Punk Rock/Heavy Metal Bass Guitars

Ibanez basses are solid "metal" basses. Their 80's-90's stuff is great too if your not so much into their current line up.

 

Yep, Ibanez..... I love my SRX.

 

::Que super played out "best bass for metal" comments::

but seriously, for punk/metal I think its more about amp/strings/technique than bass....

That said: anything with a p-pickup for punk, anything with EMG's for metal.

 

Nope, first person ever

Anyways, I'm pretty partial to J or PJ basses.

 

check out the black g&l with the graphite moses neck in the classifieds, i use a g&l sb-2 or an L2000 for drone metal and hardcore punk

 

Epiphone Thunderbird IV its about $300 dollars at guitar center

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Epiphone-Thunderbird-IV-Bass-100388504-i1150015.gc

And just about any squire precision bass would be good

 

I play mostly punk rock and metal. My main basses are a G&L SB-2, G&L L-2000, and an old Yamaha BB-800.

 

Esp ltd d5. $399 new. Or you could look for a used spector legend/NS2000/5.

 

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/you-looking-good-bass-metal-click-here-first-672033/

 

I liked the mark Hoppus bass i briefly had. Simple and effective.

 

P, J or Ric. Job done.

 

Ibanez SR. There is one for any price range and they play great

 

I have made 6 different Precisions out of used parts from the classifieds. MIM or Mighty Mite Precision necks, Squier bodies, '62 Reissue or Model P pickups Schaller roller bridges. The most expensive one was $400, the cheapest was about $180. They are all different and they are modeled after the hundreds of P's that I have seen at punk shows over the years. I use them for metal as well.

 

I dont usually recommend these but a fender P or J will do it.
Examples
Opeth
Sybreed

Also as stated. Ibanez puts out a solid metal bass.
Example
Soreption

 

G&L! L2000

 

When in doubt, P bass.

 

Maybe I'm totally off the back w/this observation... but from personal experience owning/playing one, I think a Parker Hornet (not made anymore) would have been a perfect choice for "metal" bass -> 24 frets, active EMG's - it has a great in-you-face presence/tone and is just strange enough looking to pass (on stage w/pointy guitars etc) - a mystery really as far as a potentially perfect metal package.

 

I use a Fender Precision with a EMG-PX and a BTS control.

 

Yamaha bb300 is a great bass.
Squier classic vibe jazz.
Squier vm pbass.
Sx basses