you in the right direction.

 

[Metalbasspro]

I am a metal bass player but trapped in a small town area only allowed to play rock, hard rock and some old school metal mostly hair metal stuff

 

[Zodion]

I am a metal bass player but trapped in a small town area only allowed to play rock, hard rock and some old school metal mostly hair metal stuff

You'll find your way man. Most people here just do country or Americana and some bands are rock and even less metal but my band still formed so you just gotta find the right people

 

[Zodion]

Even though Korn gets slapped around a lot these days, I enjoyed them for what they were back then. Metal was at a real low point in the mid 90s and that's what we had. They haven't really stuck with me though. Now Slipknot is still one of my top 25 bands. I will listen to Mudvayne but really only to hear Ryan Martinie play.
It took me a number of years to appreciate Alice in Chains. Funny story: I saw them open twice, once for Ozzy at the Long Beach arena and once for the Clash of Titans tour. Both times no one gave two $#!&s about them. Four years later they were the biggest thing under the sun.

I recorded our first CD with a German Warwick $$ (same as the video) and a LTD TA-600. I ended up selling the Warwick because of ergo issues and tone problems. Right now I'm using a Lakland 44-02 and the ESP/LTD. I just bought another Lakland that is in the shop this week having the pickups replaced.
Glad you liked it. Our stuff is on Last.fm, iTunes, Beats Music, and Spotify if you want to check out the rest. We've geared ourselves a little bit more towards the sludge/stoner/doom side of things now than what is one the first CD.

Rock on man I definitely will check it out I've never even played a Lakland how are those?

 

[Zodion]

Usually you start by researching the serial numbers. After that, there are many things that can determine the year a bass was made. I am only familiar with how to do it with Fenders and Charvels. Search this forum for the answers to the questions for other brands. there are threads all over about pretty much any bass brand/kind. Any of the "club" threads could probably steer you in the right direction.

Haven't seen ibanez club but thanks!

 

[socialleper]

Rock on man I definitely will check it out I've never even played a Lakland how are those?

Lakland is one of the many "better Fender" companies out there that for me is the best blend of price and high end features. I can't afford the US made basses, but their Asian assembled Skyline series are phenomenal for the price. $1400 is still out of the reach of some, but the tonal options on my 44-02 basses are worth it. They can do a close approximation of a P-bass, a jazz, and a music man. You can find used ones for $700 to $900 dollars. The necks on the 4 strings are very slim and comfortable for me, but the 5s can be a little chunky.
Geezer Butler has been playing Lakland Bob Glaub PJ basses for years and now has his own custom model from them using his signature EMG pickups.
They aren't so super rare that if you have a slightly high end store around that they should have them. Sam Ash used to carry them, but I don't see them there any more.
If I could get an endorsement deal it would be with them or Warwick.

Here's a little clip of what mine sound like live.

 

[Zodion]

Lakland is one of the many "better Fender" companies out there that for me is the best blend of price and high end features. I can't afford the US made basses, but their Asigan assembled Skyline series are phenomenal for the price. $1400 is s ive playwtill out of the reach of some, but the tonal options on my 44-02 basses are worth it. They can do a close approximation of a P-bass, a jazz, and a music man. You can find used ones for $700 to $900 dollars. The necks on the 4 strings are very slim and comfortable for me, but the 5s can be a little chunky.
Geezer Butler has been playing Lakland Bob Glaub PJ basses for years and now has his own custom model from them using his signature EMG pickups.
They aren't so super rare that if you have a slightly high end store around that they should have them. Sam Ash used to carry them, but I don't see them there any more.
If I could get an endorsement deal it would be with them or Warwick.

Here's a little clip of what mine sound like live.

Awesome man sounds sweet

 

[Zodion]

Awesome man sounds sweet

ive played warwick in store but not in a band setting where i could really test it

 

[raventepes]

I started at bass when I was 16 and was able to get a job. Before that, I was into playing guitar, piano and synths, saxophones, violin family, and drums. My dad had a Fender...I can't remember if it was a Jazz or Precision, but it interested me. I was at his place one night, and I pass out playing it. I was hooked.

