Stoner/Doom Bassists Thread, Part 90: Maxed Out

[br1qbat]

The Butler looks interesting. Definitely gets that grindy Orange tone.
Multi scale is getting big this year. The new headless Ibanez could be my self indulgent purchase for 2020. There is a real give and take with multi scale. It cleans up a low B nicely, but for doom and stoner stuff it can be almost too clean? A Dingwall is great for proggy post metal or some tech death metal, but I think might sound wrong for doom. It would certainly look wrong on stage.
Sandberg and Dunable are two brands I keep wanting to try, but can never find. I'm not playing that style of music right now, so I haven't been pursuing it much.

Never played a dunable. Played a Sandberg 48 [thunderbird shape] once or twice and it blew away the gibbo imo. Didn't have the scratch to buy it but it was great. Their 'relic' jobs look pretty believable, especially compared to some of the roadworn fenders.

 

[lucas303]

Great report @hardtop

The Butler looks interesting. Definitely gets that grindy Orange tone.
Multi scale is getting big this year. The new headless Ibanez could be my self indulgent purchase for 2020. There is a real give and take with multi scale. It cleans up a low B nicely, but for doom and stoner stuff it can be almost too clean? A Dingwall is great for proggy post metal or some tech death metal, but I think might sound wrong for doom. It would certainly look wrong on stage.
Sandberg and Dunable are two brands I keep wanting to try, but can never find. I'm not playing that style of music right now, so I haven't been pursuing it much.

Looks aside, I can't help but wonder if multiscale has been a bit pigeon-holed into the proggy/tech sort of stuff just because that's where it's been most visibly used. People who are into that stuff then get a multiscale, and the cycle continues.

I'm definitely on board the multiscale train, but then my opinion doesn't matter much at all. And I'm definitely all about the headless Ibanez! I'll probably be ordering one soon.

 

[socialleper]

Great report @hardtop

Looks aside, I can't help but wonder if multiscale has been a bit pigeon-holed into the proggy/tech sort of stuff just because that's where it's been most visibly used. People who are into that stuff then get a multiscale, and the cycle continues.

I'm definitely on board the multiscale train, but then my opinion doesn't matter much at all. And I'm definitely all about the headless Ibanez! I'll probably be ordering one soon.

It is a chicken and the egg thing. However, a lot of multi scales have a particular look to them, which doesn't lend itself to someone who likes traditional instruments. If you made one that was basically a P but multi scale, I bet it wouldn't sell. Traditionalists would poo poo it (because they poo poo everything anyway) and early adopters would say it is boring.
The tone plays a big part too. The crispness of a 36 or 37 B is very different. People that like a thuddy B would find it too modern sounding.

 

[ihaveaquestion]

The tone plays a big part too. The crispness of a 36 or 37 B is very different. People that like a thuddy B would find it too modern sounding.

Definitely. I'm planning on buying a multiscale, but in my opinion a stiff string doesn't do the low notes justice. But maybe it is just because i use amps with very little power just at home

 

[socialleper]

Definitely. I'm planning on buying a multiscale, but in my opinion a stiff string doesn't do the low notes justice. But maybe it is just because i use amps with very little power just at home

They do, but they don't; if that makes sense? The lows change, but the articulation is dramatically improved. In stoner/doom genres where fuzz and flats are so popular, crisp attack isn't popular. It is more about old school tones. Most multi scales I have heard are decidedly not that.
Right tool for the job, right.
I think the next step will multi scale basses with slight more relaxed preamps. Something that can tame those highs just a little, but give the player a B that doesn't rattle all over the place.

 

[lucas303]

Please don't read anything into this, as I genuinely want to know, how many of you have tried out a multiscale (particularly for a decent amount of time)?

 

[ihaveaquestion]

Please don't read anything into this, as I genuinely want to know, how many of you have tried out a multiscale (particularly for a decent amount of time)?

It's not possible for me unless i order one

 

[cornfarmer]

here's my sh1t, more to come (probably)....

 

[Kriegs]

here's my sh1t, more to come (probably)....

Love the picture from Space 1999! I used to watch that on TV when I was in kindergarden... in 1975, lol.

 

[themarshall]

...Looks aside, I can't help but wonder if multiscale has been a bit pigeon-holed into the proggy/tech sort of stuff just because that's where it's been most visibly used. People who are into that stuff then get a multiscale, and the cycle continues.

I'm definitely on board the multiscale train, but then my opinion doesn't matter much at all. And I'm definitely all about the headless Ibanez! I'll probably be ordering one soon.

It is a chicken and the egg thing. However, a lot of multi scales have a particular look to them, which doesn't lend itself to someone who likes traditional instruments. If you made one that was basically a P but multi scale, I bet it wouldn't sell. Traditionalists would poo poo it (because they poo poo everything anyway) and early adopters would say it is boring...

Dingwall makes "Super" P & J models that are fairly traditional looking. You could configure a visually mellow keisel, and the flat black Ibbys are pretty low key. I don't think it has to be the either or it's often framed as.

