AlexJGriffith Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 Hi, all. I'm looking into getting a replacement bass for my Ibanez BTB7 bass, and wanted to know if there are any standout basses that an aspiring progressive/metal bassist should look out for? I've already taken the Fender Jazz Bass into consideration, but I wanted to know if there were any others that anyone would recommend buying? My budget will be roughly around the £650 mark. If anyone can help, that'd be great. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 A few good candidates would be a Spector Legend. Ibanez BTB, ESP LTD F-series, Warwick Rockbass (pick a body style) or possibly, if you want to consider used instruments, a Stingray or German Warwick (the Corvette $$ or Standards spring to mind) sometimes show up for the sort of money you are looking to spend. You can't really go wrong with any of these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Cloud Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 It doesn't matter what bass you play - its a tool used for making sounds that express your musical creativity. The name playing the bass is more important that the name on the headstock. A good prog/metal bassist can make good prog/metal on any decent quality bass ....you are the vital component. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truckstop Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 Yamaha RBXJM2 is a great bass for prog. Flexible as hell, tonnes of mids, sw***y looks and 6 strings. Can be had for £350 s/h. Failing that, Peavey Grind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 Good call on the Peaveys - you might be able to find a Cirrus BXP for £300-ish, although keep an eye out for a G-Bass - they're US-made, with a Modulus graphite neck and Peavey's beefy VFL pickups. Spectacularly good bass, and, when they do show up, cheap as (moderately expensive) chips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Tootstick Posted November 18, 2015 Share Posted November 18, 2015 Just bought a Spector legend 5 which has high regard at your price range. Can't comment on its sound and play-ability as it hasn't arrived yet but I'll let you know at the end of the week. They are on bass direct at the minute for £699 which is the lowest I've seen new. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted November 18, 2015 Share Posted November 18, 2015 The best bass is the one that sits in your hands nicely and allows you to play the bass parts well. There really is no make/model that is 'better' for a genre than others. Case in point: Tina Turner's some-time bass player, Warren Mcrae plays ESP, even seen him with an F-Series (usually seen with the likes of Cradle Of Filth, Chthonic etc) Martín Méndez from Opeth plays a Fender Marcus Miller signature 4 string bass. Sounds great! Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted November 18, 2015 Share Posted November 18, 2015 [quote name='Alex Tootstick' timestamp='1447805835' post='2910651'] Just bought a Spector legend 5 which has high regard at your price range. Can't comment on its sound and play-ability as it hasn't arrived yet but I'll let you know at the end of the week. They are on bass direct at the minute for £699 which is the lowest I've seen new. [/quote] I had a spector legend sixer for a while and it was an excellent bass... great build, playability and tone. It's a whole lot of bass for the price, I'm sure you'll love it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rebo213 Posted November 18, 2015 Share Posted November 18, 2015 For 700-750 quid you can buy an used MM Stingray 5. I´m in a prog metal band and its my weapon of choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexJGriffith Posted November 18, 2015 Author Share Posted November 18, 2015 Thanks for the suggestions, guys! I'll make sure to give these basses a try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlungerModerno Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 Try as many as you can - it's better to have one that feels great, and you can live with on & off stage - than one that sounds perfect, but is awkward. You can fairly easily swap out electronics. Swapping neck profiles and balance points is a little trickier. Chambering to reduce weight etc. is also pretty involved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexJGriffith Posted November 21, 2015 Author Share Posted November 21, 2015 I'm really liking the look/sound of the Yamaha TRBX505. The body looks pretty beautiful, and the 3 EQ dials are what I find essential, as I'm very specific with my sound, so I'm thinking either that or another Yamaha of some description. Does anyone have any experience with the TRBX505? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 I'd say any bass that allows you play in this style. But when I hear prog/metal, I think Dream Theatre, therefore the previously mentioned Yamaha RBX. However, given that John Myung now uses a Bongo, maybe a Musicman of some description. