Rexel Matador

This has been my approach when it's a tricky rhythm. I had to learn to play and sing Outside Woman Blues and I started by going very slowly and figuring out which notes of the basslines the vocal syllables fell on, after a few goes it fell into place and I can do it without thinking now. So just start (very) slow and it will come.

It's already been said here but I would agree that humbuckers are not necessary for a good metal bass tone, despite most (modern) metal players using them - even at the more extreme end, though, Glen Benton of Deicide is now using a passive fender with P/J pickups - so maybe the tide is changing and you'd actually be putting yourself ahead of the curve! Regarding 4 or 5 strings, I personally prefer to play the low tuned stuff on a four-string, with thicker strings to accommodate the B E A D tuning. Tuning regular strings down that low will make them too loose, but Ernie Ball actually makes a 4-string set (Beefy Slinky) that are perfect for this purpose. Regarding how to learn, I would usually say go ahead with youtube and the huge amount of tabs available online - just start slow and it will come. I have found though, that metal bass tabs (and indeed youtube covers) can be inaccurate in a way that is specifically quite off-putting for the novice bassist: Because they can't hear any different, the tab author assumes the bass doubles the guitar part exactly. Take a song like Raining Blood by Slayer for example: hard enough to play on guitar - and I have seen tabs online that claim the bass part is basically exactly the same but an octave lower. Bearing in mind that Tom Araya also had to sing while playing this was enough to make me want to give up for ever. BUT, you can find the isolated bass track on youtube and find that he is actually doing something a lot simpler, holding down the low end while the guitars do the fancy stuff. My point being, don't get disheartened thinking you have to be a superfast shredder, playing everything the guitarist plays with the added encumbrance of larger strings, string spacing, neck length. Metal bass is about playing in time, solidly and gluing the frenetic drums and guitars together. Just my thoughts - all totally subjective of course.

Thanks! I've bought loads from Reid Timber over the years - he's a good dude. I'll have a look into those laminates 👍

Where are you getting the fancy wood? I'd love to try making a neck like that

Thanks all - I think I'll try a boost or eq pedal. I'm not very confident with the volume control and as for it all being the fingers, I'm not Andy Fraser - it's all I can do to muddle through it playing something that sounds passable! I'm certainly not trying to emulate the tone - I play a very un-Free Fender P.

Hi all, my covers band does Mr Big by Free, and people keep telling me the bass needs to come up in the solo. I think just turning up will cause it to be boomy and overpowering, so I think I just need to boost certain frequencies to cut through - does that sound right? Do I need an eq pedal on which I just boost certain bands? It's not something I've ever had to worry about before so was just wondering what others do in this situation - any advice appreciated!

Machine Gun Kelly - Aerials: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pm-ThTebKZw&ab_channel=TheHowardSternShow Puddle of Mudd - About a Girl: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aT50SO-rWk&ab_channel=JJKGProduction's [spunge] - Santeria: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHOhSfeLbK8&ab_channel=skahouse

The whole cover band, two sets a night thing is new to me - first gig last night. Very strange experience, The stage was more of a mezzanine - we were about 10 feet above the pub floor so most people couldn't see the drummer (who also sings lead on half the songs, so not ideal!) On the other hand, there was giant screen showing us to the groundlings as we played, Glastonbury style. It was right in my eyeline and I had to remember not to look at it as it had about a half second delay and would really throw me off! The crowd didn't seem that interested, and the venue could have easily got away with the piped music that played between our sets for the entire night - and with that in mind, I'm very grateful and impressed that they go out of their way and spend money to put bands on.

There't a thread on talkbass about this exact issue - due to the pole pieces not being grounded apparently: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/pickups-buzzing-when-touching-the-pole-pieces.1425595/#:~:text=That's perfectly normal.,the pickups don't buzz. The third post down contains a link to another thread that explains how to fix it: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/pole-piece-hum-a-grounding-tutorial.1229441/

Maybe Ibanez? You might find something used in that price range.

I've always wondered about those bridges too, so I'd also be keen to hear your thoughts. That bass looks great by the way - looking forward to seeing what this next one looks like!

I just this moment logged in to ask if anyone could identify this bass that my friend says he bought a while back for £10, and stumbled across this thread. Similar unbranded headstock, same unusual truss rod cover and two single coil configuration - what are the chances?

I'm never working with Zebrano again. The plane just rips it up. Thankfully it's a very thick top so I might be able to sand it down to something usable. Pics to follow when/if I get anywhere with it!

Started a new build today. The body is a poplar and I stuck a thin piece of mahogany with walnut veneer either side between the two pieces just for fun. I have a zebrano top too but this wood is actually quite nice looking so I might leave it as it is, maybe with a stain - I haven't used one for a while. This is going to be my first attempt at a set neck - the shape seems to lend itself to it. 24 frets, passive, J pickups (I'm undecided on exactly which ones as yet). I've made a few basses now, so I'm hoping if I go slow and really pay attention, I might even be able to sell this one. But if not, I'll be happy to keep it of course!

Ok ok, it's not as bad as all that. I've just got frustrated over the years by band members, particularly drummers, who don't seem to be interested in paying a little more attention to detail to get everything tightened up and doing the material justice.

One the one hand, yes, it comes across as rude, but I totally get it. The amount of musicians out there who can't follow instructions/process the most basic requests/suggestions has led them to this (and led me to resign myself to the life of a perpetual bedroom warrior). EDIT: The more I think about it, surely it would have made more sense to NOT reiterate the instruction. Instead of filtering out those who don't listen, they've given them a free pass. Now they're going to hire someone who needs everything explained to them twice, in all caps.

Thanks! These EMGs are loads of fun - I assumed I'd just be chugging away on the bridge pickup but since I finished it I've been doing nothing but jamming Sleep-esque riffs on the neck one with the tone rolled off - it sounds immense I think little Barry Baritone and his big sister Betty BEAD are going to be a sludgy, doomy match made in hell 🤘

I'm very interested to see how this turns out - I want to try something other than oil on my next build - I'm too clumsy and need something a little more hard wearing

Done - now I can get back to building basses as god intended. I find the final set up work quite tedious but I powered through and it plays very nicely. The lignum vitae nut seems to be doing the job fine. It might wear out, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. A few minor issues persist - most notably the horrendous miscalculation around the placement of the tuners and logo! The string pull is just about adequately straight, but the logo sitting right under the massive low B string is unforgivable! There was a bit of ground buzz when playing through my laptop interface which I wouldn't expect from EMGs, but I soldered the switch and jack myself so it might be something to do with that. I'll have another bash at it at some point. The front strap pin should either be higher up of in the back of the body. I thought the positioning might help with balance a bit (and I think it does), but the strap gets in the way a bit there. This is how we learn though, right? Other than that, I'm very happy with it.

I know this isn't quite what you're after, but could this be an option? It has the right number of holes, at the very least... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/194264507947?hash=item2d3b11262b:g:CBgAAOxy4YdTTZyL

Fret dressing today, then, if time permits, wiring. Then it just needs a nut and it's good to go!

I thought I was really just having a little rant, but all the replies to this thread have been really insightful, thanks everyone!

I can't help but respect the misplaced ingenuity, though

With a headstock that could take your eye out

I genuinely think they had a truckload of Ellefson sig bodies, suddenly realised they're going to sell a hell of a lot less of them now he's no longer in Megadeth, and panicked!