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Rock Bass for Guitarist
- Thread starter Moble
- Start date
And you’d get what you’re looking for faster and more competently...
But then you will lose your excuse to come over to the dark side
MDBass
Supporting Member
- Nov 7, 2012
- 8,590
- 14,892
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Dingwall-Fender-Bergantino-Dunlop-Tech 21-Darkglass-Nordstrand
He likes the tones of those three bass players: Harris uses a P, Anthony uses a PJ (it just happens to be a Yamaha), and Sheehan uses a bass with a P and a mudbucker.
They definitely all sound different, but a P bass is pretty clearly his best shot at getting similar sounds.
Do you have a better recommendation?
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Harris uses a P with modified pickups - cause he doesn't like the fender ones' sound and has used LADO with Humbuckers (powerslave). Anthony does use a PJ - which can sound like a P or nothing like a P and many things in between (way more versatile). Sheehans bass has multiple out jacks so he can amp each pickup separately if he likes - he cranks the hell out of his mids and frankly sounds nothing like a traditional P bass.
My recommendation is probably a PJ of sorts since a half decent bass with tapped humbuckers is likely out of his price range. In his price range - maybe an entry IBBY would be a good choice or either an entry fender or MM.
My real point is - the three he chose as examples of how he wants the bass to sound are nothing alike so... what does he really want? and since he may likely be using a pick - maybe Queens Reich, Tool or Yes would be better examples?
My recommendation is probably a PJ of sorts since a half decent bass with tapped humbuckers is likely out of his price range. In his price range - maybe an entry IBBY would be a good choice or either an entry fender or MM.
My real point is - the three he chose as examples of how he wants the bass to sound are nothing alike so... what does he really want? and since he may likely be using a pick - maybe Queens Reich, Tool or Yes would be better examples?
There are SO many variables that go into producing a tone that to single out the fretboard wood seems to bely a significant lack of basic understanding.
I play and build both guitars and basses - I got my start with guitars and then bass morphed into my primary instrument over time. Fretboard wood selection is much more tonally important on a guitar than a bass in my humble opinion. I can hear a significant difference between fretboard woods on guitar compared to bass. Again, in my opinion, if we're talking fretless, then fingerboard woods are again an important consideration in tone, but for fretted bass, not as much as with guitar.
To the OP, this is probably why you're getting some responses related to the irrelevance of fretboard wood on bass. This is just one of many areas where the pursuit of tone is really a different kettle of fish between guitars and basses.
To the OP, this is probably why you're getting some responses related to the irrelevance of fretboard wood on bass. This is just one of many areas where the pursuit of tone is really a different kettle of fish between guitars and basses.
There’s thousands of possible basses to buy, gotta start narrowing it down somehow. From his experience as a guitarist, he knows he doesn’t like rosewood fretboards. Budget under $500 (preferably $400), no rosewood — okay, so that’s a start. I mean, sure he could buy a rosewood fretboard bass and do fine, but he has a preference, so might as well work with it. In a way, as it eliminates many possible choices, it actually helps!
As others have said, his examples were all bass players that include a split coil (P) pickup on their bass, and he said the genre is guitar-based hard rock, so a P or PJ pickup setup makes sense.
Starting to get somewhere.
Body shape, brand name and color are some other factors that can help narrow down the choices. Neck dimensions. Weight. Besides pickups, all of these have little to do with tone, but they do help in choosing one bass out of all the myriad possibilities.
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A lot of people are mentioning the tone difference between Rosewood and maple but to me, the feel makes a big difference when it's being played.
There are a lot of selections for basses at that price range it's overwhelming. However, as someone who prefers not Rosewood as well it narrows down the selection a bunch. A lot of models don't get offered with maple boards. Other boards are stuff like techwood or ebony or the new pau Ferro.
Pau Ferro feels in between Rosewood and maple to my fingers. Feels kind nice actually, I wouldn't mind it.
There are a lot of selections for basses at that price range it's overwhelming. However, as someone who prefers not Rosewood as well it narrows down the selection a bunch. A lot of models don't get offered with maple boards. Other boards are stuff like techwood or ebony or the new pau Ferro.
Pau Ferro feels in between Rosewood and maple to my fingers. Feels kind nice actually, I wouldn't mind it.
Those are some good choices right there, but if you want another good choice for a punchy sounding bass, check out the yamaha trbx174. this bass has a clear punchy sound that's very suitable for rock and metal. best of all, it costs $200.
