Suggested Basses for Metal Subgenres

[Legattabass]

Wait a minute... This post makes it sound like you were being serious! But you already acknowledged that there was no way it could be anything but a joke. Plus, the people posting "the black one" or "the pointy one" were clearly just goofing on you because you asked people not to give those answers.

If you were serious with the first post, and serious in your response to the response posts... do you even have a sense of humor?

Check my responses. I play along well enough.

 

[bongomania]

OK, so... your indignant "serious" responses were also humor. I guess my irony meter needs coffee.

 

[Legattabass]

OK, so... your indignant "serious" responses were also humor. I guess my irony meter needs coffee.

You didn't like my jazz pickups on machine gun bass comment?

Truthfully, it's a little of both indignance and humor. I mean, I can understand why this type of thread is a joke. And it can be funny. But at the same time, I do come to TB to get answers to questions regarding playing, gear, etc. Just because it's become a funny meme, doesn't mean actual questions don't persist.

 

[shadow_FIX]

The thread is still funny But rather than copy/paste EVERYTHING I would just blanket it and say I'd play all those metal styles with the aforementioned sparkly Stingray!

 

[Old Joe]

Threads like this one is why Metal is not taken seriously here. Since when do Metal players care about the opinions of others. I've been away from music for too long...

 

[Legattabass]

Threads like this one is why Metal is not taken seriously here. Since when do Metal players care about the opinions of others. I've been away from music for too long...

The same could be said of punk

 

[chris lykins]

Sludge and Stoner: Rick 4001, Gibson Grabber, Gibson EB 0
Nu Metal: Agree with Ibby SR

 

[Ric5]

Howdy TB. Today, on a sunny spring Friday, I logged on to my favorite forum in the whole wide world and saw another "best bass for metal" thread, doomed to obscurity because it has become such a laughable forum meme. But I can't help but think that it's not the question itself which is laughable (though the posts and their posters often are!) but the assumption that out there, somewhere, there is a single suitable bass for the whole genre.

Metal, like most genres, is too subdivided and complex for one bass. So, how about the best basses for its subgenres?

In this thread, just copy-paste some of my categories below (feel free to add more, I'm starting small) and post what you think the best bass for that sub-genre is, and then, most importantly, post WHY below it. It is certainly worthwhile to include comments about how a specifc bass functions with a specific amp, pedal or playing style.

Death Metal:

Doom Metal:

Drone Metal:

Grindcore:

Metalcore:

Melodic Death Metal:

Nu Metal:

Post Metal:

Prog Metal:

Sludge Metal:

Stoner Metal:

Thrash Metal:

Note: Trolls are funny and all, but there are half a dozen other, less complex "bass for metal" threads that deserve your ... clever ... contributions. Contributions like "anything in black", the picture of the toilet seat bass, star-shaped basses, the description "pointy" and so forth. You certainly don't have to waste your valuable time here if the thread's proposed content doesn't interest you

This question has become a cliche. In other words it has been over-asked and the comments have been over done. It will be hard to get a straight answer.

Personally I believe that a Rickenbacker is really good bass for metal and punk. A p-bass works for almost anything.

But probably the over-all best bass for metal would be a 5 string ibanez.

 

[Ric5]

Threads like this one is why Metal is not taken seriously here. Since when do Metal players care about the opinions of others. I've been away from music for too long...

+1 ... yep grow a pair and go get the bass that YOU like and make it work.

Or get a bass like the guy plays in your favorite band.

 

[Legattabass]

This question has become a cliche. In other words it has been over-asked and the comments have been over done. It will be hard to get a straight answer.

Personally I believe that a Rickenbacker is really good bass for metal and punk. A p-bass works for almost anything.

But probably the over-all best bass for metal would be a 5 string ibanez.

I have a 5 string Ibanez, the SR505, and while it'd work for some of metal, it certainly wouldn't work for all.

Rickenbackers are often used in Doom and stoner (Electric wizard, for example), and the P bass is definitely used in stoner (Bongzilla, Weedeater). So right on.

 

[Ric5]

Look at this link ... McCartney makes a Hofner with flatwound strings work for metal.

YouTube - ‪Paul McCartney - Helter Skelter‬‏

Somebody should do that song in drop C!!!

 

[Legattabass]

Helter Skelter was sort of a prototype for metal. I'm not sure it'd qualify by today's standards lol

 

[Black Bart]

I would try a MusicMan Stingray SLO Special 4 or 5 HH for all the above. Tone-wise it's pretty versatile, can sound quite aggressive and the SLO neck has a slimmer profile (Sterling) that might help with those 32nd notes.

 

[Selta]

Death Metal: EBMM Sterling 5 HH

Doom Metal: EBMM Sterling 5 HH

Drone Metal: EBMM Sterling 5 HH

Grindcore: EBMM Sterling 5 HH

Metalcore: EBMM Sterling 5 HH

Melodic Death Metal: EBMM Sterling 5 HH

Nu Metal: EBMM Sterling 5 HH

Post Metal: EBMM Sterling 5 HH

Prog Metal: EBMM Sterling 5 HH

Sludge Metal: EBMM Sterling 5 HH

Stoner Metal: EBMM Sterling 5 HH

Thrash Metal: EBMM Sterling 5 HH

 

[ThatBassistDude]

Here goes it!
Death Metal: Black P bass, Chrome pickguard, strung with flats.