Definitely. I'm planning on buying a multiscale, but in my opinion a stiff string doesn't do the low notes justice. But maybe it is just because i use amps with very little power just at home

They do, but they don't; if that makes sense? The lows change, but the articulation is dramatically improved. In stoner/doom genres where fuzz and flats are so popular, crisp attack isn't popular. It is more about old school tones. Most multi scales I have heard are decidedly not that.
Right tool for the job, right.
I think the next step will multi scale basses with slight more relaxed preamps. Something that can tame those highs just a little, but give the player a B that doesn't rattle all over the place.

...The tone plays a big part too. The crispness of a 36 or 37 B is very different. People that like a thuddy B would find it too modern sounding.

I think the shorter b-string lengths on the Ibanez and Kiesel models could mitigate the "modern" tonal aspect. Really, I think that dingwalls electronics and pickup locations are sort of configured to be anti-traditional sounding. A "more relaxed" preamp may just mean a truly flexible one. A good eq section should be able to tame the highs and dial back the lows,but in practice, that can be too fiddly. Or passive, the most relaxed of all. I'd love to try a passive multiscale with flats. Ideally, I'd snap my fingers and make one of my basses multiscale so I can see if it works for me.

 

[bassboysam]

here's my sh1t, more to come (probably)....

loved it.

 

[themarshall]

Hmm...
Novax Guitars: Parts/Accessories: Bass Necks

 

[BurtMacklinFBI]

They do, but they don't; if that makes sense? The lows change, but the articulation is dramatically improved. In stoner/doom genres where fuzz and flats are so popular, crisp attack isn't popular. It is more about old school tones. Most multi scales I have heard are decidedly not that.
Right tool for the job, right.

This is only somewhat on topic, but it’s something I’ve been thinking about; just how mandatory is that more muted attack in modern doom? I’m kind of new to it, I’m more steeped in Sabbath and heavier grungy stuff like early Soundgarden and Dirt-era Alice In Chains. If I turn up to audition for a doom band playing rounds with a pick, am I setting myself up for failure? I sound pretty heavy and dark, but I do still love a nice grindy attack. Something about how the edge of the pick catches on the round string windings just hits me.

 

[46and2]

This is only somewhat on topic, but it’s something I’ve been thinking about; just how mandatory is that more muted attack in modern doom? I’m kind of new to it, I’m more steeped in Sabbath and heavier grungy stuff like early Soundgarden and Dirt-era Alice In Chains. If I turn up to audition for a doom band playing rounds with a pick, am I setting myself up for failure? I sound pretty heavy and dark, but I do still love a nice grindy attack. Something about how the edge of the pick catches on the round string windings just hits me.

I, too, am feeling outshined, outshined, outshined. That said, I don't particularly like the "pick on the strings" sound for doom.

 

[bassboysam]

This is only somewhat on topic, but it’s something I’ve been thinking about; just how mandatory is that more muted attack in modern doom? I’m kind of new to it, I’m more steeped in Sabbath and heavier grungy stuff like early Soundgarden and Dirt-era Alice In Chains. If I turn up to audition for a doom band playing rounds with a pick, am I setting myself up for failure? I sound pretty heavy and dark, but I do still love a nice grindy attack. Something about how the edge of the pick catches on the round string windings just hits me.

its a very broad genre so there is nothing mandatory beyond denim vests

 

[ihaveaquestion]

If I turn up to audition for a doom band playing rounds with a pick, am I setting myself up for failure? I sound pretty heavy and dark, but I do still love a nice grindy attack. Something about how the edge of the pick catches on the round string windings just hits me.

Depends on what kind of stoner/doom band it is. For example, it is common to see pick users on stoner bands that have a very strong influence from post hardcore/rock/metal and grunge and vice versa

 

[br1qbat]

I think any approach can and has worked. I'm a fan of that early Geezer, dead strings on a p bass sound. Works for me, works for my band. But plenty of doomy bands use that grindy rounds with a pick tone too.

 

[hardtop]

They do, but they don't; if that makes sense? The lows change, but the articulation is dramatically improved. In stoner/doom genres where fuzz and flats are so popular, crisp attack isn't popular. It is more about old school tones. Most multi scales I have heard are decidedly not that.
Right tool for the job, right.
I think the next step will multi scale basses with slight more relaxed preamps. Something that can tame those highs just a little, but give the player a B that doesn't rattle all over the place.

In theory you should be able to reduce the gauge of the string to get a less tension... then it should behave the same as a heavier gauge string on a shorter scale. At that point, it would be just the pickups affecting the tone. I guess a 105 might naturally sound a bit brighter than a 135, but it should sound more like the rest of the strings across the board, and no brighter than and E on a standard tuned bass. I for one don't see any advantage of a dead, thuddy, tree-trunk string; which is why I like the longer scale basses, generally.

 

[lucas303]

And hey for the record, if any of you folks find yourself in the Denver area you'd likely be able to try out what I've got... currently a Dingwall NG2 and Ibanez SRMS805 (though I have every intention of getting that headless Ibanez multiscale too). The Ibanez even has chromes thanks to all the positive comments about them I've read in this thread.

 

[Novarocker]

its a very broad genre so there is nothing mandatory beyond denim vests

With patches, must have patches.