Thinking of playing guitar AND bass?

[Captain Metal]

I was thinking about maybe putting together a sort of "one-man-band" metal project, record my own demos, upload them online and see about getting others interested in forming an actual band to play my songs, kind of like Trent Reznor and NiN. I don't know, I'm primarily a guitar player, though I do own a bass and like to play it. Since I own two 7-string guitars, I thought it would be kind of interesting to pick up a 5-string bass to cover the range of the 7's on some songs. But I wonder if I should just focus on improving my abilities on guitar and not "spread myself thin" with an extra bass? I put down a few bucks on layaway at GC for a 5-string LTD that sounds really deep and creepy, perfect for metal, but I'm thinking of switching it to Blackouts pickups for one of my 7-strings.

Am I just covering too much ground with a second bass? Basses loaded? I already own a 4-string. Or should I just concentrate on finding the right guys for an actual band and stick with guitar?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Thinking of playing guitar AND bass?

If you are into low tunings, why not simply have a new nut made four the four string bass and restring it BEAD? Changing to an active PU might help too.

 

[Bass_Medic_05]

Re: Thinking of playing guitar AND bass?

+1......I'm so old school I wouldn't know what to do with more then 4 strings

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Thinking of playing guitar AND bass?

if you like a 7-string guitar then i'd figure a 5-string bass wouldn't be too much to handle

the first guitar i ever bought was a 5-string bass...it's what i learned on...eventually moved to 6-string guitarss tuned low...got a few guitars in different tunings...kind of want a 4-string bass...kind of want a banjo.

I think it's better to consider yourself a 'musician' than an 'instrumentalist.' There's not a whole lot of difference between playing bass, guitar, ukulele, etc...you just have to approach them differently.

 

[Captain Metal]

Re: Thinking of playing guitar AND bass?

If you are into low tunings, why not simply have a new nut made four the four string bass and restring it BEAD? Changing to an active PU might help too.

Both basses (the one I own and the one I have on layaway) both have EMG-Hz pickups.

I wonder if I could try to do that with restringing the bass with an new nut.
The thing I liked about having a 5-string was that it would be a fit for the
7-strings while the 4-strings would go with my 6-strings. I was afraid of becoming "too distracted" with the new bass that I would lose focus on improving on the
guitar, but if I'm serious about music, I shouldn't worry about that. It's just a new kind of heavy. I really like the 5-string (an ESP Ltd F-205, a discontinued model). My other bass is a Schecter C-XXX, with stripper chicks in the fret inlays. :headbang:

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Thinking of playing guitar AND bass?

I guess this depends upon whether you approach the instruments by the fingering positions or by the pitches produced.