Need a bass guitar, come on inside...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ventura
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Bevosss":1ntq8uma said:
Fender Precision Deluxe used, 2000-2009 series. They have a slightly smaller, lighter and more streamlined body than the regular P-bass, they 'upgraded' it in 2010 back to a bigger body size, bad move imo and in others on Talkbass. The 5 string version is similarly awesome, although rarer used.

It sounds great on fingers and slapping, nice pillowy full tone that fits perfectly in the mix with bass and drums...but on griitty Ampeg-esque tones with a pick ie Helmet/Queens/Kings X, it absolutely rules...it really is 'it', no lie! I've got Warwicks, Musicman and MM-J's as well, played almost everything available, for one awesome bass to do it all, this is my pic (and my personal favourite.) More pickup selections look like more value, but really they just don't sound as good as the one P-style pickup in my experience.

You can pretty much always find them used for good prices (around $850 shipped) on the Talkbass classifieds (safely too, I got mine off there):

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f126/

Product Review: http://www.talkbass.com/reviews/showpro ... t/232/sl/f

deluxe.jpg



Less money than this, the Vintage Modified and Classic Vibe series P-bass get lots of great reviews also for sub-$500 prices new.
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Hell if THAT ain't a write up!!! Jaaaaaaaaayzeus mang, thank you!!!!!!!

V. :thumbsup:

PS - and definite honorable mention to DigiJams for piping in as well. Hell, my guess is it really won't matter as it'll be my first bass - period. Whatever I get, it's not like I KNOW what I'm looking for. I just need it - more or less. Thanks for all the input guys, mega helpful.
 
I have a Fender Mexi Jazz deluxe with the active electronics. Got it new for mid 400's on a blowout. Great bass and the electronics make it extremely versatile.
 
Ventura":1985jf54 said:
PPS:

I just want it to be easy to play :lol: :LOL:

V.
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THIS, this is VERY important Mo, I had a cheapo Ibanez that had the neck all bent so I got a squier jazz bass 5 string and fuck me man that fucking bass is too big...the neck is too wide and it kills me to play that thing for too long. The Ibanez was a dream, small neck very easy. I have some other shit to buy (mastering plug ins, pedals, etc) so I can't buy another bass at the moment but get something that'll be easy to play, specially since your hands are used to guitar
 
Huge fan of Fender jazz basses, they usually have thin necks which makes playing them pretty nice. They also have the bridge pickup that gives them a really nice cut so they don't disappear in a mix.
 
All the Basses mentioned are nice, but one that has not been mentioned is a Warwick 5 String Thumb. Very Versitile, but its not the old standard Fender Basses that seem to be very common.

This Aguilar Tone hammer, is it like a Sans amp?
 
My wife has a Warwick 5 string thumb and an older MIJ ibanez BTB 605 (?). I prefer the ibanez for metal. But my first choice is a Music Man Sting Ray.
 
Joeytpg":1b394opq said:
Ventura":1b394opq said:
PPS:

I just want it to be easy to play :lol: :LOL:

V.
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THIS, this is VERY important Mo, I had a cheapo Ibanez that had the neck all bent so I got a squier jazz bass 5 string and fuck me man that fucking bass is too big...the neck is too wide and it kills me to play that thing for too long. The Ibanez was a dream, small neck very easy. I have some other shit to buy (mastering plug ins, pedals, etc) so I can't buy another bass at the moment but get something that'll be easy to play, specially since your hands are used to guitar
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Yeah, my GSR200 4-string is pretty damn easy to play. Stays in tune too. I still think a 5 is better for an all-around bass, but they do have bigger necks and are not as easy to play. For thin necks and ease of play, it's hard to beat a 4 with a bolt-on maple neck. Light strings are easier to play too.

I would only suggest a 5 because it's more versatile. You can usually play in any key on it, and you can play most things fretted up to 2nd and 3rd position. My Schecter Riot-5 I think is easy to play. The neck is so big and stiff that it feels like a plank, however. The narrow neck is probably more comfortable for 1st time bass players.

