- May 23, 2011
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So, I'm mainly a guitarist and I'm looking to buy a bass guitar. What are the key things to look for in buying a descent metal bass? i.e which pick ups, etc..
How to buy a bass guitar?
- Thread starter Djentkitty
- Start date
Trevoire520
Member
Best bet is to go to a local music shop and try everything. Single coils/soapbars/humbuckers/split coils all have VERY different sounds. Then there's woods to consider, and necks vary hugely too.
- May 23, 2011
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thanks for the reply. yea, i was at my local music store yesterday, they had quite a large selection kind of, so i couldn't really decide. i thought i'd come here and ask. perhaps what i meant to say was "what are typically found on metal bass guitars?". just like how metal guitars typically have EMG 81/85 pick ups, or something similar etc.. i don't know much really about bass guitars and i need one to put some real bass in my songs. i think some "guidelines" would be nice since this is my first time purchasing a bass. i don't want to purchase something that i THINK is good then turns out not that great and getting ripped off, you know? 
egan.
daylightdies.com
Ash with a maple neck and name brand pickups is a good place to start. Alder is ok too. Don't buy mahogany or a multilam neck unless you know that's what you're after.
Generally you want a bright clanky bass unplugged (don't get fooled by old strings) but if you stick you're chin on the horn while you play you want to get a ton of fundamental. I know how ridiculous that sounds but it's true.
Then plug it into a very good amp (or one you know the tone of) and judge the pups that way. Be sure to play with any onboard eq and blend as bass is less "everything all the way up" than guitar is.
Generally you want a bright clanky bass unplugged (don't get fooled by old strings) but if you stick you're chin on the horn while you play you want to get a ton of fundamental. I know how ridiculous that sounds but it's true.
Then plug it into a very good amp (or one you know the tone of) and judge the pups that way. Be sure to play with any onboard eq and blend as bass is less "everything all the way up" than guitar is.
Ermz
¯\(°_o)/¯
^ That is legit. Lower the action so you get some nice rattle from the frets and you're good to go. Slap on some new strings every time you're going to record something serious.
On the other hand, could be good to know what your budget looks like, and what exactly you're going to do with it other than "play metal". You know, something a bit more specific.
On the other hand, could be good to know what your budget looks like, and what exactly you're going to do with it other than "play metal". You know, something a bit more specific.
Empathy
Bulging Member
Flip the price tag over so I can see how much you paid for it? I keep getting quoted >$1000.
US imports ahoy!
BLUElightCory
Member
This is the only advice you need. Stake out an amp and a cable, and play every bass in your price range. Guaranteed, you will find one or two that stand out from the pack.
Actually playing the bass is also important because even two identical basses will sound different because of the organic nature of the wood - so even though I can tell you how great my Jazz bass sounds, there's no guarantee that if you ordered the same bass it would sound like mine.
Keep in mind that newer strings will sound brighter/cleaner, so keep that in mind when evaluation the instruments.
plague_rider
Coffee
Ermz
¯\(°_o)/¯
I found evaluating basses in music shops a somewhat awkward thing, and not really representative of how the instrument may record.
Consider first that all the basses have different levels of string-wear... which, let's face it, contributes significantly to the tone of the instrument. I would much rather record a cheap bass with brand new strings, than an amazing bass with strings that have been played for two days. Then you've got their amps, which many times are very coloured, and then impacted by the sound of whatever room you may be in. Then there is the set-up of the instrument. All in all, lining basses up alongside each other like that in a store doesn't give them the fair chance that you might think it does.
The best thing I've found is to keep a collection of bass DIs, raw from the instrument with brand new strings. This way you can compare on your monitors EXACTLY what the instrument sounds like under ideal circumstances, without coloration (beyond the usual that comes with monitoring).
Anyway that bass above is an Ibanez BTB705DX. It has a cool, aggressive midrange growl, but the raw tone from it comes much more 'unfinished' sounding than many other basses. It's very mid-centric, and needs expanding via post-EQ. Much like the Sansamp BDDI is to the PSA-1. Whereas the PSA-1 is inherently a more usable/versatile unit, the raw tone that comes from it is shit compared to the BDDI. It's similar with this bass. I only recommend it if you know what you're doing with processing. Otherwise though the playability is outstanding, as with all the BTB basses.
