Passive bass suggestions please!

[discreet]

[quote name='Mornats' timestamp='1377542782' post='2188681']
I hope he doesn't read this!
[/quote]

You know what? I think that's a vain hope.

[Pinball]

[quote name='Mornats' timestamp='1377542782' post='2188681']
Pinball kindly (well, I say kindly I think he wants me to buy it!) lent me his Esh Various. I tried it out for a little while and thought it was ok but not for me but I picked up up about an hour ago and I can't put it down. The sound is incredible. It's not ultra light or compact and the neck is a bit of a plank but I do just really like it. Hmmm, I hope he doesn't read this!
[/quote]

mwahhahaha

Seriously though, its a quirky bass that handles really well and also sounds good. I didn't realise how good until I tried recording with it. I love some of the combinations from the "Eshtronics" system.

Edited August 26, 2013 by Pinball

[Mornats]

I know what you mean, that neck's more playable than it should be. It's a very bright sounding bass, maybe a little too bright. My red Overwater sounds dull and bland in comparison (could be the utterly dead strings though).

[MoonBassAlpha]

[quote name='cocco' timestamp='1377376200' post='2186945']
I know it's not a fender, but I'm gonna suggest you have a look at a Peavey T-40
[/quote]
not exactly light in weight though?

[Grangur]

How about a Fender Jazz?

See my sig...

[Pinball]

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1377585248' post='2188941']
How about a Fender Jazz?

See my sig...
[/quote]
Indeed, like that choice
Is this thread helping you choose Mornats or confusing you further

[Mornats]

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1377585248' post='2188941']
How about a Fender Jazz?

See my sig...
[/quote]

Sorry, I've never played a good Mexican Fender, the Squiers have always beaten them hands-down so I'd really have to play it first. I don't like pickup covers either! I'm a fussy bugger


[quote name='Pinball' timestamp='1377591324' post='2189000']
Indeed, like that choice
Is this thread helping you choose Mornats or confusing you further
[/quote]


It's actually helping be think outside the range of basses I'd been thinking about. My plan is try everything so that when I buy one I'll know that there isn't anything more suitable for me as I'd have played and compared them. I think this is a long term project!

[Mornats]

Quick update. I tried a Yamaha TRBX 504 and lurrrrrrved it. Almost pulled the trigger on one too but I've not tried out all of the other suggestions. I still need to try some Jaguar basses if I can find somewhere with some in stock around Bristol.

[Geek99]

[quote name='Mornats' timestamp='1377121190' post='2183772']
Yep, it's another one of those threads...

Here's the story. I love my two Overwaters (the Tanglewood ones) and my passive P/J classic J is my main gigging bass. However I've just played a Fender Jaguar that the bassist from other band from tonight's gig was playing and it's so nice, and light and easy to play. My Overwaters are like tanks, they're a few inches bigger than Fender basses (despite both being 34" scale) and weight a frikking tonne. Around a third heavier than the Jaguar I played I reckon.

So I want to try out some basses as a replacement. Budget is probably up to £600, new or used, I don't mind. Well, used will get me more bass

Has to be passive, I don't like the active sound. I love the P/J pickup config on my current bass and I really do want the option of panning between them or sitting in the middle of the two pups. Could be a J/J, a P/J or something else.

Has to be light - no heavier than a, well, standard P bass I guess, and must be "normal" size or smaller but not short scale so I'm looking at 34" scale still. Normal size means not the behemoth size of my Overwaters

I used to be anti-Fender (booooorrrrriiiinnnnnggg) but I'm finding myself gravitating towards them now so they're actually top of my list.

To give you an idea I'm thinking Fender Aerodyne, Fender Modern Player Jazz or something similar. I'm not adverse to trying any brand and my personality usually favour the non-mainstream brands (hence no Fenders so far in my list of currently owned basses).

So, what would you recommend I try in my quest for a replacement main bass?
[/quote]
What about a mex jazz bass ? I'm selling a superb one

[cocco]

[quote name='Mornats' timestamp='1377528433' post='2188488']


They look lovely! This is what I found online: [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/ABZ4_Nat.html"]http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/ABZ4_Nat.html[/url]. Even though that's new it's over £1000 out of my budget and most likely at least £500 out of my budget used I can't comment on the fanned frets until I've tried them, could go either way!

