help for basses

[tilinmyowngrave]

Im not a bassist, but I have a friend who is looking for a new bass. He wants a 6 or 12 string bass, preferably neck through, with the stirngs close to the fret board. If it helps at all, he plays metal and some funk metal. Also the bass needs to be good for slapping. Less than $1000. ANy suggestions?

[Rokket]

Originally Posted by tilinmyowngrave

Im not a bassist, but I have a friend who is looking for a new bass. He wants a 6 or 12 string bass, preferably neck through, with the stirngs close to the fret board. If it helps at all, he plays metal and some funk metal. Also the bass needs to be good for slapping. Less than $1000. ANy suggestions?

Start here

[scrubs]

Originally Posted by tilinmyowngrave

He wants a 6 or 12 string bass

Tell him he needs to take up the guitar. There is no justification for a 12-string bass. There just aren't that many notes down there.

[ez_willis]

Originally Posted by tilinmyowngrave

Also the bass needs to be good for slapping.

Ha! Slapping a 12 string, what a hoot!

[Rokket]

Originally Posted by scrubs

Tell him he needs to take up the guitar. There is no justification for a 12-string bass. There just aren't that many notes down there.

A 12-string bass is a 4 string with 2 octaves added to each string....

Although I've seen some that were doubled 6-string basses...

this bad boy is made by Dean....

[ez_willis]

Originally Posted by scrubs

Tell him he needs to take up the guitar. There is no justification for a 12-string bass. There just aren't that many notes down there.

Tom Peterson has made a career out of playing one, and playing one well! But it takes a special kind of player to make it fit, and there just ain't too many of them around!

[scrubs]

Originally Posted by Rokket

A 12-string bass is a 4 string with 2 octaves added to each string....

Although I've seen some that were doubled 6-string basses...

this bad boy is made by Dean....

Yeah, I had to look it up because I don't recall ever seeing one. I still contend that it's ridiculous. I could see it for a solo bassist, but in the context of a group (even Cheap Trick), it seems like overkill. And the tuning...oh, god, the tuning!

[Rokket]

Originally Posted by scrubs

Yeah, I had to look it up because I don't recall ever seeing one. I still contend that it's ridiculous. I could see it for a solo bassist, but in the context of a group (even Cheap Trick), it seems like overkill. And the tuning...oh, god, the tuning!

Tom Peterson and the bassist for Man o War both play them. But the guy from Man o War (his name escapes me, I was just introduced to them when my friend Chris came back to town) also plays a custom built picolo bass. The strings are as close together as a regular guitar. I think he tunes it down a full step, or more, and he is in reality the lead guitar for the group (he just doesn't play the lead breaks). He plays a lot of bass solos, so for them it works.

I personally wouldn't play one, but then again, I said that about a 5-string bass and I own one now...

[gitrguy87]

The Dean Edge 6 is a really good 6-string. I got one and love it.

[MISTERQCUE]

Originally Posted by scrubs

Tell him he needs to take up the guitar. There is no justification for a 12-string bass. There just aren't that many notes down there.

I agree somewhat but not because of the multi-note factors but because the slap-technique loses some of it's percussive & rhythmic value when used on 12 strings. This is especially apparent when perf'ming a syncopated dual octave note rhythm pattern.
5/6 string allows for a wider range of expressive techniques when used in slapping.

[apl]

Here's Carvin's, $880 + case + shipping. There are a huge number of options, many that are not listed. I'd suggest he hang out on their discussion board's bass forum and talk about what he'd like.