wishface Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 I'm a competent if amateur player and I have the oportunity now to buy something a little better than the cheap end instruments I've always played. These haven't been the best instruments and I'd like some advice on getting something genuinely decent not just decent for its price. That said it'll likely have to be second hand because I don't think can justify more than a few hundred quid (no fender jazz for me). Any help is appreciated, thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 What's the budget? What kinds of basses do you like (shape, sound etc), 4-5-6 string? What kind of music do you play? Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 It's within the bounds of possibility that you could pick up a MIM Fender Jazz on here for around 300 notes. This one's sold, but should give you an idea of what's possible. http://basschat.co.uk/topic/283176-fender-70s-jazz-bass-mim-l250-sold-now/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wishface Posted July 22, 2016 Author Share Posted July 22, 2016 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1469197978' post='3096564'] It's within the bounds of possibility that you could pick up a MIM Fender Jazz on here for around 300 notes. This one's sold, but should give you an idea of what's possible. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/283176-fender-70s-jazz-bass-mim-l250-sold-now/"]http://basschat.co.u...-l250-sold-now/[/url] [/quote]What is MIM? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cato Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 (edited) [quote name='wishface' timestamp='1469198112' post='3096568'] What is MIM? [/quote] Made in Mexico. Broadly speaking top end Fenders are made in the USA. After that it gets a bit fuzzy. Made in Japan Fenders are highly rated, as are some Made in Mexico's (by some people). Then you have the Squier range made in Indonesia or China or possibly somewhere else in the Far East if they've moved production again when I wasn't looking. Some of the more expensive Squiers are as good if not better in some respects than the bottom end of the Mexican range. Edited July 22, 2016 by Cato Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wishface Posted July 22, 2016 Author Share Posted July 22, 2016 [quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1469196054' post='3096532'] What's the budget? What kinds of basses do you like (shape, sound etc), 4-5-6 string? What kind of music do you play? Si [/quote]Well i'm not in a band but i enjoy a variety of styles from ambient to heavy metal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassix Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 Try loads of stuff, buy secondhand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wishface Posted July 22, 2016 Author Share Posted July 22, 2016 [quote name='Cato' timestamp='1469198586' post='3096580'] Made in Mexico. Broadly speaking top end Fenders are made in the USA. After that it gets a bit fuzzy. Made in Japan Fenders are highly rated, as are some Made in Mexico's (by some people). Then you have the Squier range made in Indonesia or China or possibly somewhere else in the Far East if they've moved production again when I wasn't looking. Some of the more expensive Squiers are as good if not better in some respects than the bottom end of the Mexican range. [/quote]Ok are these actually good basses though, or what good for the price? I don't want another cheap instrument. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 Depends how many hundred a few hundred quid is, really, and how you're defining 'cheap'. If by 'cheap' you mean low quality, then the MIM Fenders have a good rep which takes them out of that area. there's lots of options, especially secondhand, but again, it'll depend whether you're talking £300 or £600.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wishface Posted July 22, 2016 Author Share Posted July 22, 2016 are the SUB musicman basses any good? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 (edited) Depends which ones - the USA Subs are basically MM basses with a cheaper finish, they were so popular they were discontinued, because sales of the 'real thing' went down. I've had both, and there wasn't a whole lot between them, certainly sonically. The Sterling SUBs are a different (cheaper) bass altogether. Edited July 22, 2016 by Muzz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 It sounds like you can simply open the For Sale forum, close your eyes and buy the first thing you point to (obviously re-trying the exercise until you hit your budget!) Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 When I buy a new bass, what I chiefly need is money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wishface Posted July 22, 2016 Author Share Posted July 22, 2016 [quote name='bassix' timestamp='1469199525' post='3096606'] Try loads of stuff, buy secondhand. [/quote]The shops don't actually have a huge choice, I assume they are told what to sell by dealers with whom they have a working relationship. Hence my question about SUB brand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wishface Posted July 22, 2016 Author Share Posted July 22, 2016 [quote name='Muzz' timestamp='1469200860' post='3096629'] Depends which ones - the USA Subs are basically MM basses with a cheaper finish, they were so popular they were discontinued, because sales of the 'real thing' went down. I've had both, and there wasn't a whole lot between them, certainly sonically. The Sterling SUBs are a different (cheaper) bass altogether. [/quote]The 'proper' music man basses are very expensive, these ones are about £300. Are you sure they are better? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SubsonicSimpleton Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 Ask yourself what you want - if the answer is Fender Jazz, then buy one - there are various options classic vibe, roadworn, highway one, us std and you really need to make the judgement with your ears and fingers as the most expensive option isn't necessarily the one that you'll gel with. A bass that inspires you to pick it up and play it is way more valuable than one that leaves you feeling 'meh', only you can answer the question of whether an instrument has that special quality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBunny Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 It would have to be a SGC Nanyo Bass Collection for me. Outstanding value for money and should fit the budget. