Funky Dunky Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 Hi guys, looking for opinions on the above, I have a passive Squier with PJ pups but I'm thinking about buying a good quality workhorse as gigging is in my future and I would like to test the water on active basses. Open to all suggestions and recommendations. Have at it, and wax lyrical. thanks Dunc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 A used Spector Euro. You can get one for a silly price on here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 Depends what your looking for obviously.... Active basses can vary greatly in the sounds they produce depending on the type of preamp... If your after something HiFi and punchy you can't go far wrong with a stingray to be honest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skej21 Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 Ibanez SR1800! The Nordstrand big singles are awesome and it looks beautiful. Great feel to the neck and nice playability and they're a steal if you can find one second hand :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andydye Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 Lakland 55-02 or 44-02, awesome, versatile, spot on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle psychosis Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 I recently bought a G&L M-2000 (Tribute) and its fantastic. Really versatile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cairobill Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 Second hand stingray classic! Fantastic recording bass and drives a band like nothing else... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scalpy Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 [quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1406203344' post='2509264'] I recently bought a G&L M-2000 (Tribute) and its fantastic. Really versatile. [/quote] This or any l 2000/2500 bass. Tributes are great, the American basses are killer. Why G&L aren't more common than stingrays is beyond me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 (edited) [quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1406203344' post='2509264'] I recently bought a G&L M-2000 (Tribute) and its fantastic. Really versatile. [/quote] [quote name='scalpy' timestamp='1406204417' post='2509278'] This or any l 2000/2500 bass. Tributes are great, the American basses are killer. Why G&L aren't more common than stingrays is beyond me! [/quote] I had a G&L L2000 Tribby for a while and it was a fantastic instrument... No idea why they aren't more popular. Edited July 24, 2014 by CamdenRob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 Workhorse..? Gigging..? Fender Deluxe Active Jazz Bass. Preferably in Vintage White. [url="http://www.fender.com/en-GB/series/deluxe/deluxe-active-jazz-bass-rosewood-fingerboard-vintage-white-4-ply-brown-shell-pickguard/"]http://www.fender.com/en-GB/series/deluxe/deluxe-active-jazz-bass-rosewood-fingerboard-vintage-white-4-ply-brown-shell-pickguard/[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 The best workhorse I can suggest is to stay passive with the Squire, disconnect the J and add an Aguilar AG 4P-60 pickup. I'd then try a set of flats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guinness21 Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 Ibanez sr1600. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevB Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 How about a US made P deluxe? [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/228759-usa-fender-deluxe-precision/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/228759-usa-fender-deluxe-precision/[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebassist Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 I only use passive jazz basses now but I must say the 3 band EQ Stingray I had really did cut through everything in front of it when gigging. I loved that bass when I was in a three-piece. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 With all of my active basses I've tended to home in on one particular combination of the tone shaping controls and it's essentially then a set-and-forget situation. The last bass into my collection is my passive Squier VM Precision and I don't miss active EQing at all, to some extent I actually prefer the simplicity of the single treble cut tone control because I've got another two tone-shaping devices further down the chain anyway (my Zoom effects unit and my Genz Benz combo). So in your case I'm wondering what an active bass might give you that say, an outboard pre-amp/effects unit can't (and right now I can't think of anything). Have you considered trying something like a SansAmp Bass Driver or similar? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikanHannille Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 As been mention above G&L, Laklands, Fenders, Rays. And don't forget Yamaha TRBs. I like their preamp more than my Lakland at the moment if I'm honest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebassist Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 [quote name='HowieBass' timestamp='1406208970' post='2509339'] With all of my active basses I've tended to home in on one particular combination of the tone shaping controls and it's essentially then a set-and-forget situation. The last bass into my collection is my passive Squier VM Precision and I don't miss active EQing at all, to some extent I actually prefer the simplicity of the single treble cut tone control because I've got another two tone-shaping devices further down the chain anyway (my Zoom effects unit and my Genz Benz combo). So in your case I'm wondering what an active bass might give you that say, an outboard pre-amp/effects unit can't (and right now I can't think of anything). Have you considered trying something like a SansAmp Bass Driver or similar? [/quote] What he said. I use passive jazz basses with a SansAmp Bass Driver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBunny Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 G&L Tribute. No contest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funky Dunky Posted July 24, 2014 Author Share Posted July 24, 2014 Thanks for all feedback so far. I have tried the G&L and LOVED the tones but with a nut width of 44mm it's beastly on my hands. If they made it with a narrower neck, this would be the one. I will have to do my research on Ibaneezers. The Jazz bass in white would tick my Paul Turner wannabe box. I love that dude's playing and tone. The Laklands look nice. Never played one but they stock 'em in Glasgow so I will have a play. Musicmans are the bomb too. I notice there's no love for Warwick here so far. I had considered a Streamer LX purely on youtube demos but they're hard to obtain round these parts - in fact, I don't know of a stockist in Scotland. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funky Dunky Posted July 24, 2014 Author Share Posted July 24, 2014 Howie - no, I haven't yet but I've opened a thread elsewhere on the forum on that very subject. Again, going purely by youtube video demos, I rather like the Hartke VXL (I so want to say VPL but I've already been rebuked for using a bad word :-p). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bh2 Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 Got to be a Ray... maybe's a CV Jazz with a J-Retro. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 I had a Sterling by Musicman Ray34 and it was a cracking bass, would throughly recommend these. Tried the Ray34 CA today, also good, but with just bass & treble actives I found it less versatile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funky Dunky Posted July 24, 2014 Author Share Posted July 24, 2014 (edited) [quote name='thebassist' timestamp='1406211580' post='2509369'] What he said. I use passive jazz basses with a SansAmp Bass Driver. [/quote] what does the Bass Driver add to your sound? Is it a matter of boost/cut or is there more to it? Edited July 24, 2014 by Funky Dunky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkandrew Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 (edited) Just to clarify, what do you mean by an "Active Bass"? I am assuming you mean a bass with active pickups, only many of the suggestions here actually have passive pickups but do have active tone controls - not that there's anything wrong with a passive / active hybrid, in fact a lot of people would argue that that combination offers the best of both worlds. Edited July 24, 2014 by darkandrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 [quote name='Funky Dunky' timestamp='1406223790' post='2509549'] what does the Bass Driver add to your sound? Is it a matter of boost/cut or is there more to it? [/quote] The Bass Driver is a great bit of kit, but does have it`s own sound/tone. Boost or cut on Bass/Treble & Gain/Drive. For me, I prefer the VT DI also by Tech21. Has Mid control as well, making it more flexible, plus a few other featues, speaker-sim and "bite" to add top-end. For Ampeg sounds a plenty, the VT is great. Re basses, I`ve just seen on here a Fender US Deluxe Jazz. I had one for a while and it was def the most versatile bass I`ve ever had. Could do 95% Precision (and I don`t make that claim lightly, being Precision-Nuts) to Flea on the Alanis Morisette songs, all with the onboard eq. I`d check this out, it`s within budget. http://basschat.co.uk/topic/241531-fender-usa-jazz-bass-deluxe-block-inlays-bound-rosewood-fboard-3-tone-sunburst/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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