I live in a small area, and at the time, there were only two guitar shops in my area. After trying everything I could get my hands on (surprisingly, quite a few!), I settled and bought a Samick Artist Series 5-string with a PJ configuration and paired that with an Ampeg BA115. It could have even their equivalent at the time. I can't remember which model it was, precisely. At any rate, that got me going. Time and basses and amps came and went. I've played 4's, 5's, and 6's in my 19 years of playing. While I like the flexibility of my 6's, I really don't care what I have in my hands, as long as it sounds good and well built. And I really don't even mean that in a monetary value, honestly. One of my favourite basses that I've owned is one that I sill own today...a Squier Jazz Standard. I was working on a project with a buddy of mine and needed something different than what I had. Picked it up for $75. It needed a bit of setup work done on it and I had to tighten a couple things down with a wrench, but it plays and sounds amazing. I don't know if I got a gem out of them all and got lucky, or if they were all that good, but it's definitely a bass I won't be getting rid of. Currently though, my main instrument is my Spector NS2000 Q6 with Bartolini pickups and an unknown pre-amp. I play both with fingers and picks and use a wide variety of techniques, including a very little bit of basic slapping. I should mention that I use very little effects, though a bit of distortion, reverb, and chorus are always nice. Maybe a bit of flanger and synth, but that's really as far as I go. If I were to go recreate a floorboard, it would be pretty minimal. The only stompbox I have remaining is my Sovtek Electro Harmonix Big Muff Pi.

I always liked metal, and I'm willing to play anything from old school to modern deathcore and everything in between. It's in my blood. As far as big influences go, some are Marco Hietala, Twiggy Ramirez, Gene Simmons, Cliff Burton, Tom Araya, Dave Ellefson, Sean Yseult. Rayna Foss, Nikki Sixx, Robin Eaglestone, Cronos (Conrad Lant), Steve DiGiorgio, Sharlee D'Angelo (originally from playing with Mercyful Fate), Stu Hamm, Dave Pybus, Apollyon, King Ov Hell, ICS Vortex, Peter Steele...

I think I'm more musically influenced, rather than certain by people though. And to be fair, even who I mention above, all I've mentioned are bass players. If I were to include lists from composers, both classical and modern, the list would be enormous. But I pull a lot from classical and guys like Danny Elfman, as well as guitarists, synths and pianos...I think at scale and play to fit whatever I'm playing, which is why I really don't hold anything back, technique-wise, or even instrument-wise. Sometimes a 6 is needed...sometimes a 4 is all I need. I'll play them all, but I really do like my 6's. To be fair, although I love all sorts of death metal, black metal, and anything else brutal and kvlt, I find myself drawn more to symphonic metal like Nightwish, Epica, Xandria, with elements of Dimmu Borgir, and so forth. Basically, bands that largely think on a grand, ambitious scale. Throw in elements of old punk and goth, and you get the idea.

Right now, I'm not in a band...I haven't been for some time now, unfortunately. I want to be in a band, but I want to be in a band that thinks like I do. Something big. Something with sweeping orchestral pieces. Basically, something like Nightwish.

 

[Zodion]

I started at bass when I was 16 and was able to get a job. Before that, I was into playing guitar, piano and synths, saxophones, violin family, and drums. My dad had a Fender...I can't remember if it was a Jazz or Precision, but it interested me. I was at his place one night, and I pass out playing it. I was hooked.

I live in a small area, and at the time, there were only two guitar shops in my area. After trying everything I could get my hands on (surprisingly, quite a few!), I settled and bought a Samick Artist Series 5-string with a PJ configuration and paired that with an Ampeg BA115. It could have even their equivalent at the time. I can't remember which model it was, precisely. At any rate, that got me going. Time and basses and amps came and went. I've played 4's, 5's, and 6's in my 19 years of playing. While I like the flexibility of my 6's, I really don't care what I have in my hands, as long as it sounds good and well built. And I really don't even mean that in a monetary value, honestly. One of my favourite basses that I've owned is one that I sill own today...a Squier Jazz Standard. I was working on a project with a buddy of mine and needed something different than what I had. Picked it up for $75. It needed a bit of setup work done on it and I had to tighten a couple things down with a wrench, but it plays and sounds amazing. I don't know if I got a gem out of them all and got lucky, or if they were all that good, but it's definitely a bass I won't be getting rid of. Currently though, my main instrument is my Spector NS2000 Q6 with Bartolini pickups and an unknown pre-amp. I play both with fingers and picks and use a wide variety of techniques, including a very little bit of basic slapping. I should mention that I use very little effects, though a bit of distortion, reverb, and chorus are always nice. Maybe a bit of flanger and synth, but that's really as far as I go. If I were to go recreate a floorboard, it would be pretty minimal. The only stompbox I have remaining is my Sovtek Electro Harmonix Big Muff Pi.

