Skinkemann Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 (edited) Hey there! I've been playing bass now for well, 4 years, with breakes in between. Played with my band, rock/metal. Nothin really heavy. Now that we've changed our style, to more death metal, mix of death metal and trash. Atleast it requires some fast finger playing! So I've started to feel I need a new bass, the one I have now doens't really fit to the style, not the sound on it, nor the bass itselfs, doesn't feel comfortable(This could probably be better with new strings, mics etc. But seeing as I'm not really handy with the tools, and I'd like a new bass afterall. My current one is a [b][i]Yamaha RBX374[/i][/b], the sound it makes when I play fast and hard is just really bad. Really lose and it just gives an awful sound. Anyone got tips for a new one? All help and tips about other bass guitars is really appreciated Forgot to mention I and the guitarist play in drop c, how is that anyways, with playing a 5 string together with a guitar that plays drop c? or should I just stick to 4's? Edited November 22, 2009 by Skinkemann Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fraktal Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 (edited) Check out the Ibanez SR505. Thinnest neck in the market, perfect for fast playing, VERY light and comfortable (in fact lighter than many guitars), heavily contoured body, optimal balance, very versatile sound with Bartolini pickups and preamp, can do anything from old school wooly sounds to clanky-zingy-earthshattering metal, and if you like wood, it has the looks. I love mine! Edited August 17, 2009 by Fraktal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Heavier strings on the bass you have. Not convinced by the new BC Richs, my old Jap NJ sounds epic though. Actives seem to be the thing for the definition you are after. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudewheresmybass Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 i used to play death metal with a passive bc rich warlock. the sound was amazing through an old valve amp and two 15" cabs. recording wise, i used my old WEM dominator II combo breaking up nicely. there is no right or wrong instrument to use for any genre of music although i wouldn't turn up to a country or rockabilly show with one of my pointy deans! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geilerbass Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 BC Rich basses, in my limited experience of them, look very metal, but don't necessarily aid the fast style required for death metal. I agree with the suggestion of an Ibanez, but I also think that your current Yamaha should more than do the job. Sound-wise, I'd say you need something with plenty of bottom-end, but also a tight and clear middle frequency range, to allow the bass to cut through the wall of guitar noise that DM inevitably involves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayman Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 I'd just repeat what I've said before, you can play [i]any[/i] kind of music on [i]any[/i] model of bass. I've played slap funk on a Thunderbird, and heavy metal on a Marcus Miller jazz, it's all gravy. It's all a state of mind, if you need the bass to [i]look[/i] right for your band, which is a fair point, then playing a Hofner Beatle Bass might not be right for example. So a BC Rich or an excellent Ibanez 505 or similar would be great, just don't expect the new bass to transform your playing instantly. The funk's in the fingers, not the lump of wood they're holding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 Find a bass that plays comfortably, then worry about everything else after that. I play in a black metal/death metal band at the moment and am getting a jazz bass for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjb Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 (edited) Warwick! A second hand Corvette $$ 5 string should give you a huge growly sound for not too much money. The Ibanez SR505 is also a great call. You might also want to try a good old Fender P bass strung BEAD. That should give a really punchy tone. Edited August 20, 2009 by rjb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeftyJ Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 [quote name='Rayman' post='575104' date='Aug 20 2009, 10:05 AM']I'd just repeat what I've said before, you can play [i]any[/i] kind of music on [i]any[/i] model of bass. I've played slap funk on a Thunderbird, and heavy metal on a Marcus Miller jazz, it's all gravy.[/quote] The MM Jazz is an awesome Swiss Army Knife. I know a lot of bass players who use one, in a great variety of musical directions from funk to death metal. Great basses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHUFC BASS Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 Traben or Spector basses do the job admirably. Monster tone from the Traben, real high output and great grinding sound. Spectors too, very versitle and comfortable to play - personally I prefer the neck on a Spector to an Ibanez SR505. Thats just me though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayman Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 Spector's a good choice actually, BIG tone, very punchy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 [quote name='LeftyJ' post='575148' date='Aug 20 2009, 09:36 AM']The MM Jazz is an awesome Swiss Army Knife. I know a lot of bass players who use one, in a great variety of musical directions from funk to death metal. Great basses.[/quote] +1, MArtin MEdez is very present in a dense sounding band: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tait Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 [quote name='Fraktal' post='572488' date='Aug 18 2009, 12:56 AM']Check out the Ibanez SR505. Thinnest neck in the market, perfect for fast playing, VERY light and comfortable (in fact lighter than many guitars), heavily contoured body, optimal balance, very versatile sound with Bartolini pickups and preamp, can do anything from old school wooly sounds to clanky-zingy-earthshattering metal, and if you like wood, it has the looks. I love mine![/quote] +10000 definatly the ibanez SR505, absoutely fantastic bass, and with its really thin neck it shouldn't be a problem to play fast. [quote name='rjb' post='575140' date='Aug 20 2009, 09:31 AM']Warwick! A second hand Corvette $$ 5 string should give you a huge growly sound for not too much money. The Ibanez SR505 is also a great call. You might also want to try a good old Fender P bass strung BEAD. That should give a really punchy tone.