A Sadowsky is also a great recommendation for the type of tone you seem to be looking for. The Sadowsky preamp is known for its crisp, sizzling high end. Not my bag but it's a great option if you need more pronounced character and punch.
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Recommend me a bright, punchy, aggressive sounding bass
- Thread starter thisSNsucks
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A Sadowsky is also a great recommendation for the type of tone you seem to be looking for. The Sadowsky preamp is known for its crisp, sizzling high end. Not my bag but it's a great option if you need more pronounced character and punch.
I use a G&L L2000 and when I've got it on active with the knobs on full it's incredibly bright and aggressive. With roundwounds it's a monster.
Spectors and Moduluses are amazing for brightness as well.
Spectors and Moduluses are amazing for brightness as well.
I'll be the one to suggest something a little out there, but try a Peavey Patriot. They're cheap and very solid with a very hot, very aggressive pickup. I have one on the way and I'm really excited to put it to some good use. Also, they're USA made and play just as nice as any production-level USA made instrument you'd hear about today. Check craigslist, pawnshops, and ebay.
+1 to Stingrays and Sterlings. The G-String issue is easily fixed by adjusting the pickup under the G-String so that it is closer.
If you like 70's styling a Geddy Lee seems to fit your tonal description, for a little more $$ a Marcus Miller may work as well. FWIW, stay away from the "factory refurbished" units that are out there, I've heard more negative than positive and the prices seem to be not as good as they could be.
Every bass on the planet could conceivably be listed on this thread because any bass could be brightened or made to have a snappier tone if you play it in a certain style with certain settings and through a suitably EQ'd amp.
I think what the OP is looking for are basses that have a brighter, punchier tone as their chief tonal characteristic. He wants something that sounds like that fundamentally, not anecdotal evidence that you managed to coax some grindy, metallic tone out of any given bass by stringing it with stainless steel rounds and then playing downstroke pick-style while scooping the mids on a modern, solid-state amp... ALL basses sound punchy under those circumstances.
I think what the OP is looking for are basses that have a brighter, punchier tone as their chief tonal characteristic. He wants something that sounds like that fundamentally, not anecdotal evidence that you managed to coax some grindy, metallic tone out of any given bass by stringing it with stainless steel rounds and then playing downstroke pick-style while scooping the mids on a modern, solid-state amp... ALL basses sound punchy under those circumstances.
A EBMM Sterling HH or HS with Rotosound Roundwound strings is the most aggressive sound that I've been able to find so far.
I've also got a Rick 4003 and a Stingray (3 Band H). Those are both aggressive "rock" basses as well. But honestly, nothing is as snarling, rip your throat out aggressive as a Sterling. MUCH more aggressive than a Stingray. In fact my only issue with them is that once you stick Rotos on it - its hard to tone it down. If I only bring that bass to a gig, and a song calls for a smoother sound - its hard to get it.
Someone here once put it very well. The Sterling is the Stingray's pissed off little brother. Note that I am talking about the EBMM Sterling. NOT the "Sterling by Musicman" budget line.
I've also got a Rick 4003 and a Stingray (3 Band H). Those are both aggressive "rock" basses as well. But honestly, nothing is as snarling, rip your throat out aggressive as a Sterling. MUCH more aggressive than a Stingray. In fact my only issue with them is that once you stick Rotos on it - its hard to tone it down. If I only bring that bass to a gig, and a song calls for a smoother sound - its hard to get it.
Someone here once put it very well. The Sterling is the Stingray's pissed off little brother. Note that I am talking about the EBMM Sterling. NOT the "Sterling by Musicman" budget line.
If you want that sound for $400-500 get a used Peavey Millennium and throw stainless strings on it.
I used to think humbucking pickups would kill brightness and high-mid growl, but the EMG humbuckers on my Spector Euro 5 LX proved me wrong. No plans to go back to single-coil soon.
As far as construction, dense wood helps. Seems the softer wood is, the more it absorbs the high-frequency vibrations. I had an early model Peavey T-40 that was solid hard rock maple - 12 pounds - but was quite agro.
Both Spector and Ken Smith use a 3-layer body with Walnut in the middle. I suspect that's for punching up the clarity. The wood used in the neck might matter more than the body.
This Warwick has such a monster metal tone I had to cry. If you get it I will be jealous:
YouTube - ‪WarwickLX‬‏
As far as construction, dense wood helps. Seems the softer wood is, the more it absorbs the high-frequency vibrations. I had an early model Peavey T-40 that was solid hard rock maple - 12 pounds - but was quite agro.
Both Spector and Ken Smith use a 3-layer body with Walnut in the middle. I suspect that's for punching up the clarity. The wood used in the neck might matter more than the body.
This Warwick has such a monster metal tone I had to cry. If you get it I will be jealous:
YouTube - ‪WarwickLX‬‏
Get a Yamaha SBV.
Here is a live demo.
YouTube - ‪Polysics @ La Villette sonique‬‏
Sounds kick-ass, wish I could get that sound. Being Fumi would probably help.
Here is a live demo.
YouTube - ‪Polysics @ La Villette sonique‬‏
Sounds kick-ass, wish I could get that sound. Being Fumi would probably help.
The G&L L-1500/1505 is exactly what you describe. The SB-2, which others have mentioned, can be bright with the bridge pickup on full, but IMO, uber-thick split-coil tone is the dominant theme. I absolutely love the SB-2 and promote it regularly, but you'd be better off with the L-1500/1505, or even an L-2000/2500, with which you dan dial in loads of brightness and cut.
Outside the G&L realm, an EBMM Sterling would fit the bill. I'd recommend the HS version for more tonal range. It's a total rock machine.
Of course, with all the aftermarket pickups out there, you could easily create a Jazz bass that would fit the bill.
Outside the G&L realm, an EBMM Sterling would fit the bill. I'd recommend the HS version for more tonal range. It's a total rock machine.
Of course, with all the aftermarket pickups out there, you could easily create a Jazz bass that would fit the bill.
