Question: I am playing bass in a humorous metal band. The idea is to make parody out of metal using as many cliches as possible (at the same time respecting the scene and having fun, of course). We have some bass solos in our songs and I am feeling that my 4 strings just aren't enough for playing the high pitched notes in solos and the low metal riffs with D tuning. I am considering getting a 6 string bass guitar for this purpose. I would like to achieve the Cannibal Corpse sound while playing bass lines and something specific (I am undecided) for the solo parts. Since it's a metal parody, the bass guitar should look as evil as possible. My questions are:

1. Does 6 string bass make sense in the described type of use?
2. What type of bass is good for achieving a sound like Cannibal Corpse?
3. Do I need some pedals etc. to flexibly change my sound within songs? If yes, what?

Answer: 
When you think "evil" and "bass guitar" the brand that immediately comes to mind is BC Rich:

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/SL9DH.jpg)

These guys practically invented the ultra-spiky death metal instrument look. If you want to look the part, get a BC Rich. If you don't go this route, look at some of the more out-there Ibanezes; their basses are usually the more conservative Gibson- or Fender-esque styles, but they do a lot of finish colors, textures and wood choices that don't look out of place on the metal stage.

As far as number of strings, strings on a bass aren't quite as big a deal as far as conforming to a "metal" stereotype. The guys with ERBs are typically found in the jazz, fusion and solo-bass genres. The stereotypical hair metal player generally has a DADG-tuned four-string bass, while the typical nu-metal player has a fiver, sometimes a sixer. AAFs bassist used a six-string custom Fender. Korn's Fieldy is usually seen with his signature Ibanez 5-string, and Fuzz from Disturbed alternated between a Traben fiver and a Music Man fiver. 

It's less about number of strings as it is how you look playing them; sling the bass somewhere between "rock" (neckplate about at your groin) and "punk" (neckplate at your knees) and either play it fast and tight with a pick, or be brutal with big strokes, slaps and string-stretches. Either way the normal posture is leaning forward, head down slinging your long hair in a circle.
Why would it need to look evil if it's a parody? Wouldn't that mean it shouldn't look evil? Shouldn't you use a Hello Kitty bass?

Just the same you should get the cheapest basses you can find on Craigslist so you can smash them.

Alex Webster's bass is a Spectre custom 5 string ... $2800 list.. so there's no joke about the equipment.