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Suggested Basses for Metal Subgenres
- Thread starter Legattabass
- Start date
Forget about sub-genres! Not many people know/care what they mean - and once you get out onto the furthest branches of the metal family tree, there aren't really any hard and fast rules about gear. Chances are, the guys playing anarcho-vegan-crust-black-grind-doom are just using whatever gear they can afford that doesn't break.*
*also, as a rule of thumb, these kinds of bands don't usually have a lot of money, and would likely laugh in your face if you asked them.
It helps if you just think of it as music, not "metal" - the two things aren't separate (whatever some folks may say!).
Next, think what qualities you want your music to have.
Do a search for those words in the Basses, Amps, Pickups, Strings sub-forums. This should give you an idea of the qualities of different types of gear, and help you narrow down your search.
Don't be afraid to try something new. Metal should mean creative freedom, not just trying to sound like XXXXX-band-who-are-popular-right-now. (A mate of mine once turned to me at a gig with a confused expression, and said, "Why would you want to make music that's already been done?")
...I mean this in the spirit of fun, but it's also based my experience of 12 yrs or so doing metal gigs
*also, as a rule of thumb, these kinds of bands don't usually have a lot of money, and would likely laugh in your face if you asked them.
It helps if you just think of it as music, not "metal" - the two things aren't separate (whatever some folks may say!).
Next, think what qualities you want your music to have.
Do a search for those words in the Basses, Amps, Pickups, Strings sub-forums. This should give you an idea of the qualities of different types of gear, and help you narrow down your search.
Don't be afraid to try something new. Metal should mean creative freedom, not just trying to sound like XXXXX-band-who-are-popular-right-now. (A mate of mine once turned to me at a gig with a confused expression, and said, "Why would you want to make music that's already been done?")
...I mean this in the spirit of fun, but it's also based my experience of 12 yrs or so doing metal gigs
it's not just the "best bass for metal" threads... it's any "Best Bass for ...." thread
Can't you just look at the gear the other guys use in that genre and use that as a basis to pick a bass.
I'm sure there is someone out there in each of those genre's that play every kind of bass there is... it's personal preference... what works for someone else might not work for you.
it's personal preference...
Myself ... I don't have a lot of expendable income... so i play whatever i can afford and works ... a Friggin Dean Zone XM ... don't you dare get into my face and tell me i can't play metal, rock, country, blues, jazz, etc ... just cause i have a crappy bass ... my bass is the best bass for whatever I play.
I think others share my sentiment ... and the reason for the mocking... just pick one and play it...
Can't you just look at the gear the other guys use in that genre and use that as a basis to pick a bass.
I'm sure there is someone out there in each of those genre's that play every kind of bass there is... it's personal preference... what works for someone else might not work for you.
it's personal preference...
Myself ... I don't have a lot of expendable income... so i play whatever i can afford and works ... a Friggin Dean Zone XM ... don't you dare get into my face and tell me i can't play metal, rock, country, blues, jazz, etc ... just cause i have a crappy bass ... my bass is the best bass for whatever I play.
I think others share my sentiment ... and the reason for the mocking... just pick one and play it...
Such kind of question, if taken seriously, will most probably lead to the "what is TRU metal". As a grown-up person, I would say what the hack, why should I even waiste my time on such discussion. It goes to nowhere, there's no "right" answers, and all there is to be said is "XXX plays YYY", "ZZZ feels good in the pocket" or, the worst kind, "I play NNN". The first one will only tell who knows more bands/bassists; the second will show the commentor as a cautious person who is not sure if his ,02 are relevant and/or should be taken into consideration; the lettar quite obviously substitutes the topic in question with the topic of length of penis of the given individual.
However, the child inside wants to drop his 2 roubles so why not, it's only time
So many subgenres listed will, as I said, lead to the question what band/bassist/album should be taken as measure. Death metal? Why, Arch Enemy uses a 4 string detuned Ibanez Iceman while Carcass used Aria Pro (and we know Arch Enemy started as a commercial project based on the late Carcass, don't we?). All of Children of Bodom used Jackson guitars and basses, but then all of them got endorsement from ESP so why bother; Death (the band) was PLENTY of bassists, so who do we care for? Probably Steve Di (green fretless ESP F) and Terry Butler (mostly P-bass); they did use an Alembic in 1993 too. Paul of Cannibal Corpse used an Ibanez SR for an instance, thinks a Modulus Q is a best bass to tour with, considers US Spectors to be the best basses ever but they cost too much, so a Czech Spector is a go-to bass. And so on and on and on, leading to the point that basses that make the weather in the given genre sometimes weren't even picked by due to musical preferences but to circumstances. To say nothing of new bassist in a band who is most likely to take his fav rather than copy the previous member of the band.
