I'm looking at getting a bass. Apologies in advance for a long ramble but I really am not sure what I want so I'll just give some background and then some questions:
- I currently have a Fender Jazz Bass Special, 4 string, 1984, Japanese made. It has J-style pickups (bridge) and P-style in the neck. But I'm itching for a more modern, kickass bass.
- I'm a guitarist so the bass is for tracking when I home record. But I do also love noodling around on bass. My budget is about R7 - 10k so hopefully I can get something fairly nice.
- This will be for metal, the death/thrash variety with lots of distortion and lots of fast palm muting on 7-string guitars. But I don't want a distorted bass tone, I'm thinking something more jazzy along the lines of the bass playing in Cynic (Sean Malone) or Obscura (Jeroen Thesseling - plays a Warwick Thumb 6 string fretless). Or maybe a very crisp and clear sound to stand out from the wall of guitar distortion. I'm aiming for *arty* progressive extreme instrumental metal here. ?
I'll be playing fingerstyle where I can, (I can do the "gallop" up to sort of medium speeds but I'm definitely not a good bassist) but resorting to a pick for fast playing. DEFINITELY no slapping, never ever.
1. I like the idea of a 6 string, am I crazy? Is that only for "really good" bassists? (It opens the possibility for some interesting upper register guitar/bass harmonies .)
2. Yamaha TRB1006 - opinions? Seems to have a good rep, looks killer and fits my pocket. I know it's been discussed here before, but is it likely to suit my specific needs? I'd love a Warwick and might stretch the budget for an entry-level one, but I doubt it's really worth the extra $$?? (I'll try both, this is pre-information so I know what to look for when I do.)
3. I'd like something that's easy to play (who doesn't ? ) i.e. low action and narrow string spacing (since I won't be slapping). Does that change the picture of what I should be looking at?
4. Ibanez SR505 or 705 series...any opinions on those? I think the Yamaha beats them...or not? Ibanez BTB's?
5. Should I hang on to the Fender J-bass Special? Is it regarded as a good bass or pretty "meh"? I really have no clue.
Thanks very much in advance to anyone who read all that. I'd keep it shorter, but that would only lead to more questions so I thought I'd unpack it all upfront!
- I currently have a Fender Jazz Bass Special, 4 string, 1984, Japanese made. It has J-style pickups (bridge) and P-style in the neck. But I'm itching for a more modern, kickass bass.
- I'm a guitarist so the bass is for tracking when I home record. But I do also love noodling around on bass. My budget is about R7 - 10k so hopefully I can get something fairly nice.
- This will be for metal, the death/thrash variety with lots of distortion and lots of fast palm muting on 7-string guitars. But I don't want a distorted bass tone, I'm thinking something more jazzy along the lines of the bass playing in Cynic (Sean Malone) or Obscura (Jeroen Thesseling - plays a Warwick Thumb 6 string fretless). Or maybe a very crisp and clear sound to stand out from the wall of guitar distortion. I'm aiming for *arty* progressive extreme instrumental metal here. ?
I'll be playing fingerstyle where I can, (I can do the "gallop" up to sort of medium speeds but I'm definitely not a good bassist) but resorting to a pick for fast playing. DEFINITELY no slapping, never ever.
1. I like the idea of a 6 string, am I crazy? Is that only for "really good" bassists? (It opens the possibility for some interesting upper register guitar/bass harmonies .)
2. Yamaha TRB1006 - opinions? Seems to have a good rep, looks killer and fits my pocket. I know it's been discussed here before, but is it likely to suit my specific needs? I'd love a Warwick and might stretch the budget for an entry-level one, but I doubt it's really worth the extra $$?? (I'll try both, this is pre-information so I know what to look for when I do.)
3. I'd like something that's easy to play (who doesn't ? ) i.e. low action and narrow string spacing (since I won't be slapping). Does that change the picture of what I should be looking at?
4. Ibanez SR505 or 705 series...any opinions on those? I think the Yamaha beats them...or not? Ibanez BTB's?
5. Should I hang on to the Fender J-bass Special? Is it regarded as a good bass or pretty "meh"? I really have no clue.
Thanks very much in advance to anyone who read all that. I'd keep it shorter, but that would only lead to more questions so I thought I'd unpack it all upfront!