Doom Metal: Burst P bass, Black pickguard, strung with flats.

Drone Metal: White P bass, Black pickguard, strung with flats.

Grindcore: Black P bass, Chrome pickguard, strung with flats.

Metalcore: Black P bass, white pickguard, covered with stickers, strung with flats

Melodic Death Metal: Flat Black P bass, no pickguard, jazz pickup in bridge position, strung with flats

Nu Metal: Metallic Blue P bass, no pickguard, jazz pickup in bridge position, strung with flats

Too tired of copying and pasting to finish...... I guess I give up too easy.

Post Metal:

Prog Metal:

Sludge Metal:

Stoner Metal:

Thrash Metal:

+1
a p-bass can fit every genera.

 

[KingCrimson]

You know as stupid as this question is it is valid to a certain degree.


I never liked a pbass in metal, I LOVE Pbasses, but gasp, i dont think they are versatile enough unless you REALLY know your amp. P-basses with the amount of distortion that the guitars put on wont give as much definition as preferred.

Its really personal preference. In my band i use a bass that has PJ with a active preamp. The thing cuts through the mix no problem and has a nice growl to boot.

EMGs are great for the genre, they are HOT and really sit in the mix well and can cut without sounding too thin.

Rickenbackers sound freaking GREAT for it too, they distort nicely and you can get a beefy growly midrange tone out of these.

Spector and Warwick are great as well.

I dont particularly like Fenders for metal, i love em for everything else, but i find i want the bass to be on STEROIDS so it can cut well. Besides Ricks, my experience with passive basses in metal just didn't cut it.

Musicman as well is another great choice.


I used to play an Ibanez BTB and it had an decent tone for metal as well, super versatile. Never quite liked the SR but i see them used a lot.

I'm not really one for "Metal" instruments as i find a lot of them cheesy. But there are certain instruments better for the job then others.

For me i play my upright and soon to have fender for jazz, blues, funk etc...

And my signature excalibre (old 80s bass) for metal as it has an AMAZING midrange.

The problem with a lot of these threads is you get a lot of people who havent played much metal in a real situation or at all giving their opinions. If you haven't played in a band or in a live situation, you WILL learn that its not such an easy answer. It is an easy answer, because there are a lot of options, but its not as easy as DURHH FENDER JAZZ BASS!!!

Depends on the players preference, and to me i like low-midrange PUNCH, which not ALL basses will do.

 

[Flag2Flag]

+1 for the Warwicks. just added a Buzzard to my collection. Can't wait for its arrival. It's angular, pointy, and active. +3!!

 

[Legattabass]

You know as stupid as this question is it is valid to a certain degree.


I never liked a pbass in metal, I LOVE Pbasses, but gasp, i dont think they are versatile enough unless you REALLY know your amp. P-basses with the amount of distortion that the guitars put on wont give as much definition as preferred.

Its really personal preference. In my band i use a bass that has PJ with a active preamp. The thing cuts through the mix no problem and has a nice growl to boot.

EMGs are great for the genre, they are HOT and really sit in the mix well and can cut without sounding too thin.

Rickenbackers sound freaking GREAT for it too, they distort nicely and you can get a beefy growly midrange tone out of these.

Spector and Warwick are great as well.

I dont particularly like Fenders for metal, i love em for everything else, but i find i want the bass to be on STEROIDS so it can cut well. Besides Ricks, my experience with passive basses in metal just didn't cut it.

Musicman as well is another great choice.


I used to play an Ibanez BTB and it had an decent tone for metal as well, super versatile. Never quite liked the SR but i see them used a lot.

I'm not really one for "Metal" instruments as i find a lot of them cheesy. But there are certain instruments better for the job then others.

For me i play my upright and soon to have fender for jazz, blues, funk etc...

And my signature excalibre (old 80s bass) for metal as it has an AMAZING midrange.

The problem with a lot of these threads is you get a lot of people who havent played much metal in a real situation or at all giving their opinions. If you haven't played in a band or in a live situation, you WILL learn that its not such an easy answer. It is an easy answer, because there are a lot of options, but its not as easy as DURHH FENDER JAZZ BASS!!!

Depends on the players preference, and to me i like low-midrange PUNCH, which not ALL basses will do.

Thank you. You are a gentleman and a scholar.

 

[NKBassman]

... Each and every individual band has specific requirements and demands upon players and their gear. ...

Fixed.

 

[Ric5]

Death Metal: EBMM Sterling 5 HH

Doom Metal: EBMM Sterling 5 HH

Drone Metal: EBMM Sterling 5 HH

Grindcore: EBMM Sterling 5 HH

Metalcore: EBMM Sterling 5 HH

Melodic Death Metal: EBMM Sterling 5 HH

Nu Metal: EBMM Sterling 5 HH

Post Metal: EBMM Sterling 5 HH

Prog Metal: EBMM Sterling 5 HH

Sludge Metal: EBMM Sterling 5 HH

Stoner Metal: EBMM Sterling 5 HH

Thrash Metal: EBMM Sterling 5 HH

Or a stingray 5 string HH would work as welll ... and it should be black with a black pickguard and a maple neck.