[/quote] warwick corvette $$s are also lovely basses, but the necks on warwicks are a love/hate thing, you'll want to have a really good play on it first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimBobTTD Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 I've played a good few Ibanez basses - both four and five strings - and I've managed to get along with every one of them! I can't recommend them enough! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHUFC BASS Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 [quote name='Tait' post='575288' date='Aug 20 2009, 11:12 AM']+10000 definatly the ibanez SR505, absoutely fantastic bass, and with its really thin neck it shouldn't be a problem to play fast.[/quote] I always found that the Ibanez and mahogany basses in general lacked the real bottom end of ash and alder basses. Fantastc wood for guitars but for basses (metal basses anyway) I never really liked them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 this is a bit of a generalisation, and you may have to have a further fiddle, but try fiddling with your amp EQ. Back of the lows, and boost the low mids. This should give you plenty of bottom end but still let you cut through the guitar noise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tait Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 [quote name='WHUFC BASS' post='576588' date='Aug 21 2009, 12:07 PM']I always found that the Ibanez and mahogany basses in general lacked the real bottom end of ash and alder basses. Fantastc wood for guitars but for basses (metal basses anyway) I never really liked them.[/quote] you may be right, the SR series is more of an all rounder. it'd still be excellent for death metal IMO, but perhaps the ash bodied SRX series would work better? really, its about trying stuff out and seeing what works for you. theres been plenty of people recommend ibanez, but you might find that when it comes to it, you wont like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHUFC BASS Posted August 25, 2009 Share Posted August 25, 2009 [quote name='Tait' post='577028' date='Aug 21 2009, 07:29 PM']you may be right, the SR series is more of an all rounder. it'd still be excellent for death metal IMO, but perhaps the ash bodied SRX series would work better? really, its about trying stuff out and seeing what works for you. theres been plenty of people recommend ibanez, but you might find that when it comes to it, you wont like it.[/quote] The SRX definately sounds more suited to punk / hardcore and metal to be honest than the mahogany basses. Even my old thunderbird was a good bass but for the sound I wanted to get it just didn't have the bottom and mids of swamp ash and alder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veils Posted August 25, 2009 Share Posted August 25, 2009 I've used loads of different basses in metal bands. If you are looking for something which allows you to play at speed, I'd go for a jazz. I used a Sandberg Cali JM4 and loved it. If you are more concerned about cutting through with your tone, I'd recommend a stingray - probably something which many would disagree with, but they really do allow you to be heard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrenochrome Posted August 25, 2009 Share Posted August 25, 2009 The Yamaha should be able to do the job pretty well. You may want to try different strings, possibly heavier gauge if things are feeling loose and/or you're downtuning at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gust0o Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 Shockwave had either an NT or NJ Warlock 5 - would be worth messaging him for an opinion! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skinkemann Posted November 22, 2009 Author Share Posted November 22, 2009 Thanks for all the replies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted November 22, 2009 Share Posted November 22, 2009 [quote name='Skinkemann' post='662195' date='Nov 22 2009, 10:23 PM']Thanks for all the replies![/quote] Can't say that without telling us what you went for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skinkemann Posted November 23, 2009 Author Share Posted November 23, 2009 [quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='662220' date='Nov 22 2009, 11:49 PM']Can't say that without telling us what you went for.[/quote] I haven't really decided yet. But atleast I know more now than before I wrote the topic. Wondering if I'm just gonna go for heavier strings and try that out, as some people mentioned! So I'm not sure if I'm gonna buy myself a new bass yet, I tought a 5 string was needed when playing drop c. But what I see now, 4 strings to more than enough good. but I'm really thankfull for people taking their time to reply Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kongo Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 [quote name='Skinkemann' post='662519' date='Nov 23 2009, 11:34 AM']I tought a 5 string was needed when playing drop c. But what I see now, 4 strings to more than enough good.[/quote] It is for me! LOL I HATE detuning bass it doesn't feel right...you never get the right feel or tone out of the strings than when it was standard. So I play 5 and 6-string bass, tuned standard...My band plays drop-B (Fine, but different fingerings), C# standard (No open string there then) and drop G# (C# standard with lowest string dropped right down to G#)...and I still don't detune...Actually I do drop the lowest string too for one song because it's better for slap but that's as far as I go. Who needs to play the same as the guitarist in metal anyways? So for drop-C it's up to you but for drop-B 5-string is fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.gif.9ad672bb8b84505709f76b39c8c256ec.gif)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.