Bass with HEAVIEST tone?

[kill your scene]

Ok, there are many things to like or dislike about a certain bass. I happen to think Fender P's are the best all-arounders. They are comfortable, look cool, play great and have the greatest versatility I've ever seen in an instrument. They will probably always be my favorite, but do they feature absolutely the heaviest tone?

I'm not asking which is your favorite or which you would take if you were stranded on a desert island... I'm asking which has the absolute most crushing, lethal tone out there (assuming they were all being pumped through the same amp. Forget the amp for the purpose of this poll.)

Post your thoughts.

 

[fusion101]

Re: Bass with HEAVIEST tone?

Where the hell are the warwick's

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: Bass with HEAVIEST tone?

My Bass player has a T-bird that he play's into a old SVT (300 watts all tube)
He calls it` The thunder of the Gods sound !! I have a G & L L1000 that's
a close 2nd. Plug it in the right amp ,And It will make your pant's cuffs
Flutter. :13:

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Bass with HEAVIEST tone?

Hamer 12 string Chaparral Bass

 

[Norman_T]

Re: Bass with HEAVIEST tone?

If you are talking about getting some really deep and heavy tones then the Precision bass is the one you have to go for. When I gig and depending on the situation I will take both of mine out as these will give you that thump and thud, so vital in either rock/blues.

However they are not the most versatile and I would use my Jazzes or my custom built basses or even if I wanted some tonal variations one of my active basses. Warwick & Wal basses are both got very good but Musicman basses will give you that much more. Its what the Precision would have been had Leo still been in charge at Fender.

 

[Imp]

Re: Bass with HEAVIEST tone?

depends on the pups i guess.. fit EMGs in the neck of a jazzer and it'll sound pretty heavy if you want it to - active pups excel here IMO

 

[Xeromus]

Re: Bass with HEAVIEST tone?

I can't believe you don't have Warwick listed on the poll. Some of the best basses made, best sounding too.

 

[kill your scene]

Re: Bass with HEAVIEST tone?

Well, there is a limit of only 10 possible choices, isn't there?

Also, I'm not really a fan of active electronics. I think they sound way too bright and clangy... you can get much darker, earthier tones out of passives. I strongly disagree with people who think slapping EMG's into any given bass will make it sound heavier.

 

[Tom M]

Re: Bass with HEAVIEST tone?

The best sound for any heavy rock/metal is a passive P-bass IMO. They have a dark but cutting quality to them that active basses can't touch. A well-built one will have just as much sustain as any active bass could have too. My G&L has a P/J pickup setup, but only the P pickup gets used. The J is just an expensive thumbrest.

For an idea of P + metal, see Steve Harris.

 

[Hellion]

Re: Bass with HEAVIEST tone?

P-basses are still the industry standard for EVERY kind of music.

 

[Pandemonium]

Re: Bass with HEAVIEST tone?

Fender Precision hands down.

 

[Cowboy Dan!?]

Re: Bass with HEAVIEST tone?

i love p-basses but not fenders. any other bass with p-style pups. dont ask why i dont like fender, even i dont know. i just dont. i do like the actives in my warlock bass tho and i think its good for metal. it does have more twangyness (if thats a word :laugh2: ) but it also has this really thunderous like roar to it. sounds good fingers or pick, but it sucks big time for pop and slap.

 

[joelap]

Re: Bass with HEAVIEST tone?

My four favorite basses: Thunderbird, Musicman, P-Bass, Warwick (In that order)

Yes the thunderbird may be a one trick pony, but I do love the trick...

 

[Hellion]

Re: Bass with HEAVIEST tone?

i love p-basses but not fenders. any other bass with p-style pups. dont ask why i dont like fender, even i dont know. i just dont. i do like the actives in my warlock bass tho and i think its good for metal. it does have more twangyness (if thats a word :laugh2: ) but it also has this really thunderous like roar to it. sounds good fingers or pick, but it sucks big time for pop and slap.

I'm not a big Fender fan, either; In fact, I have a severe love/hate relationship with every single one of those puppies that I own. BUT, they have a sound. And I have no intention of trying to sway you in their direction (I like Riches a LOT), but I think you'd probably like P-basses with Fender on the neck.

 

[Hellion]

Re: Bass with HEAVIEST tone?

My four favorite basses: Thunderbird, Musicman, P-Bass, Warwick (In that order)

Yes the thunderbird may be a one trick pony, but I do love the trick...

Thunderbirds are definitely great looking basses, but I'm not fond of them stock. Every time I've used one I've been able to get 8 distinct shades of MUD. There's no piano tone, no upper metal chink, just the sound of someone kicking 8 different sizes of cardboard box. UNLESS......you install Bartolini pups in them. Then you'll get some SERIOUS thunder.

 

[Hellion]

Re: Bass with HEAVIEST tone?

Another bass that I haven't seen mentioned (actually there are 2) are Tobias and Specter. Both are really great sounding instruments. Especially the Tobias models. Nice definition on the low end.

 

[Hellion]

Re: Bass with HEAVIEST tone?

Crap I didn't see Alembic,so I voted other.
I owned an Alembic for years,all the others are just toys in comparison,(IMO).

Oh, dude, you are SO right! Another excellent sounding bass.

 

[Indie P Bass]

Re: Bass with HEAVIEST tone?

Well... I voted for the Gibson EB thinking of an EB0 and not an EB-3 or anything with a single coil or bridge pickup cuase... those don't have bone crushing tones, but they're so heavy (bass wise) that they'll crush you like the 900 pound man with a parachute. The telecaster basses or the 70's were the same way...

 

[Guitarist]

Re: Bass with HEAVIEST tone?

Where the hell are the warwick's

Exactly what I was wondering.

 

[kill your scene]

Re: Bass with HEAVIEST tone?

Where the hell are the warwick's

Exactly what I was wondering.

Well, there is a limit of only 10 possible choices, isn't there?

Something had to get left out. Sorry. Warwicks didn't come to mind because most bass players don't play them. They are extremely expensive and, in a lot of people's minds, downright ugly. As a result, they aren't half as popular as the Fenders and Gibsons of the world. I have yet to hear one in a live setting, so quality or not, I can't comment on them.

Again, sorry.