Stoner/Doom Bassists Thread, Part 90: Maxed Out

[StayLow]

Band is on hiatus now, but here's my sludge/thrash project:

Incantations of Vengeance, by Serpent Crown

I've listened to this album a few times now. It's really excellent. Can't even tell what decade it's from, which I mean as a compliment. To me it sounds a bit like a cross between a classic bay area band Epidemic with Sacrifice-like vocals.

Thanks for sharing it.

 

[gfen]

It's like saying "please excuse me while I put on my fedora" and then putting on a pork pie hat.

Make no mistake, I'd do anything for the ability to unironically wear a bowler and not be mocked for it.

 

[kleinenenten]

I do anything possible to not change tunings. If it means I have to do some stretching, or parts that aren't exactly doubled, I think that's to the advantage of my dexterity and the music.

Vektor tunes everything up half a step. You're tuning up 2 1/2 steps... seems extreme to me. It may or may not cause some issues. Certainly I think you'd need to adjust the truss, and consider using lighter gauge strings.

I’m only tuning up 1 step, if I remember correctly. Maybe 1.5. My B stays constant, then I tune up to make the remaining strings identical to my guitarist’s 6 string guitar tuned 1.5 steps down.

He basically is doing drop D, but starting with B, so drop B?

 

[ZBirdV8]

Some Lads out of Grand Rapids MI.

 

[StayLow]

I’m only tuning up 1 step, if I remember correctly. Maybe 1.5. My B stays constant, then I tune up to make the remaining strings identical to my guitarist’s 6 string guitar tuned 1.5 steps down.

He basically is doing drop D, but starting with B, so drop B?

I see. Guess I spaced a bit on your OP.

Drop D is standard tuning with the E "dropped" to D, so for bass D-A-D-G. Guitar D-A-D-G-B-E.

If he's got a 6-string guitar with the E tuned to B, then a single step a down on the rest that's B-G-C-F-A-D. On a 5-string bass, that's a B and a step & a half up on the rest until you get to that A (1 step).

I really like your idea of tuning up though. Do any bands do this? I'd like to hear it.

If he's a step and a half down on his A through high E string then yeah leave your low B and tune the rest up a step. B-F#-B-E and a 1/2 step to Ab.

Probably won't need any setup adjustments unless you have heavy strings with high-ish tension. Really depends on the bass/neck and maybe the weather.

EDIT: Sorry, this post was a total c-f of errors as I originally typed it on my phone with a botched screen...and took about 30 mins to edit it. Embarrassing. Sorry to anyone who read it and wondered "***?!". Hope it helps after all.

 

[Jolagh]

Any of you ever had to tune UP for a band? My guitarist likes weird tunings lately, and he’s tuned his 6 string guitar to a low B and dropped the other strings a step and a half. Since I own a 5er, I ended up just keeping the B on that and tuning the other strings higher to match his tuning. Definitely feels different, more tension for sure. And surprisingly, seems to hit my filter differently as well. Will it hurt anything long term?

My bands been tuning to drop B for years at the behest of the original guitarist. Now we are commited because im too lazy to transcribe all our music into a new tuning. To be honest ive had to buy a custom set to have appropriate tension. Kalium is great for this. You can also use a 6 string set and toss the E or set it aside though thats too low of tension for my preferance.

 

[callofcthulhu]

I've listened to this album a few times now. It's really excellent. Can't even tell what decade it's from, which I mean as a compliment. To me it sounds a bit like a cross between a classic bay area band Epidemic with Sacrifice-like vocals.

Thanks for sharing it.

Hey, right on man, thanks a lot.

Yeah, the frontlady’s really big on Sacrifice and the crust scene, I’m more of a weird prog/doom head, so I try to bring that in as much as I can. And, of course, we all agree on classic thrash.

Hopefully we can land a new drummer and get back to work before humanity finishes devouring itself.

 

[StayLow]

Hey, right on man, thanks a lot.

Yeah, the frontlady’s really big on Sacrifice and the crust scene, I’m more of a weird prog/doom head, so I try to bring that in as much as I can. And, of course, we all agree on classic thrash.

Hopefully we can land a new drummer and get back to work before humanity finishes devouring itself.

Very well done. The bass sounds killer in that mix.

Please post again when that happens. Should be lots of good drummers in your area that'd love to be in a band that's so good.

