Recommend me a bright, punchy, aggressive sounding bass

[thisSNsucks]

Hey guys,

I'd like to get a new bass soon and I think I wan't something really aggressive sounding. I'd like to go bright and punchy as opposed to round and warm (my alder/rosewood Fenders do that just fine)

I definitely prefer older or vintage basses, something with tradtional style. Passive or active.

I was initially thinking StingRay but I always have issues with their G strings.

Maybe a 70's ash/maple Fender? A Gibson would be cool. Maybe something like what Mike Dirnt used in the early days. I think he had a G3. That kind of had the tone I'm looking for.

Any other ideas? Thanks in advance!

 

[pbass888]

i have a 74 american jazz bass... I think you would love it! It is really bright and clear . It is a maple neck and 4 bolt. Try to get something like that. Its pup spacing is really great. They can be had for the price of a fender cs and are great playing basses.! Pm me if you have any questions and good luck

 

[cableguy]

G&L L1500 or L1505. Very aggressive! Can be bright as well.

 

[Luckie]

Rickenbacker?

 

[VitalSigns]

"yeah they're cool guys but..."

I always have issues with their G strings.

 

[yellofury]

Jazz Bass or a Stingray with raised pickup on the G string side

 

[cataract]

I think you want a Gibson Ripper.

 

[Steveaux]

Spector.

 

[PDGood]

Rick

 

[TomB]

G&L SB-2... bright & punchy.

 

[GeneralElectric]

G&L L2000. Or a Ray.

 

[darkstorm]

Id say the one with the crunchy rather then smooth voiced pups. And maple top on whatever core wood you prefer. Or Rickenbacker, Gibson Ripper, and other maple bodied basses. Some of the vintage Soundgears with maple body and soapbar pups and maybe pup change for crunchier soapbar pups, could be good for that to imo.

The basswood body maple top ESP Ltd F series with 3band active eq also do it well though ya need to tilt the blend a little toward bridge pup for best effect with bright aspect. The B-4E version with ebony top and mahogany body would take more tweaking for brightness (little bit of treble boost) since is a bit darker, but still certainly just as aggresive. Most of the NJ and NT series of BC Rich basses, esp those with maple top. Possibly a good choice for both the sound and going for vintage one since you like vintage. If you can find one with the chesswood body and maple top, thats gonna be about the best for the sound wants your describing imo. Though they can also do dark aggressive well to. Since they got 2band active eq onboard.

 

[Down_Low]

3 band Stingray HH. No weak g sting on mine.

 

[Marton]

Gibson Ripper, Rickenbacker, Peavey T-40, maybe a 50s style P bass, sounds pretty agressive to me with roundwounds.

 

[TussinBot.]

G&L sb-2

 

[toddLURR]

I recently bought a Jackson bass on ebay and it gets the job done. Great punchy tone. There is a white one on ebay that i would like to get..but cant afford it right now...you should check it out....and remember for good ssound, ya cant go wrong with Emgs

 

[lovenotfear]

Musicman Sterling esp. since its wired in parellel , Any G&L, or a stingray these are known for being bright and punchy.

 

[nocontrols]

There are lots of passive basses that sound aggressive and a lot that even have the capability to be bright and punchy, especially with roundwounds and played with a pick. Having said that, the absolute epitome of bright, punchy and aggressive is the Ray. That's basically what you're looking for to the Nth degree. What do you mean you don't like the G string? What are you talking about? Is it such an issue that it's a deal breaker?

 

[Munjibunga]

A Sadowsky Metro M5-24 or Zon Sonus. I know they aren't vintage style, but neither is the tone you seek. A Stingray won't even come close. Groove on over to Roger's shop and play a Modern 5. You'll see what I mean.

 

[CrankenStein]

Stingray came to mind immediatly