Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: MDV on January 06, 2009, 11:34:44 AM

Title: Bass
Post by: MDV on January 06, 2009, 11:34:44 AM
Need!

I have a cr@ppy bass that just isnt cutting it. Thin and clanky sounding thing, it is.

This is for recording ONLY, so I dont care what it looks like and such

What I want

- Thick, chewey, twangy (if that makes any sense) low mids
- Solid thunk in the lows
- enough bell-like steve-harrisy chime to it that I can use it if I want or dial it out if I want without killing its clarity

Its gonna be for tracking metal. Its gonna be detuned to C# and drop B, so it needs to retain clarity way down low and not need suspension bridge cables.

I want to spend maybe 300 quid, but more for something perfect is doable, or less for soemthing that will do the job is ideal

Any help appreciated
Title: Re: Bass
Post by: PhilKing on January 06, 2009, 01:28:14 PM
Put a BK P-Bass pickup in a Bass Centre clone and you'll have what you want (actually a BK Precision or Jazz set will bring any bass to life!).
Title: Re: Bass
Post by: MDV on January 06, 2009, 02:01:33 PM
Bass centre clone?
Title: Re: Bass
Post by: PhilKing on January 06, 2009, 02:43:58 PM
http://www.basscentre.com/categories.asp?cID=59 (http://www.basscentre.com/categories.asp?cID=59)
Title: Re: Bass
Post by: MDV on January 06, 2009, 03:11:23 PM
How interesting

Why thank you!
Title: Re: Bass
Post by: MDV on January 06, 2009, 03:35:17 PM
Frickin idiot on the phone at basscentre said that you dont get basses for particular sounds, that any will do. "Just look at steve harris - fender, korn - ibanez, you cant say you want a certain sound and get a bass for it"

Wont be calling there again.

Any other ideas?
Title: Re: Bass
Post by: Oli on January 06, 2009, 05:05:09 PM
I think you'll probably want something with a Jazz pickup in the bridge (perhaps a tapped humbucker, for even more versatility), and a P bass pickup in the neck. The wood on a bass really makes a difference; Warwicks tend to have necks and/or bodies made from Ovankol, and i recently did a neck conversion from a maple warwick neck to an ovankol one, and it brought out a lot more low-mid growl in the sound, which the maple just didn't have. That said, classic bass sounds have been done with P-Bass (Steve Harris) and Jazz (RAtM), but they are quite distinctive, much like a single coil versus a humbucker.
Title: Re: Bass
Post by: MDV on January 06, 2009, 05:33:55 PM
Cheers bud, I'll try to find a p-bass with an ovankol neck (any chance of that in my budget?)
Title: Re: Bass
Post by: FernandoDuarte on January 06, 2009, 06:39:37 PM
but they are quite distinctive, much like a single coil versus a humbucker.

More details please, I'm also a "virgin" on basses and planning one to mid of year
Title: Re: Bass
Post by: WezV on January 06, 2009, 10:15:06 PM
gotta say.. i would be pretty tempted by a Squire Classic vibe bass.  I think i would struggle to choose though.  The 50's P-bass has the right look (for me) but i would need the pickup to be spot on since there are very few tonal options.  The 60's P-bass has a proper P pickup ( i would add a series/parallel switch) and i really like  a simple P-bass  but the aesthetics dont do it for me as much (maybe all black with maple neck!!).  At the moment i think i would go for a Jazz - thats phils fault but i notice he is being slow with the pics of his new aquisition ;)

they all seem to be retailing for about £250 ish so add an extra ton or so for a BKP or two (the 50's would be the cheapest to upgrade since its only 1 single coil)
Title: Re: Bass
Post by: nfe on January 07, 2009, 12:29:01 AM
+1 on the Squier Vintage Vibe instruments. Dynamite for the money.

For what it's worth, I don't think there's a sound you can't out of a standard P Bass with some effort. :)
Title: Re: Bass
Post by: MDV on January 07, 2009, 12:37:15 AM
Cheers guys, will look
Title: Re: Bass
Post by: jpfamps on January 07, 2009, 05:11:03 PM
I would definitely favour the P-bass too.

A major part of the Steve Harris sound though is the use of flat-wound strings, which give a nice middley sound, although they are harder on the fingers.
Title: Re: Bass
Post by: dave_mc on January 07, 2009, 08:43:08 PM
Frickin idiot on the phone at basscentre said that you dont get basses for particular sounds, that any will do. "Just look at steve harris - fender, korn - ibanez, you cant say you want a certain sound and get a bass for it"

Wont be calling there again.

Any other ideas?

wow. i don't play bass, but that can't be right. :lol:
Title: Re: Bass
Post by: noodleplugerine on January 08, 2009, 06:19:26 PM
I'd say the Rockbass Corvette, superb quality, simple layout, nothing fancy. Great for the money.
Title: Re: Bass
Post by: MDV on January 11, 2009, 04:43:42 PM
I got a schecter diamond deluxe 4.

(http://www.zecchinimusica.it/data/images/usato/R03090_01_SCHECTER_DELUXE_DIAMOND.jpg)

That isnt mine, but it looks the same. The active EQ seems like the sort of thing that can give me the ability to get the sounds I want for recording. It sounds pretty good, better IMO than the p-basses than they (mearchant city) had in.

Heh, went in to try out Diezels, came out with a bass :lol:
Title: Re: Bass
Post by: d1dsj on January 11, 2009, 08:09:28 PM
Our drummer wanted a bass... he ended up with a G&L tribute Jazz type, all I can say is wow. G&L stuff rocks!
Title: Re: Bass
Post by: Adam.M on January 13, 2009, 01:10:55 PM
That's not a bad bass, i quite like it.

One thing i will say is... change the strings, a good set of bass strings cost 25-30quid, and have a much bigger factor in your sound than i find with guitars.

I had a Squire Vintage Modern Jazz and i put Marcus Miller's DR strings on them, and the sound was as good as a real Fender.
Title: Re: Bass
Post by: MDV on January 13, 2009, 02:03:47 PM
Cheers adam

I already put rotosound 60-125s on. (Well, 40 to 125 five string set).

I dont know which bass strings I like yet. I'm not a fan of rotosound guitar strings (sound honky, break quickly), but we'll see how I go. Thanks for the Marcus Miller recommendation!