I always liked metal, and I'm willing to play anything from old school to modern deathcore and everything in between. It's in my blood. As far as big influences go, some are Marco Hietala, Twiggy Ramirez, Gene Simmons, Cliff Burton, Tom Araya, Dave Ellefson, Sean Yseult. Rayna Foss, Nikki Sixx, Robin Eaglestone, Cronos (Conrad Lant), Steve DiGiorgio, Sharlee D'Angelo (originally from playing with Mercyful Fate), Stu Hamm, Dave Pybus, Apollyon, King Ov Hell, ICS Vortex, Peter Steele...

I think I'm more musically influenced, rather than certain by people though. And to be fair, even who I mention above, all I've mentioned are bass players. If I were to include lists from composers, both classical and modern, the list would be enormous. But I pull a lot from classical and guys like Danny Elfman, as well as guitarists, synths and pianos...I think at scale and play to fit whatever I'm playing, which is why I really don't hold anything back, technique-wise, or even instrument-wise. Sometimes a 6 is needed...sometimes a 4 is all I need. I'll play them all, but I really do like my 6's. To be fair, although I love all sorts of death metal, black metal, and anything else brutal and kvlt, I find myself drawn more to symphonic metal like Nightwish, Epica, Xandria, with elements of Dimmu Borgir, and so forth. Basically, bands that largely think on a grand, ambitious scale. Throw in elements of old punk and goth, and you get the idea.

Right now, I'm not in a band...I haven't been for some time now, unfortunately. I want to be in a band, but I want to be in a band that thinks like I do. Something big. Something with sweeping orchestral pieces. Basically, something like Nightwish.

Start up bands art going to be nightwish at first but set a goal and eventually get there. I'm sure all of the members didn't get that grand until a couple bands later. It's totally do able though so don't give up man I love all kinds of metal, today I was listening to Arch Enemy and then Marduk I especially like bands that combine heavy and melodic like Vildjharta Amon Amarth Omertah Tesseract Type O Negative Arch Enemy etc I love it all and I was inspired by drummers guitarists singers Like Ivan Moody Peter Steele Lars Ulrich Dave Lombardo Terry Bozzio Johnathon Davis Jack Black (Tenacious D) so I feel you there I don't like using picks but at times they are fun but my smooth feel is all from fingers and I do basic slapping too nothing crazy like Marcus Miller or Les Claypool I mostly just run with distortion cause I'm in a three piece but I use a phaser and wah along with another distortion that I kick on when the guitar solos

 

[raventepes]

Yeah...I know what you mean. It'd be nice if I could piece a group together that had the same drive and ambition that I do, but I need to be realistic about it. Talent also plays a key factor here, and in my area, most people who are talented are already in bands. Those who aren't are looking for one. Me? I'm just waiting for an opportunity. A lot of the musicians around here know I've got the chops to be competitive, and I've had to decline bands for one reason or another over the years, which I hate, but such is life.