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 [quote name='wishface' timestamp='1469194789' post='3096518'] I'm a competent if amateur player and I have the opportunity now to buy something a little better than the cheap end instruments I've always played. These haven't been the best instruments and I'd like some advice on getting something genuinely decent not just decent for its price. That said it'll likely have to be second hand because I don't think can justify more than a few hundred quid (no fender jazz for me). Any help is appreciated, thanks. [/quote] There's nowt wrong with a cheap bass. Many cheap basses will simply get better with a few upgrades; nut, pickups, bridge, a good set up... It's worth remembering that most mass-produced instruments are made now by a computerised factory. The plant is set up to produce a perfectly serviceable instrument. What often lets a cheap bass down is poor quality tuning heads, frets not leveled and smoothed at the ends, nut not the right height, cheap BBOT bridge (bent bit of tin), ahhhh and a brand name; arguably the most expensive ingredient. What have you had? What do you have? What don't you like about what you've had? What sound are you after? What features do you like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost_Bass Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 Obvious and completely biased answer from me: YAMAHA Will tick every box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 [quote name='wishface' timestamp='1469202270' post='3096647'] The 'proper' music man basses are very expensive, these ones are about £300. Are you sure they are better? [/quote] A secondhand USA SUB can be had for £350 or so, when they come up - they've been discontinued a while now. The SUB/Sterling new ones are, as I said, a different thing altogether, a much cheaper bass in every respect. The USA SUB Ray is pretty damn close to a USA Ray (£700 up secondhand) if you're on a budget. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wishface Posted July 22, 2016 Author Share Posted July 22, 2016 [quote name='Muzz' timestamp='1469204374' post='3096677'] A secondhand USA SUB can be had for £350 or so, when they come up - they've been discontinued a while now. The SUB/Sterling new ones are, as I said, a different thing altogether, a much cheaper bass in every respect. The USA SUB Ray is pretty damn close to a USA Ray (£700 up secondhand) if you're on a budget. [/quote]The ones that were in the shops i visited in town today were around £300, i found a second hand one for £280 but it was buzzing all over the place. Id on't know if they are USA ones or whoever. This is the problem I have; I don't know all this secret manufacturer stuff and I don't want to commit to something without being 100% sure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wishface Posted July 22, 2016 Author Share Posted July 22, 2016 (edited) [quote name='SubsonicSimpleton' timestamp='1469202338' post='3096648'] Ask yourself what you want - if the answer is Fender Jazz, then buy one - there are various options classic vibe, roadworn, highway one, us std and you really need to make the judgement with your ears and fingers as the most expensive option isn't necessarily the one that you'll gel with. A bass that inspires you to pick it up and play it is way more valuable than one that leaves you feeling 'meh', only you can answer the question of whether an instrument has that special quality. [/quote] I can't afford a Fender Jazz, or at least i've not seen one at a price I can afford. I'm not wedded to any particular brand however, but that is a classic instrucment I know to be a quality model. Also I like the pickup placement (as opposed to the precision with it's single split pickup in the middle). Having those options for where to pluck from is important, but I like the music man tone and the location of the single humbucker pickup is good as well. I don't know enough about all different makes and types to express a meaningful preference. Edited July 22, 2016 by wishface Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 [quote name='wishface' timestamp='1469208314' post='3096718'] The ones that were in the shops i visited in town today were around £300, i found a second hand one for £280 but it was buzzing all over the place. Id on't know if they are USA ones or whoever. This is the problem I have; I don't know all this secret manufacturer stuff and I don't want to commit to something without being 100% sure [/quote] They'll have been the newer 'Sterling by Musicman SUB' - they're the cheap ones to which I was referring. You won't find a new USA Sub anywhere: as I said, they were discontinued a good while ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wishface Posted July 22, 2016 Author Share Posted July 22, 2016 [quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1469203329' post='3096667'] There's nowt wrong with a cheap bass. Many cheap basses will simply get better with a few upgrades; nut, pickups, bridge, a good set up... It's worth remembering that most mass-produced instruments are made now by a computerised factory. The plant is set up to produce a perfectly serviceable instrument. What often lets a cheap bass down is poor quality tuning heads, frets not leveled and smoothed at the ends, nut not the right height, cheap BBOT bridge (bent bit of tin), ahhhh and a brand name; arguably the most expensive ingredient. What have you had? What do you have? What don't you like about what you've had? What sound are you after? What features do you like? [/quote] I'm not judging cheap basses per se, just that I want something that's good all round, not just good for it's value. It's time I had an instrument that lets me do what I want to do without having to fight it or having a crappy tone. Can't remember what i've had, but what I got currently is a Revelation RBJ67 that i brought for £165 from Rikaxxe in Bristol. He specialises in cheap stuff and these kinds of brands. Seems like a nice guy with experience in the industry, but I have no way to verify that and this bass isn't working out great. A couple of dead spots, intonation never seems to stay and it just feels oddly weighted - like it's too small and too big at the same time. It's a Jazz style instrument. If i pick over the neck pickup the instrument feels really short and my hand is awkward. It's kinda hard to explain. The varnished fingerboard is nice (and easy to clean), but higher up it's hard to get to the lower strings (my hands aren't weirdly small either). Tonally it's ok. Nothing earth shattering. Some fret buzz on the low E, which feels very flappy. The sound I like is a rounded tone, that's why I like the music man tone. But i like the Jazz tone. Geddy's tone (less the overdrive) is nice too, punchy but not overly trebly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wishface Posted July 22, 2016 Author Share Posted July 22, 2016 [quote name='Muzz' timestamp='1469209526' post='3096731'] They'll have been the newer 'Sterling by Musicman SUB' - they're the cheap ones to which I was referring. You won't find a new USA Sub anywhere: as I said, they were discontinued a good while ago. [/quote]sounds like i should avoid these ones then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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