But perhaps I had an old battery when I recorded it... haha. Anyway, here is the result of that recording:
Consider first that all the basses have different levels of string-wear... which, let's face it, contributes significantly to the tone of the instrument. I would much rather record a cheap bass with brand new strings, than an amazing bass with strings that have been played for two days. Then you've got their amps, which many times are very coloured, and then impacted by the sound of whatever room you may be in. Then there is the set-up of the instrument. All in all, lining basses up alongside each other like that in a store doesn't give them the fair chance that you might think it does.
The best thing I've found is to keep a collection of bass DIs, raw from the instrument with brand new strings. This way you can compare on your monitors EXACTLY what the instrument sounds like under ideal circumstances, without coloration (beyond the usual that comes with monitoring).
Anyway that bass above is an Ibanez BTB705DX. It has a cool, aggressive midrange growl, but the raw tone from it comes much more 'unfinished' sounding than many other basses. It's very mid-centric, and needs expanding via post-EQ. Much like the Sansamp BDDI is to the PSA-1. Whereas the PSA-1 is inherently a more usable/versatile unit, the raw tone that comes from it is shit compared to the BDDI. It's similar with this bass. I only recommend it if you know what you're doing with processing. Otherwise though the playability is outstanding, as with all the BTB basses.
But perhaps I had an old battery when I recorded it... haha. Anyway, here is the result of that recording:
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Harry Hughes
âââ¬â¬
- Apr 25, 2009
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Definitely agree about the playability. Borrowed my mate's 5 string BTB recently, and it's the best feeling 5 string bass neck out there IMHO
- May 23, 2011
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Buy this and you're done:
that is amazing, thats exactly what i was looking for, though i only saw something similar to that, not sure if it was a BTB.
my budget is pretty much 400-500, or 600 max.
ill check my music store again soon, as i was kind of in a hurry
Sepultorture
Member
- May 24, 2011
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I also reccomend the BTB, although i'd go for the Bartolini MK2 loaded version, still, the feel, the actionl the playability, and the price is all there, supreme bass for a good price
- May 23, 2011
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yea, i hear the bartolini pick ups are really good also, how are they in comparison to emgs?
- May 23, 2011
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also, i took a look around google about the strings. I'm looking for strings that give lots of growl and sound really agressive. some say that stainless steel are great/bright but i learned that there are many different types of strings, stainless steel, nickle, flatwounds, groundwound, etc.. what do you guys use/recommend?
Sepultorture
Member
- May 24, 2011
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I'd go with the Elixer coated bass strings, excelletn attack and lasts for a long effing time
i find the Bart's in the BTB have a fantastic sound to them, not as compressed as the EMG's, great for tech death, slam, grind, jazz, funk, rock, soul, etc. and having a mid boost/cut knob like on the bartolini equipped models adds some extra flexibility for your tone.
EMG's are great, and really it falls to preference, i still find you can get a great tone with parts, and extra added flexibilty for sround the same price.
i find the Bart's in the BTB have a fantastic sound to them, not as compressed as the EMG's, great for tech death, slam, grind, jazz, funk, rock, soul, etc. and having a mid boost/cut knob like on the bartolini equipped models adds some extra flexibility for your tone.
EMG's are great, and really it falls to preference, i still find you can get a great tone with parts, and extra added flexibilty for sround the same price.
Trevoire520
Member
Bartolini's sound much more organic and woody to my ears compared to emg's. Stainless steel strings are really good for a nice clanky tone, though there's a few on here that swear by warwick black labels for a really growly tone. Expensive though.
- May 23, 2011
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Hmm, yea I prefer the sound of bartolini aswel. As for the strings, I read alot about rotosounds, not sure which gauge/type though, any thoughts about roto strings?
Ermz
¯\(°_o)/¯
A bassist friend of mine ran through a few high end Cort models with Bartolinis before finally settling on the guitar I posted above, with the DC40s. I think he's got some 35s around too, which are a little more hi-fi sounding.
Also, the active electronics on the BTB allow a sweepable mid boost/cut. This isn't exclusive to Bartolinis, in case that impression was given.
Also, the active electronics on the BTB allow a sweepable mid boost/cut. This isn't exclusive to Bartolinis, in case that impression was given.
Can you tell me the exact product model number Ermz? I can't seem to find it on the Ibanez site, especially with your color which looks nice.
