So after playing bass a few times for a mate's band (initially only did a few dep shows) its getting to a stage where I'm getting to play more often. I use the original guy's bass, an Epiphone Firebird, which is tuned to B E A G (it should be B E A D, I know but as he normally uses a 5 string he's tuned the thinnest string to a G as he uses some notes on a song that wouldn't be possible to reach if it was a D). They play in drop b but the bass isn't set up for a drop tuning.
I been thinking of getting my own one as its a bit confusing transposing from guitar (I sometimes fill in on guitar) and some of the riffs have to be played 2 frets down. Also I'm not in Motley Crue so the bass looks a bit weird in a metalcore band!
How would I set the guitar up for a drop tuning? I don't think bass strings are as popular as a custom drop tuned gauge, and should I go for a 4 or a 5 string?
Comments
This arrangement is not helping either of the main players of the Epiphone bass. In the long term, any string tension mismatch could lead to a twist in the neck.
If you have no strong preference either way, I suggest that the owner of the Epiphone should sell it to you and get himself the five string that he so obviously needs.
If so, then you definitely need a five string bass guitar. (Few would welcome the mindfuck of a four string bass tuned in fifths.)
What colour/version is the Epiphone Thunderbird? I can easily imagine how a brown sunburst or the natural finish Pro model are unlikely to fit the Metalcore image.
Could that be a Rockbass By Warwick? Spector basses look similar. Either would be easy to modify/upgrade.
If the five string bass is a Warwick and the pickups are MEC Dynamic Correction passive types, they are not so much fucked as shite. No amount of active EQ can rescue their lack of tone. Replacement aftermarket pickups and controls should restore the bass to full health.
I would imagine that the LSMF will be reluctant to part with the Epiphone until his five string bass is up and running again.
If you like the Epiphone Thunderbird and can get it cheaply, it could probably serve you well. You know how to tweak everything. If the pickups suck, one professional quality replacement might be enough. e.g. Duncan Blackouts For Bass humbucker plus, possibly, matching active EQ.
If you feel no obligation to come to an arrangement with the LSMF, choose a bass guitar to please yourself. If you only need one noise-cancelling pickup and minimal controls, get that. If you can play the band's music on four strings, get a four string.
Truth be known, you could probably do it all with a Precision Bass sound. The problem with a P would be the look. Not pointy enough!
If it’s in budget look at a Dingwall Combustion. I don’t think you can beat their low B’s for heavy music, the fan fret gives a much tighter low B than anything else I’ve tried or owned in a similar price range.
For outright aggression you want passive pickups on a bass for metal IMO, the high end is grittier vs what you get with typical actives like EMGs (which I like, most of my guitars are EMG). My preference is for single coils over humbuckers just because they’re less prone to mud. Jazz or Precision style pickups comes down to taste, you can’t go wrong with either.
As a really simple rule I’d go Jazz bass for heavy scooped sounding bass and Precision for fatter and more up front driving bass tone but less sub than a Jazz.
You will most likely want to be using steel strings for metalcore. I make up sets of pro steels from individual strings.. it’s expensive unfortunately, but there’s nothing off the shelf that fits my needs
oh, and to the OP - metalcore is the only exception to the “bass has 4 strings” rule. Get a fiver.
I look a bit silly playing the thunderbird, would rather have a Fender jazz on, all the other bands we play with have such nice basses actually drop tuned. Not sure what pickups I’d put in there at the moment.
Well that’s why I want to look at getting my own one as he seems to like buying cheap shit gear that breaks easily. How he managed to record the ep with it I will never know lol.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJTld_Qi-Bk&ab_channel=Blink182Tunes
Or something like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aYmEsArgTY&ab_channel=ThomasTroccoli
Clicky and locks with the kick drum.
Budget, around £700 maybe?
I think Hoppus's sound is a Jazz but with a reversed P bass pickup - again, that tight hum bucker thump.
Given what you've said, I'd go down the route of finding a bass that gives a good solid deep punchy tone that you like playing and feels right - and then work out how you are going to shape your tone
You're probably going to want to get a preamp pedal to get the top end grit. Sansamp BDDI/RBI's do well for that kind of high end if you blend it, but be aware down in B they don't like the low end being turned up on a subby preamp (like the Stingray would have). The other option would be a Darkglass B3K which is tighter and glassier, but it gives you less EQ options, you have to get the more expensive B7K to get the EQ.
I think it's hard to go wrong with a P bass if you like the Blink type of tone. Since you're in B, if you can find a used US Precision with the graphite rods in the neck that will help get a good low B. In my experience the stiffer the neck the better the low B.
Stingrays are very much their own thing though, the top end on them can't easily be replicated by another bass, if you specifically like the top end from a Stingray then get one of those.
There's quite a big difference in how a P and a Ray will sit in a band mix especially when you grit/distort them a bit.
The Ray tends to lean towards deeper sub and cutting top end sizzle. The P will have more thump to it, less sub, and less top end. in descriptive terms I'd go P to drive the guitars along and Ray to envelope around the guitars, if that makes any sense.
I'm in the process of converting my ACG to active as I want the flexibility - but the Stingray just never sat right for me in the mix.
This might be a good reason for you to have a serious look at a Stingray..
But left in the centre (I have a 3EQ) it’s got a good starting point which I’ll use a preamp pedal to shape into what I want.
My favourite pairing is with a Darkglass Vintage Ultra, but that’s my favourite pedal in general, it’ll work for pretty much anything.