Im currently looking for a new 5 string bass to record modern metal music.
Currently I've been thinking about Dingwalls but they seem quite expensive.
Any other ideas what I could possibly pick?
Obviously the pickup makes an insane difference from the sound examples that I heard so far

 

Thanks for the suggestions.
Im currently thinking about Schecter stiletto studio 5 due to the pickups.
Schecter stilleto extreme is not bad neither but they have stock pickups usually that's a big no for me.
I don't know why so many brands in the 1k-1.5k area still use shitty ass stock pickups .
Im also thinking about bass guitars with fishman fluence pickups since I have an Strandberg original with one.
But im not sure how good their bass pickups are and im not willing to take that risk

 

Last edited: Aug 25, 2022

The stilleto extreme is also a very good choice.

I can't talk about the fluence pickups as I never tried them.

 

Last edited: Aug 26, 2022

Yeah me aswell but so far most fluence stuff seems to be pretty impressive.
Just don't want to fall for the hype train and later regret it in the end :D

 

I understand, as before I would believe what I read and hear on the net about bass, I've learned the hard way buying useless basses ie: completely unbalanced bass with super neck dive, but in the net everyone was saying they were great, maybe people that play one hour a day, I don't know, but now I only buy what I can personally try.

 

Yeah I think there is a huge skill gap when it comes to different people.
The people that say "It's all in the hands and not the gear" just make me cringe.
I assume that most people don't record music so they don't have a clear comparison when it comes to different instruments and VST's. They just rely on what they hear during band practice etc.

 

IMHO the answer is always "a Music Man Stingray" unless you insist on having 13 strings

 

Just gotta sell my kidneys to afford one.
But I gotta admit that the dingwalls are also pretty nice but have different characteristics.
The Music Man Bongo's are also really nice but 3,6 k for an Bass

 

Well, of course it's all the hand, but when your hand take an instrument which is balanced, with the strings at the right high with no buzz, it's certainly different than playing a bad instrument with which, part of your energy goes fighting with it ...
If your left hand and wrist are spending half of their energy to supporting the neck, you cant play the same as if the neck stays at its place by itself.
Specially if you play complicated, technical parts...
Not to speak about playing a lot of hours ... If you play 6 hours a day, a bad instrument is a torture.

 

There are just some instruments which will sound always bad due to electronics like pickups.
My friend has an bass which sounds like absolute shit no matter how you play and how fresh your strings are.
The bass DI is like 80% of the tone if it's shit you can try as much as you want it will still sound bad in the mix .

 

Most entry-level instruments these days are enjoyable if properly set by someone who knows how to do the job. Most of the time it's the performer's problem that you can't get a good sound out of these instruments.

the difference of expensive instruments today are the sharp edges on frets the electronics and mic but cheap microphones do the same job with a difference but not as noticeable as years ago

 

I wanted a bass that would do everything so I got a 5 string Cort Ultra Ash with Fishman Fluence pickups.
You can get numerous sounds out of them, not just metal.
Compare prices, whatever you buy.
They wanted $2410 here in Canada so I got it from Germany for $1349

 

I'll check out what's in my prize range in thomann.
Was a bit sceptical at first but I'll give it a try.
Hopefully I won't regret it

 

That's true in general, but, a 5 string bass have some specific points that must be taking care off, to mention only 3 of them:
Balance, as the neck have to be wider it's more difficult to avoid neck dive
Weight , as the neck is wider, one of the bad / cheap solution is to make a heavier body to obtain balance
Sound, fifth string is very low, so you really need pickups and electronics specially designed for this.

Las but not least , a cheaper instruments electronic will usually rapidly give problems, cheap pots making noise etc..
And as you mentioned, sharp edges, that's not a small inconvenient if you really play a lot and fast, you end up irritated. You can't work 6 hours a day with a bass with sharp edges.

I have a Sandberg, a Marcus Miller M7, an old Cort GB 75, and an Aria pro 2 , (and more) the Sandberg is 15 years old, not one problem, never. The M7 is 5 years old, electronic is beginning to make noise, Aria Pro 2 is 6 years old, the electronic is dead as well as the Cort which is 8 years old...
Also the Aria is heavy, but yet not balanced.
So yes, there are big differences between basses, not always related to the price, but these inconveniences really can limit your playing.

Everything is in your fingers/technique yes, most of it, but how do you get to have a good technique?
Working hours and hours a day, and how do you do this with an uncomfortable bass?
I know, I've been there.