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexJGriffith Posted November 21, 2015 Author Share Posted November 21, 2015 I absolutely love the Bongo bass. We have one on display at college, and we were allowed to take it off the display stand and give it a try. It's a beautiful instrument, but about a grand out of my budget. I need to find somewhere that stocks Yamaha basses so I can try some out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Tootstick Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 [quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1447844776' post='2910834'] I had a spector legend sixer for a while and it was an excellent bass... great build, playability and tone. It's a whole lot of bass for the price, I'm sure you'll love it [/quote] Update on the Spector... Yeah love it. Would recommend them to anyone, the range of sounds available with the independent volume knobs for the pups is amazing. Great punchy b string and it's pretty to look at. Chuffed really. I'd give one a shot if I were you. The thing is I changed from a stingray and I can still get a zingy stingray sound (almost anyway.) really is a lot of bass for the cost. My only negative really is the gloss finish on the neck makes it a bit grippy with sweaty hands: never played with a gloss finish before and might consider sanding the gloss away if i keep getting caught up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 [quote name='AlexJGriffith' timestamp='1448127048' post='2913219'] I absolutely love the Bongo bass. We have one on display at college, and we were allowed to take it off the display stand and give it a try. It's a beautiful instrument, but about a grand out of my budget. I need to find somewhere that stocks Yamaha basses so I can try some out. [/quote]Yeah, Bongos are crazy expensive and they don't come up 2nd hand that often either. However, other MMs in the range will get in you into that sonic space. Trying a Yamaha in your neck of the woods could be tough, neither GG or Andertons appear to have any in stock. However, a trip up town to Soho might be the way forward (I'd call ahead to check stock though) https://www.yamahamusiclondon.com/Guitars/Bass-Guitars/ you could then extend your trip to include The Gallery in Camden http://thebassgallery.com/bass/rbx-375.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truckstop Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 Wow, basses are cheaper through the Yamaha shop! How did I not know this? Could definitely do with another 424x. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machines Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 I'm confused here. Any bass will work. Except a Hofner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassist_lewis Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 The bass you like will always work best. but you will need to look into string gauge and set up if you're doing lots of tapping, sweeping, solo-y stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulhauser Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 (edited) [quote name='Alex Tootstick' timestamp='1448129647' post='2913237'] Update on the Spector... Yeah love it. Would recommend them to anyone, the range of sounds available with the independent volume knobs for the pups is amazing. Great punchy b string and it's pretty to look at. Chuffed really. I'd give one a shot if I were you. The thing is I changed from a stingray and I can still get a zingy stingray sound (almost anyway.) really is a lot of bass for the cost. My only negative really is the gloss finish on the neck makes it a bit grippy with sweaty hands: never played with a gloss finish before and might consider sanding the gloss away if i keep getting caught up. [/quote] +1 I use a Spector EURO 5 and it really works in almost any genres. It has a strong, even character that works well in dense music and it's quite easy to handle by engineers both in studio and in live. These go under a grand used and are of great value IMO. BTW, Dream Theater's Images and words was tracked with a Spector NS2. Edited November 22, 2015 by Paulhauser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
40hz Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 [quote name='Machines' timestamp='1448191706' post='2913500'] I'm confused here. Any bass will work. Except a Hofner. [/quote] This Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Number6 Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 Surely the fingers produce the prog metal..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Cloud Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 I can basically say that a bass is indeed the best type of bass for providing the bass as necessitated by the requirements of a prog/metal band which includes a bass player for playing bass on a bass. To clarify, yes...a bass is best for playing bass in a prog/metal band - best bass or best anything being defined by the subjective reality as perceived by said bassist's perception of reality as it isn't but actually is in his world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cameronj279 Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 My personal choice in that price bracket would be a second hand Warwick of Spector. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 [quote name='Alex Tootstick' timestamp='1448129647' post='2913237'] Update on the Spector... Yeah love it. Would recommend them to anyone, the range of sounds available with the independent volume knobs for the pups is amazing. Great punchy b string and it's pretty to look at. Chuffed really. I'd give one a shot if I were you. The thing is I changed from a stingray and I can still get a zingy stingray sound (almost anyway.) really is a lot of bass for the cost. My only negative really is the gloss finish on the neck makes it a bit grippy with sweaty hands: never played with a gloss finish before and might consider sanding the gloss away if i keep getting caught up. [/quote] Glad you're happy with it My legend sixer had a natural neck finish... the gloss must be a new thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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