Funny, I was going to refer to Epidemic as crust-thrash but didn't want to risk getting into a genre argument. In moments I can almost hear bits akin to crust gods HHiG / Tragedy, and that totally works for me.

Cheers!

 

[StayLow]

In case y'all didn't know, Tragedy released a new album a couple months ago and it's fantastic, raging D-beat / crust. Bandcamp link - Fury, by TRAGEDY

 

[kleinenenten]

I see. Guess I spaced a bit on your OP.

Drop D is standard tuning with the E "dropped" to D, so for bass D-A-D-G. Guitar D-A-D-G-B-E.

If he's got a 6-string guitar with the E tuned to B, then a single step a down on the rest that's B-G-C-F-A-D. On a 5-string bass, that's a B and a step & a half up on the rest until you get to that A (1 step).

I really like your idea of tuning up though. Do any bands do this? I'd like to hear it.

If he's a step and a half down on his A through high E string then yeah leave your low B and tune the rest up a step. B-F#-B-E and a 1/2 step to Ab.

Probably won't need any setup adjustments unless you have heavy strings with high-ish tension. Really depends on the bass/neck and maybe the weather.

EDIT: Sorry, this post was a total c-f of errors as I originally typed it on my phone with a botched screen...and took about 30 mins to edit it. Embarrassing. Sorry to anyone who read it and wondered "***?!". Hope it helps after all.

Thanks. I’ve got the tuning down, just was interested if it would harm my bass. I never hear of people tuning up, and certainly not in “heavy” genres. It feels fine on my bass, and everything sounds great, I was just curious if anyone else does this.

 

[StayLow]

Thanks. I’ve got the tuning down, just was interested if it would harm my bass. I never hear of people tuning up, and certainly not in “heavy” genres. It feels fine on my bass, and everything sounds great, I was just curious if anyone else does this.

Cool. I always resist different tuning but I'm gonna try tuning up too next chance I get with guys I know who are often in C or C# standard.

Thanks for the inspiration.

Genres need fresh sounds and approaches.

 

[kleinenenten]

Cool. I always resist different tuning but I'm gonna try tuning up too next chance I get with guys I know who are often in C or C# standard.

Thanks for the inspiration.

Genres need fresh sounds and approaches.

Same here, but this guitarist likes odd tunings. I got 5 and 6 string basses just to avoid tuning up and down!

 

[Novarocker]

@ZeroSymbolic never knew of those guys, they come down to our side to play?

Fender Fidelitrons from their Cabronita bass, which are the Fender version of the Gretsch that the TV Jones pups emulate. Someday I’ll finish the rewiring with new parts and full shielding, it’s a little sketchy sounding.

Nice, I've tried a cabronita. Almost bought it too, but they were asking too much if I recall. Cool sounds and a quirky looking bass.

 

[ZBirdV8]

@ZeroSymbolic never knew of those guys, they come down to our side to play?



Nice, I've tried a cabronita. Almost bought it too, but they were asking too much if I recall. Cool sounds and a quirky looking bass.

If you get a place for them to play, and offer gas money they probably would.

 

[StayLow]

This rips:



Never heard of this series. Jam In The Van

That's quite the van in which they jam. Brilliant idea. Sounds great!

 

[TSmith92]

I just picked up a Science Amplification Mother head off of reverb. I haven't gotten to try it through the Dually but it sounds good through my Fearful 12/6 and Guitar 2x12. On guitar at least it sounds kind of like a mix between a Laney and an Orange (it is a hiwatt DR201 based amp with a gain channel added.) It's my first tube bass head, a lot louder than I was expecting coming from an Orange OB-1 and Darkglass 900!

 

[Novarocker]

@TSmith92 nice! Awesome styling too.

If you get a place for them to play, and offer gas money they probably would.

Might have to see if I can put a bill together.​

 

[ZBirdV8]

@TSmith92 nice! Awesome styling too.



Might have to see if I can put a bill together.​

Yeah outside of Stoner/Doom. Any Grand Rapids project involving John Rios or Zach Flora is worth checking out.

 

[callofcthulhu]

This rips:



Never heard of this series. Jam In The Van

That's quite the van in which they jam. Brilliant idea. Sounds great!

I’ve jammed in that van.

Looks a lot bigger in the videos, it’s ridiculously cramped in person. Of course, we were fitting 6 people in there, a 3 piece would probably be a bit more comfortable.

 

[ZBirdV8]