What bass for a pick player? (stingray like tone)

[dunce180]

Ok, currently I have a p bass, recently ive been looking at some different basses. I love my p bass, but I want another bass to try to get a more experimental tone so to speak. I have my eye on musicman basses at the moment. I really like their tone, but it seems a stingray with a pick doesnt have much of a punch as I expected. Can a sterling or bongo get more punch with a pick, or is there a differnt brand of basses I should be looking into? I play mainly rock, punk, metal stuff like Underoath, Emery, Senses Fail, Tool, Less than jake, stuff like that. Again, I love the stingray tone alone, but with two distorted guitars my bass seems to get lost, my band is very bass emphased, so to speak, so cutting through is a must.

Any suggestions would really be killer, thnx!

 

[Flabby1]

rickenbacker, that WILL cut thru

 

[DanielleMuscato]

Not enough punch with a Stingray? That's a tall order.... maybe turn up?

I'd suggest trying out a Bongo, but a P-bass or a Stingray really ought to have plenty of punch if your technique and EQs are right. Maybe try a heavier pick?...

 

[jhintx]

A Modulus bass sounds awesome with a pick.

 

[FaithNoMan]

Play the bass with the nickname that rhymes with "pick".

 

[DanielleMuscato]

Oh yeah, +1 to Modulus! How could I have forgotten?

 

[NKUSigEp]

I'll second the Rick votes...but seriously - not getting that with a Stingray or a P? I'd suggest messing with your EQ first. If you're killing your midrange then NOTHING is going to cut through - that's where most of your punch, attack, volume, etc. is. If that still doesn't work, my second suggestion is try using more cabinets and if that still doesn't work, quit bass and take up basket-weaving.

 

[southshoreconor]

yeah, what are the settings on your amp? i've seen most of those bands you listed and a lot of them use either a P or a stingray.

 

[Figjam]

What amp setup are you using?


also boost your mids

 

[jim primate]

try some stainless steel strings with your tone dimed.

 

[smakbass]

I like the pick tones on the G and L basses as well,,,,but a P should sound great with a pick generally.

 

[Infernal Affair]

If you believe that you're cutting through with a pick on a Precision but not a Stingray then something's wrong here. IMHO Precisions are notorious for not cutting through. They're better "sit well in the mix" type of basses. A Stingray should cut through better than a P. Just EQ for it.

 

[Mr_Sore_Fingerz]

Well stingrays are passive full-range pickups with active EQ so it should be cutting far better than the P-bass.


Perhaps some different pickups or a change of strings might help too...try some stainless steels and see if that doesn't help, it's cheaper than new pickups lol.

 

[dewbass4]

Use a heavy pick at least a .96.
Pick closer to the bridge.
Boost the mids on your amp. If you have a graphic EQ it should look lke a frown , run the bass wide open.
Put fresh SS round wound string on you P-bass.

You should be fine.

 

[mikeswals]

Perhaps you need a better amp...
A Ray should easily cut through, especially if your P does.
I've never had a problem, and I'm a finger player!

 

[Siegy]

boost your mids, boost your mids, boost your mids.

I had a similar problem.

until i boosted my mids.

now it sounds nice.

I'm using a .6mm pick with a P and pick between the pickguard and bridge. Make sure your volume and tone are full.

add some lows and boost the mids and you should be fine.

 

[saladin]

Put a Dimarzio Model P in your P-bass. It will do the trick!!!!!

 

[SuperSnake2012]

I'll just repeat what's already been said... you will not cut through with cut mids. It may sound good while playing alone at home, but in a band mix, the mids are where it's at. Boost some of the low-mid and mid frequencies and you'll cut through like a hot knife through butter

As for basses, try a Sterling, those have a great modern tone which sounds great with a pick. The MM Bongo also has an insane tone which I am GASing for really badly.

 

[pschelfh]

These are my weapons to fight my loud guitarists (Marshall and Mesa) :

Ibanez ATK / Musicman Sub (both active)
Pick : 1mm
Hartke HA5500 (flat eq) + VX810

Volume of the amp is between 2 and 3 and that's enough to cut through.

I do have a strange playing style. I only play upstrokes (very hard) which also adds to my volume.

Peter.

 

[DanielleMuscato]

Only upstrokes... that's weirding me out just thinking about it. I'll have to try that.