You can check out my clip collective for a good laugh. I did demo that DI bass. Honestly, *I* have never DIed the active before. You can see how it sounds, coupled with how bad a job I did of making that clip. I got a good laugh out of that test download.

Go ahead. It will destroy any credibility I might once have had on this subject. It may also prove that actives are not the way to go to get that "fat round bass sound."
 
This list is getting more and more radical... Lots of choices, but the Fender is definitely a top contender by popularity alone. Still on the hunt!!

V. :thumbsup:
 
About 10 years ago I came across an 80's Peavey T-40. It is a hard maple neck and an Ash Body with Huge Humbuckers and GREAT wiring.

Check them out before you flame me, it has been my go to bass for years and you can find them for under 400 on CL and Ebay constantly.
 
Milerky2":1czmowsa said:
About 10 years ago I came across an 80's Peavey T-40. It is a hard maple neck and an Ash Body with Huge Humbuckers and GREAT wiring.

Check them out before you flame me, it has been my go to bass for years and you can find them for under 400 on CL and Ebay constantly.
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No flames man, this is me asking for help :thumbsup:

I'm taking everything into consideration.

V.
 
I am in the same situation as I just want a bass to record and figure out some songs with etc. I have been looking at some old fender shortscale basses from the 60's and 70's like the mustang bass or musicmaster bass or possibly a usa bullet bass. I like the short scale as its easier to switch as I am a guitar player. I used to own a rickenbacker 4003 bass which I also loved. So either a mustang bass or a rickenbacker. I was also thinking of looking for a used highway 1 bass being they are still usa made.
 
I found that the classic basses are hard to play for guitareros, they require a lot of digging in, but then they do give "the" tone. Much much less notes and much much more attitude, plus timing.

That said, I really enjoyed playing my Ibanez BTB670. It's a bit longer scale but still real easy to play, it resonates like crazy and notes jump off the board. But it sounds more smooth and sustainy than a Fender.
 
Ventura":wd54ve3x said:
This list is getting more and more radical... Lots of choices, but the Fender is definitely a top contender by popularity alone. Still on the hunt!!

V. :thumbsup:
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I am loving this topic because there is no 'right' answer. Fender P-J basses and/or Jazz basses rule the popular vote.

What's up with you though Vent? You get into a store and try out any of these suggestions? C'mon. We're all tediously mucking about in cyberspace here. Put your hands on something real, so we don't go off our heads! :cry: :doh:
 
I've got an Ibanez Prestige with Active Bartolini pickups, so many tonal possibilities and all sound WONDERFUL. Plays beautifully , very fast and slaps and pops like a dream, here it is with me fingers!

Tyler Fridgen by Scott Penner
 
tfridgen":4hj0ga4j said:
I've got an Ibanez Prestige with Active Bartolini pickups, so many tonal possibilities and all sound WONDERFUL. Plays beautifully , very fast and slaps and pops like a dream, here it is with me fingers!

Tyler Fridgen by Scott Penner
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Nice photo!

I'm not a bassist by any means, but I like the Ibanez BTBs and SRs quite a bit. I've only played a 70s vintage Fender bass for a couple of minutes, and I didn't like it.
 
I was in the same position a few years ago and tried a lot of the suggested pieces here. Rick's have a very unique tone...it's a great one but also somewhat limiting IMO. I bought an American Standard Jazz Bass...decent but it felt cheap to me and the stock pickups were kind of vanilla (not necessarily a bad thing for a bass...the just didn't do it for me).
I ultimately ended up with a late 80's Guild Pilot Bass with EMGs that I found hanging in a Guitar Center. I tried it on a whim and bought it immediately...it played great and sounded awesome. These basses were high end back in the day but can be found for cheap today. You should be able to score a good one for $500-ish...I've seen them as low as $350.

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