P.S. I remember watching a vid of Metallica auditioning guys to substitute Jason. Somebody (Trujillo?) enters
a room filled with all kinds of basses and guitars and is told Jason had taken his basses with him; he is then asked what kind of bass he would like to try out. I mean, most guys that came there were professionals; Metallica were right to give the an opportunity to choose from a selection, and, mind you, Jason's basses were gone by that time. Also, Metallica were going through this for the second time; they didn't want a second Cliff Burton, nor a second Jason Newsted, just someone that would kick ass and fill the pocket.
Speaking of Newsted, he's one picky son of a b. Alembic, Sadowsky, Spector, Wal, Zon, Rickenbacker, '58 P-bass, - that's not a complete list of what he used, and that's for one band.
However, the child inside wants to drop his 2 roubles so why not, it's only time
So many subgenres listed will, as I said, lead to the question what band/bassist/album should be taken as measure. Death metal? Why, Arch Enemy uses a 4 string detuned Ibanez Iceman while Carcass used Aria Pro (and we know Arch Enemy started as a commercial project based on the late Carcass, don't we?). All of Children of Bodom used Jackson guitars and basses, but then all of them got endorsement from ESP so why bother; Death (the band) was PLENTY of bassists, so who do we care for? Probably Steve Di (green fretless ESP F) and Terry Butler (mostly P-bass); they did use an Alembic in 1993 too. Paul of Cannibal Corpse used an Ibanez SR for an instance, thinks a Modulus Q is a best bass to tour with, considers US Spectors to be the best basses ever but they cost too much, so a Czech Spector is a go-to bass. And so on and on and on, leading to the point that basses that make the weather in the given genre sometimes weren't even picked by due to musical preferences but to circumstances. To say nothing of new bassist in a band who is most likely to take his fav rather than copy the previous member of the band.
P.S. I remember watching a vid of Metallica auditioning guys to substitute Jason. Somebody (Trujillo?) enters
a room filled with all kinds of basses and guitars and is told Jason had taken his basses with him; he is then asked what kind of bass he would like to try out. I mean, most guys that came there were professionals; Metallica were right to give the an opportunity to choose from a selection, and, mind you, Jason's basses were gone by that time. Also, Metallica were going through this for the second time; they didn't want a second Cliff Burton, nor a second Jason Newsted, just someone that would kick ass and fill the pocket.
Speaking of Newsted, he's one picky son of a b. Alembic, Sadowsky, Spector, Wal, Zon, Rickenbacker, '58 P-bass, - that's not a complete list of what he used, and that's for one band.
Here's what I think.
Death Metal: BC Rich, Modulus, Warwick, Peavey...
Doom Metal: Fender American Standard Precision, Gibson RD Artist...
Drone Metal: Fender American Standard Precision, Gibson RD Artist...
Grindcore: Don't listen to much Grindcore
Metalcore: Ibanez SR series, Warwicks, Peavey...
Melodic Death Metal: BC Rich, Modulus, Warwick, Peavey...
Nu Metal: Don't listen to Nu Metal
Post Metal: Fender American Standard Precision, Gibson RD Artist...
Prog Metal: Modulus, Warwick, Peavey...
Sludge Metal: Fender American Standard Precision, Gibson RD Artist...
Stoner Metal: Fender American Standard Precision, Gibson RD Artist...
Thrash Metal: Warwick, Peavey, ESP, BC Rich...
It's whatever you like, sounds good to you.
Death Metal: BC Rich, Modulus, Warwick, Peavey...
Doom Metal: Fender American Standard Precision, Gibson RD Artist...
Drone Metal: Fender American Standard Precision, Gibson RD Artist...
Grindcore: Don't listen to much Grindcore
Metalcore: Ibanez SR series, Warwicks, Peavey...
Melodic Death Metal: BC Rich, Modulus, Warwick, Peavey...
Nu Metal: Don't listen to Nu Metal
Post Metal: Fender American Standard Precision, Gibson RD Artist...
Prog Metal: Modulus, Warwick, Peavey...
Sludge Metal: Fender American Standard Precision, Gibson RD Artist...
Stoner Metal: Fender American Standard Precision, Gibson RD Artist...
Thrash Metal: Warwick, Peavey, ESP, BC Rich...
It's whatever you like, sounds good to you.