 

[Braden Persch]

Started playing guitar cause I had one laying around, when I was 16 I wanted to learn bass because I already knew like 7 other guitards. Bought a Schecter stiletto 5 string and now I have a Stiletto 6 string. I play in a death metal band called Entomb The Wicked. We're about to hit the studio in a few weeks so I'll be sure to bitch about being turned up in the mix Love technical playing and proving people wrong about bass being easy and not as important as guitar. I mainly listen to death metal, and some deathcore. My main influences would be along the lines of Alex Webster from Cannibal Corpse, and the current bassist of Cryptopsy (his name escapes me). Rock on dudes \m/

 

[Zodion]

Yeah...I know what you mean. It'd be nice if I could piece a group together that had the same drive and ambition that I do, but I need to be realistic about it. Talent also plays a key factor here, and in my area, most people who are talented are already in bands. Those who aren't are looking for one. Me? I'm just waiting for an opportunity. A lot of the musicians around here know I've got the chops to be competitive, and I've had to decline bands for one reason or another over the years, which I hate, but such is life.

Sometimes that happens but maybe you can infiltrate a band and push them towards your goals? Maybe they're one member away from doing it?

 

[Zodion]

Started playing guitar cause I had one laying around, when I was 16 I wanted to learn bass because I already knew like 7 other guitards. Bought a Schecter stiletto 5 string and now I have a Stiletto 6 string. I play in a death metal band called Entomb The Wicked. We're about to hit the studio in a few weeks so I'll be sure to bitch about being turned up in the mix Love technical playing and proving people wrong about bass being easy and not as important as guitar. I mainly listen to death metal, and some deathcore. My main influences would be along the lines of Alex Webster from Cannibal Corpse, and the current bassist of Cryptopsy (his name escapes me). Rock on dudes \m/

Lol I've got the Schecter stiletto six playing death metal with a bass that doesn't look death metal but in fact more jazzy? Challenge accepted the strings that came with it kinda blow for my style. The B hits low notes but sounds like crap if I try to play Webster style on it and the G feels really thin...but maybe that's cause I'm playing thick strings all the time now

 

[raventepes]

Started playing guitar cause I had one laying around, when I was 16 I wanted to learn bass because I already knew like 7 other guitards. Bought a Schecter stiletto 5 string and now I have a Stiletto 6 string. I play in a death metal band called Entomb The Wicked. We're about to hit the studio in a few weeks so I'll be sure to bitch about being turned up in the mix Love technical playing and proving people wrong about bass being easy and not as important as guitar. I mainly listen to death metal, and some deathcore. My main influences would be along the lines of Alex Webster from Cannibal Corpse, and the current bassist of Cryptopsy (his name escapes me). Rock on dudes \m/

Heh...I almost got a Stiletto 6 until I found my Spector. Great basses!

Lol I've got the Schecter stiletto six playing death metal with a bass that doesn't look death metal but in fact more jazzy? Challenge accepted the strings that came with it kinda blow for my style. The B hits low notes but sounds like crap if I try to play Webster style on it and the G feels really thin...but maybe that's cause I'm playing thick strings all the time now

Hey, I'd rock it in a death metal band! I love that Honey Satin finish...

 

[Zodion]

Heh...I almost got a Stiletto 6 until I found my Spector. Great basses!



Hey, I'd rock it in a death metal band! I love that Honey Satin finish...

Isn't it a maple walnut top? The neck is relatively thin too but I think ibanez has it beat

 

[xUptheIronsx]

Start up bands art going to be nightwish at first but set a goal and eventually get there. I'm sure all of the members didn't get that grand until a couple bands later. It's totally do able though so don't give up man I love all kinds of metal, today I was listening to Arch Enemy and then Marduk I especially like bands that combine heavy and melodic like Vildjharta Amon Amarth Omertah Tesseract Type O Negative Arch Enemy etc I love it all and I was inspired by drummers guitarists singers Like Ivan Moody Peter Steele Lars Ulrich Dave Lombardo Terry Bozzio Johnathon Davis Jack Black (Tenacious D) so I feel you there I don't like using picks but at times they are fun but my smooth feel is all from fingers and I do basic slapping too nothing crazy like Marcus Miller or Les Claypool I mostly just run with distortion cause I'm in a three piece but I use a phaser and wah along with another distortion that I kick on when the guitar solos

dude...if you haven't already, check out the band Fates Warning! The originators of mixing heavy with melodic! Specifically target the albums between No Exit and Inside Out! All of their albums are awesome, but I think these are the best

 

[raventepes]

It's a maple walnut neckthrough with a bubinga top. You were kind of right, since it's a neckthrough...