So, still to try:[list]
[*]Squier VM Jaguar
[*]Fender Modern Player Jaguar
[*]G&L SB2
[*]Several Yamahas, Ibanez's and Peaveys (T-40 if poss)
[*]Warwick Streamer Stage 1 (even if it's out of my price range I just really wanna play one)
[/list]
[/quote]

If you want to take a short hop over the bridge you're more than welcome to play my T-40s (I have both incarnations) and anything else I have that you take a fancy to.

[Mornats]

[quote name='Geek99' timestamp='1379100313' post='2208776']
What about a mex jazz bass ? I'm selling a superb one
[/quote]

Sorry, I'm not a fan of MIM Fenders I'm afraid.

[quote name='cocco' timestamp='1379102331' post='2208805']
If you want to take a short hop over the bridge you're more than welcome to play my T-40s (I have both incarnations) and anything else I have that you take a fancy to.
[/quote]

Cheers for the offer, much appreciated I think the Peaveys may be far to heavy for me, I've heard they're quite the beast! I've already got a heavyweight bass in my Overwater Contemporary J and I'm looking for a smaller and lighter one.

[hamfist]

[quote name='Mornats' timestamp='1379095061' post='2208695']
Quick update. I tried a Yamaha TRBX 504 and lurrrrrrved it. [/quote]

refer to post #4. Told you so !!!!!!!! Lol.

[Pinball]

[quote name='hamfist' timestamp='1379138685' post='2209026']
refer to post #4. Told you so !!!!!!!! Lol.
[/quote]
I tried a couple of these, tremendous for the money. A great all round bass.

[largo]

Sorry to hijack this post, but check out my new bass at [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/217034-lightweight-shuker-pj5-just-arrived/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/217034-lightweight-shuker-pj5-just-arrived/[/url]
Save yourself the hassle, get a custom build and you'll not want another bass again.

[Mornats]

I'm surprised no one's mentioned a custom build yet to be honest. That would be ideal, but it's pricey and takes months. I imagine a couple of £k?

[Mornats]

Well, I've gone and bought a Yamaha TRBX 504. It's great! I haven't tried it live yet but it's lovely and lightweight and comfortable with great tones.

I know I never got round to trying out a Jaguar bass but you have to leave some GAS for later yeah? That's the rule right?

So thanks everyone for your suggestions! I'd have never considered a Yamaha until they were recommended here. If you're interested, this is what I think of it: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/218060-nbd/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/218060-nbd/[/url]

[Grassie]

P

[Mornats]

A P bass isn't the universal answer to everything. Not with Fender's extremely shoddy quality control.

[Mornats]

Especially with the following being one my requirements:

[quote][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Has to be passive, I don't like the active sound. I love the P/J pickup config on my current bass and I really do want the option of panning between them or sitting in the middle of the two pups. Could be a J/J, a P/J or something else.[/font][/color][/quote]

[Conan]

[quote name='Mornats' timestamp='1377121190' post='2183772']
Has to be passive, I don't like the active sound.
[/quote]

Er.....

Out of interest, what exactly do you think of when you talk about the "active sound" that you said you didn't like?

Edited September 28, 2013 by Conan

[discreet]

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1380375407' post='2224446']
...what exactly do you think of when you talk about the "active sound"...
[/quote]

When I hear the words 'active bass' I see 80s bass players with funny hair playing twelve notes a second through a Trace rig which sounds like a shopping trolley full of cutlery falling down an 'up' escalator. But I'm sure it isn't that at all.

[Conan]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1380376045' post='2224457']
When I hear the words 'active bass' I see 80s bass players with funny hair playing twelve notes a second through a Trace rig which sounds like a shopping trolley full of cutlery falling down an 'up' escalator. But I'm sure it isn't that at all.
[/quote]

I'm loving your imagery, and not entirely disagreeing!

[Mornats]

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1380375407' post='2224446']
Er.....

Out of interest, what exactly do you think of when you talk about the "active sound" that you said you didn't like?
[/quote]

Well for me the active sound is quite clean and lacks that single coil passive growl thing that goes on. There's a quality about it that sounds manufactured. Having said that, my new Yamaha TRBX has a lovely active sound that sounds like a passive bass with three tone controls, rather than an active noise-free clinical active bass. Make any sense?