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not another "Best Bass for Metal" thread...

not another "Best Bass for Metal" thread...

The truth is you really don't need a bass guitar in a metal band. The guitar players can tune down low enough that they are already playing bass anyway. Or they play 7 or 8 string guitars. So the bass guitar is redundant in a Metal band.
 
not another "Best Bass for Metal" thread...

The truth is you really don't need a bass guitar in a metal band. The guitar players can tune down low enough that they are already playing bass anyway. Or they play 7 or 8 string guitars. So the bass guitar is redundant in a Metal band.

Crazy idea... Tune your bass DOWN to match the guitar, or get a five string so you still have your own space sonically. I know, stupid idea right? :hiding:
 
BC Rich Eagle One with added 2band graphic eq like basslines blackout would get you there nicely imo. For right around $300. The stock pups are quite good but one might want to switch em for dimarioz if wanting a little darker with tad more heavy thump. The stock bc rich P pups do that very well but with a little more crunch and little more top end. Little bit more of a thrash sound with the dimazros being little more death metal. EMG active P pups with the emg bqc would also be quite nice but that'll bring you around that $400 or bit little more. With the two band eq you can use it to simulate more of a neck or bridge position type P voice as desired along with other tone tweaks to taste as needed. It be good 80's thrash metal bass imo. Could also scour used ads and try to snag a nice condition BC Rich NJ series warlock with neck and bridge P pup set plus very good 2band eq preamp stock. Those where used a lot in 80's and 90's thrash etc. Used Jackson concert bass might also be gettable in your price range. They got made in both PJ and soapbar pup versions. And got 2 or 3 band low grade emg preamp in them. The Jackson basses would be the other most used neck to bc rich in most of the thrash bands I paid attention to in the 89's and early 90's and still listen to off and on. Lol.
 
While the "what's the best bass for x music" question is dumb, I think what some posters may actually mean is "what types of basses are metal bassists playing?" Which I think is valid and interesting.
I play in a death metal band and am very into death,black metal and thrash. I also play a lot of funk, jazz, and rock and roll too. I Like my warwick corvette with delano jazz pickups and delano sonar 2 no matter what type of music I'm playing. I also have a double buck I have set up for C# (I hate ANY downtuning, especially in death metal as it muddies up the tone, buries the bass, and kills the drive and attack but I love the band I'm playing in so I just try to make it work.)

My experience is that in death and black metal your goal is to be about as bright, clean, and punchy as possible- in contrast to the guitars. This way you add to the drive and don't get buried. I hear some death metal bassists try to use that dark, muddy reggae tone and it just kills it.
 
I found my lakland 44-64 (with the Hanson neo punch split coil Pup) to be so metal sounding that I had to sell it. It refused to do r&b well but sounded great paired up with a double kick and downtuned guitars. Go figure
 
I now own what I think is the best bass for metal. Ever since I was a kid I've liked skeletons and skulls, and even put together a few plastic models of both. Even though I'm way past my kid years now, my model of the human head is still in my possession and sits on a filing cabinet in my office. I also own 2 sets of skull knobs, a strap, and have applied a few skull stickers to my SX Gypsy Rose.

When I saw the mother of all skull motif bass packages on Ebay last week, I couldn't pass it up even though I have way too many 4-stringers. The bass is made by Galveston and has skulls and chains on the body (factory paint job). The former owner added skull knobs with purple eyes. It came shipped in a Black Kross case that has skulls stamped into the outside. Also included were a skull strap, tuner, Monster Cable, and Boss DS-1 pedal. Everything is in excellent condition and the bass feels and sounds similar to my Ibanez SR305 (with a slightly chunkier neck), so I'm happy. It just doesn't get any more metal than this!
 

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Martin Mendez (the bass player of Opeth) plays Fender and Sandberg basses. His basses are essentially Jazz basses, so I don't really see a point of any of these threads, no offense to the OP. For $400, get a used Fender Jazz, or a new Squier CV. Your bass doesn't have to be black either, look at Mandez.

Here is a pic:
Opeth,_Sala_Apolo,_Barcelona.jpg


Here is a link to another thread here at TB about his gear:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f28/martin-mendezs-setup-495514/
 
Are you kidding me? I linked to tons of threads on this, and I have to say, what?????

I can play any style of music with any bass on the market. Players.....grow up. Does Geddy get his tone with his Ric or his Fender? What about Squire? It's not the bass. It's the player.
 
TRABEN CHAOS CORE: BEST BASS FOR METAL UNDER $1000. END OF STORY.
Be sure you buy the early ones made In Korea. Rockfield pups, Aguilar OBP-3 w/a 5 position coil tap, huge string-thru bridge.
Cuts through the thickest Metal mess! :)
Get em used for around $400 and lower. Best buy around, I promise! Full, Punchy, Growly and that's just on a flat eq!