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Recommendations for a 5 String Bass for Progressive Metal?

#2
You have a lot of choices from Ibanez, Yamaha, ESP, Schecter, Ernie Ball, Sandberg, Warwick, just to name a few. I would start by taking a look at their online catalogs and watching YT videos to get an idea. Do you have a specific sound in mind, or do you have some players that you like the sound of?
 
#4
Vinny_G said:
You have a lot of choices from Ibanez, Yamaha, ESP, Schecter, Ernie Ball, Sandberg, Warwick, just to name a few. I would start by taking a look at their online catalogs and watching YT videos to get an idea. Do you have a specific sound in mind, or do you have some players that you like the sound of?
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#5
Vinny_G said:
You have a lot of choices from Ibanez, Yamaha, ESP, Schecter, Ernie Ball, Sandberg, Warwick, just to name a few. I would start by taking a look at their online catalogs and watching YT videos to get an idea. Do you have a specific sound in mind, or do you have some players that you like the sound of?
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I would be adding distortion. I want something sort of in between Nolly and Dick Lövgren. I have considered Dingwall basses, but there are not a lot of places to try those out.
 
#6
RyRytheguy said:
I would be adding distortion. I want something sort of in between Nolly and Dick Lövgren. I have considered Dingwall basses, but there are not a lot of places to try those out.
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Maybe try a EBMM Bongo with the HH configuration. I've got a 5 string bongo that I really enjoy and it would definitely be able to pull off that style of tone. It can be pretty aggressive sounding.
 
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#7
RyRytheguy said:
I would be adding distortion. I want something sort of in between Nolly and Dick Lövgren. I have considered Dingwall basses, but there are not a lot of places to try those out.
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Where are you based out of? The folks in the Dingwall club are pretty friendly. You might be able to try one out that is nearby. I would gladly offer mine but, if you were near me, you wouldn't have an issue finding a Dingwall. They make them in my hometown.
 
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#15
RyRytheguy said:
The title pretty much says it all. I am looking for recommendations for a 5 string bass that is mainly for progressive metal and djent, but sounds good for anything. I would also like it to have humbuckers.
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The field is dominated by Warwick and Spector. There are a handful of Ibanez and Dingwall basses being played by the pros as well.
Bright, clear articulation is sought after in a genre that has so much quick playing. I have a Spector Euro 5LX that I really enjoy. I really feel like a 35" scale is very important to a solid B string. That said, if I had to pick one brand that I see the most in prog metal and tech death it would be Warwick. I'd really like to get my hands on a Streamer 5 with double soapbar pickups. They don't make a model like that, so it would be a custom order, and therefor, BIG money.
 
#16
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This is a US Spector, it's a neck through, locking hi mass bridge, humbuckers, and it sounds exactly like a modern metal/djent bass should. This model is a Forte which is a little cheaper cuz it doesn't have the inlays/ glossy finish/ gold hardware but it has all the sound. If that's too rich for your blood start looking for used Euros.
 
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#17
Hi. I got a couple dozen melodic death gigs behind me, and even if I believe that any good quality bass would do the trick with great pickups and proper EQ, here are my favorite brands: ESP, Schecter, Spector, Warwick and Sire.

Soundwise, the most important to me are the pickups (I prefer two humbuckers), a balance knob (instead of two volume knobs) and a good onboard EQ.
 
#19
socialleper said:
I really feel like a 35" scale is very important to a solid B string. That said, if I had to pick one brand that I see the most in prog metal and tech death it would be Warwick.
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Warwick does not make 35" scale, so you'll need to re-think one of those statements :)

Also, they do make a Streamer with dual humbuckers...the DB (Double Buck) 5.

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Or you could just get a Spector, which is the original Streamer.
 
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#20
mmbongo said:
Warwick does not make 35" scale, so you'll need to re-think one of those statements :)

Also, they do make a Streamer with dual humbuckers...the DB (Double Buck) 5.

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Or you could just get a Spector, which is the original Streamer.
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They made one model, I think it was called the Taranis. There is also the Vampyre Darklord.
But you are right, they don't, and I think that is a major oversight on their behalf. I do think a 35" scale is the proper length. Which is what I like about my Spector 5LX.
The MM style pickups stink. Straight up, no reservations. I had a $$ Corvette and could never get the tone I wanted out of it. Notice I specifically said soapbars, not humbuckers.
I know there is whole thing between Spector and Warwick. I don't care about that lame Ford\Chevy rivalry they have going on. Each bass has their ups and downs. I prefer the body shape of the Streamer, but all Warwicks have a wonderful unique tone. On the other side of that, Spector has some wonderful finishes, prices that are more in my range, and come stock with soapbar pickups.
I love what Adam Biggs and Alex Webster do with their Spectors. However, the number of bass players whose tone I love and who play Warwick is ridiculously long.
 
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