Members phaeton Posted November 3, 2007 Members Posted November 3, 2007 For metal guitar sounds, it's all about hot bridge humbuckers, double-locking whoopie bars and scooping the mids out of cascading high gain stages. For metal bass guitar sounds, what are the basic requirements? Certain pickups, active pickups? Certain strings, amps, models of bass? I'm looking at a Fender Precision Deluxe (Passive P and J pickups on a P-body with active boost/eq). Looks like it will be versatile as hell, but will it be too 'round' to do metal? Is there a bass that will do everything? Thanks.
Members rummy Posted November 3, 2007 Members Posted November 3, 2007 My idea of metal is weaker alnico humbuckers on a LP with boosted mids out of a british tube head. Anyways, the P will do metal well. Many basses do metal well. You just have to pick the right amp and head to make the right "metal" sound you're after.
Members phaeton Posted November 3, 2007 Author Members Posted November 3, 2007 My idea of metal is weaker alnico humbuckers on a LP with boosted mids out of a british tube head. Anyways, the P will do metal well. Many basses do metal well. You just have to pick the right amp and head to make the right "metal" sound you're after. This will make it easier than most for the P, as the right 'metal' sound I'm after is Geezer + Harris. But for those Dave Ellefson moments, I'm at a loss. I have a feeling that Ellefson's setup is extreme metal (good) but also a one-trick pony (very bad). Any idea what amp Harris played?
Members REMUS Posted November 3, 2007 Members Posted November 3, 2007 I personally wouldn't use anything with a Jazz pup for intense metal, usually gets lost in the mix alot easier than a P pup or a humbucker for example. what sort of music are you hoping to play? in terms of a bass that will do everything, a Stingray does that quite well as does a good quality P bass.
Members rummy Posted November 3, 2007 Members Posted November 3, 2007 I think he used Hiwatt. I'm not too certain on that.
Members Super_Donut_Man Posted November 3, 2007 Members Posted November 3, 2007 For metal guitar sounds, it's all about hot bridge humbuckers, double-locking whoopie bars and scooping the mids out of cascading high gain stages. For metal bass guitar sounds, what are the basic requirements? One word... Valnott
Members bassdudeguy Posted November 3, 2007 Members Posted November 3, 2007 One word... Valnott http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WcsV7hQ1V4 haha:thu:
Members The Fury Posted November 3, 2007 Members Posted November 3, 2007 I am a firm believer that a P-bass can do anything.metal to brain surgery, ANYTHING
Members Rippin' Robin Posted November 3, 2007 Members Posted November 3, 2007 The first rule about metal bass tones is that there are no rules about metal bass tones.
Members Crescent Seven Posted November 3, 2007 Members Posted November 3, 2007 I played metal for years with a P bass. Don't scoop your mids; drop the lowest bass out a little bit, and add some high mids and highs. That helps eliminate some of the "boom" associated with a Precision. New strings help alot, also. My favorite basses for that grinding metal tone are Spectors and Stingrays.C7
Members Adrenochrome Posted November 3, 2007 Members Posted November 3, 2007 I've heard most styles of bass work well for most styles of metal.IMO Geezer and Steve's classic tones are largely a result of their techniques, the setups on their basses and little to do with their amps. Both do/have used heavy guage strings which seem to impart slightly more defined low notes than on a typical muddy P. Steve has used a QP SD pickup for a while which I believe has an extended frequency range compared to a stock pup (this is just what I've read so may not be 100% accurate).I actually don't like many muddy P tones, but Steve's is one I've liked for 25 years or so!
Members Mytola Posted November 3, 2007 Members Posted November 3, 2007 I would suggest using a P, with an agressive pickup like the QP SD or the DiMarzio Willpower. Fresh strings is also good. Steve Harris actually uses flatwounds. He changes them all the time to keep 'em fresh though.
Members Undead Sycip Posted November 3, 2007 Members Posted November 3, 2007 Tones be damned, the bass has to be pointy. Dean or BC Rich FTW.
Members Roguetitan Posted November 3, 2007 Members Posted November 3, 2007 it dont matter what bass you use, it is all about the amp... Mesa Titan V12 = Mad Metal Tone!
Members FreestyleIntruder Posted November 3, 2007 Members Posted November 3, 2007 For metal bass guitar sounds, what are the basic requirements? A....a bass
Members seraphim7s Posted November 3, 2007 Members Posted November 3, 2007 I see a lot of metal'eads playing Spectors. And they come in 'metally' colours. Also Warwicks. Warwick have some seriously f'ed up designs - very metal.
Members der oxenrig Posted November 3, 2007 Members Posted November 3, 2007 I've heard most styles of bass work well for most styles of metal. IMO Geezer and Steve's classic tones are largely a result of their techniques, the setups on their basses and little to do with their amps. Both do/have used heavy guage strings which seem to impart slightly more defined low notes than on a typical muddy P. Steve has used a QP SD pickup for a while which I believe has an extended frequency range compared to a stock pup (this is just what I've read so may not be 100% accurate). I actually don't like many muddy P tones, but Steve's is one I've liked for 25 years or so! Since when are P-basses "muddy?"
Members seraphim7s Posted November 3, 2007 Members Posted November 3, 2007 Since when are P-basses "muddy?" Gibby basses are typically described as muddy sounding (specially the EB0, EB3 etc.) ... but not P-basses. What's he on about?
Members guitargod0dmw Posted November 3, 2007 Members Posted November 3, 2007 My favorite basses for that grinding metal tone are Spectors and Stingrays.C7 Agreed. I'll throw in a little more broad recommendation...something with a humbucker. I prefer my Stingray's over anything for metal...
Members L-1329 Posted November 3, 2007 Members Posted November 3, 2007 Gibby basses are typically described as muddy sounding (specially the EB0, EB3 etc.) ... but not P-basses. What's he on about? There are tons of Gibby's with vastly different tones, most of which definitly NOT muddy, so what are you on about?
Members L-1329 Posted November 3, 2007 Members Posted November 3, 2007 I'll throw in this, it doesn't matter what kind of bass you play with 'metal' anymore. If' you're talking about a couple guitarists, massive tube heads cranked through a 412 or two each, mega scooped super high gain boomy low end LOUD tones then the bass makes no difference at all. Play what ever you want, because it won't matter. But, if you have actual musicians playing heavy music, who know how to set their tones for the band mix and not the guitard bedroom hero dream tone, then you can find a bass that fits into the space best. But we all know how rare that would be...
Members FloydianAnimal Posted November 3, 2007 Members Posted November 3, 2007 Honestly, I've seen all kinds of basses played for metal. I've seen a guy who sounds killer in an Ozzy and Metallica tribute band, and he uses a GK amplifier and some vintage reissue Jazz bass that looks stock. In terms of pro bands, that tends to be all over the place too. Ellefson's signature bass is a P-J configuration. Tim Commerford uses a Jazz Bass and I think he has a great metal tone. High output pickups can help! I play melodic metal in Drop C. I have an Ampeg SVT3-Pro running through either a 2x15 or a 1x15/2x10, I have compression on all the time which helps alot- and EMG's are good for cutting through too. But yea, I just use Fenders really for the most part. A P with EMG's and a Jazz that I want to put EMG's in as well. Make sure you have heavy strings on if you're tuning down, dial in your EQ like others have suggested in the thread emphasizing mids, and a bit of overdrive now and then doesn't hurt either!
Members Poltergeist Posted November 3, 2007 Members Posted November 3, 2007 a Mesa or a Vintage Ampeg stack.... and make sure you have Lava cables, or else you'll sound like total {censored}!
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