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Passive bass suggestions please!


Mornats
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[quote name='bagsieblue' timestamp='1377205396' post='2184893']
The 'de facto' passive bass for me is a (Fender) P bass.
[/quote]

Ah yes, but I am fond of rolling onto the bridge pickup and giving it a bit of jazz :) Mind you, I could always keep my Overwater classic J for that.

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[quote name='bagsieblue' timestamp='1377205396' post='2184893']
The 'de facto' passive bass for me is a (Fender) P bass.
[/quote]

I don't think many people could argue with that. However I'm not after a de facto P bass specifically :) I'm looking for something that doesn't lose the passive split/single coil sound and has a J pup at the back. I have this in my Overwater Classic J but it's bigger and heavier than the much-easier-to=play Fender Jaguar that I played, so hence my search for the same thing but in a smaller package. Mind you, if I ended up with a Fender P and it fit the size/weight/playability criteria I wouldn't be at all upset. I could keep my Classic J for the J sound.

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I tried a few out today. First up was a Squier VM Jazz, then I tried a Fender American Jazz with Custom Shop pickups and then a Mexican Jazz.

The Squier was brilliant, nice, light, a little more compact than my Overwater and almost walked out of the shop with me. I tried the American Fender next which was a little chunkier, a little heavier, almost identical build quality and sounded a little nice (the custom shop pups maybe?) but absolutely not worth almost £1000 more. In fact you could have swapped the labels and I would have believed it. The Mexican Jazz was crap, as have all Mexican Jazz's that I've played have been.

I tried an American Fender P too but it didn't feel as nice as the Squier really. The Squier Jazz's front pup soloed sounded as good as the P pup on the Precision too. I tried an Ibanez (not sure which model) but didn't like any of it. I also tried a Squier VM tele bass but the pup's too small for me to rest my thumb on so that was out.

So, my thoughts after my first outing are that I should maybe seriously consider that Squier and grab some upgraded pups - maybe even two Overwater J pups to go in it. The hunt continues though, as I haven't tried half the basses on my list.

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[quote name='Truckstop' timestamp='1377169521' post='2184189']
Yamaha BB1024(x)?

Vintage passive tones by the bucketload, looks lovely and cracking build quality. Second hand costs maybe £500-600.

Truckstop
[/quote]
Agree with this. Do yourself a favour and avoid going down the same old F route.

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[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]
I thought about those or Ibanez Roadsters....so many nice basses!

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[quote name='Pinball' timestamp='1377376491' post='2186952']

I thought about those or Ibanez Roadsters....so many nice basses!
[/quote]

Where abouts are you? You're more than welcome to come play my two. Roadstars are a good shout too. Both represent unrivalled bang for the buck.

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[quote name='Truckstop' timestamp='1377169521' post='2184189']
Yamaha BB1024(x)?

Vintage passive tones by the bucketload, looks lovely and cracking build quality. Second hand costs maybe £500-600.

Truckstop
[/quote]
I got mine new for that price. However no pan pot on the BB, instead a pickup switch.
Op: you wanted the ability to pan, yes?

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[quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1377373372' post='2186903']
Agree with this. Do yourself a favour and avoid going down the same old F route.
[/quote]

I'm totally not hung up on going Fender :)

[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]

Aye will do :) I think my local PMT has some Peaveys in that I didn't try when I was up there.

[quote name='Pinball' timestamp='1377376491' post='2186952']
I thought about those or Ibanez Roadsters....so many nice basses!
[/quote]

Yea, I'll head back to PMT and have a go at their Ibby range. And I need to try some Yamahas too.

But it was also pointed out to me (thanks Pinball!) that if I were to buy a Squier Jazz and put some better pups in it then why don't I try converting my Rockbass Corvette into a passive bass... so I'm gonna look into that too.

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[quote name='Mornats' timestamp='1377447306' post='2187639']
why don't I try converting my Rockbass Corvette into a passive bass... so I'm gonna look into that too.
[/quote]

Turns out my tiny-looking Corvette weighs the same as my Overwater and is just as big! I'd never have thought that until I had them side-by-side. It sounds fairly similar too despite being active. Hmm.

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[quote name='Mornats' timestamp='1377513247' post='2188256']
Turns out my tiny-looking Corvette weighs the same as my Overwater and is just as big! I'd never have thought that until I had them side-by-side. It sounds fairly similar too despite being active. Hmm.
[/quote]
I always liked the sound of your corvette both live and recorded.

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[quote name='Pinball' timestamp='1377185927' post='2184517']

Agreed love those high end BB's and a goodrange of tones on this Schecter and good quality for the price, see vid here

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=NVj6u5reiX8"]http://www.youtube.c...8;v=NVj6u5reiX8[/url]

[/quote]

Why do they always demo basses by slapping them? They all sound the bloody same when slapped - like they've been thrown down the stairs and recorded.

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[quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1377515250' post='2188293']
Dingwall ABZ 4 or 5.

Passive and awesome. Super light weight and easy to play.
[/quote]

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]

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[quote name='RandomBass' timestamp='1377531767' post='2188533']
In which case definitely try a Yammy BB.
[/quote]

He's not going to buy a Yammy. There weren't any 4 stringers in the store we were in on Saturday so I suggested he try a 5 stringer for sound-burn't orange it was. I'm not sure if it was the color or just the guitar but by his face you would have thought that I had waved a turd under his nose :mellow:

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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!

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