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Bass suggestions?

xgsjx

By xgsjx,
in Bass Guitars

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xgsjx Grand Master

xgsjx

Posted
Posted

I'm looking at getting a nice 5er in the next couple of months & looking for suggestions on what basses I should definitely try.  I'm going to try as many basses as I can & then hopefully narrow it down.

I'd really like a fretless, but it's not 100% (probably about 75% set on fretless).

I've spent ages going over different ideas on the Maruszczyk configurator & the Sandberg one too.  I'm not a fan of the traditional shapes (e.g. Fender clones), but it's not a dealbreaker.
The Warwick Alien fretless 5 seems to tick a lot of boxes on paper, but I've not tried one (yet).
I'm also a fan of Dingwall basses (having played one a decade ago in Vegas & kick myself to this day for not buying it!  I had the money too).
I've drooled over some of Skelf's instruments & I'd love to get a UK built bass, but I think they're a wee bit out my budget.  I can go a little over £2k, but I'd rather be under & have spare pennies to maybe spend on a DI pedal.

If you had about £2k to spend on a bass, what would you get?

 

pete.young Veteran

pete.young

Posted
Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, xgsjx said:

 

If you had about £2k to spend on a bass, what would you get?

 

The Celinder J Vintage 5 that's in the For Sale forum at the moment.

Edited by pete.young
  • Like 1
Mykesbass Grand Master

Mykesbass

Posted
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Shuker. My 5 string fretless is all the way up at the traditional end of the spectrum, but Jon makes great basses in many shapes and sizes. Quality is fantastic and he is a great guy to deal with.

  • Like 2
xgsjx Grand Master

xgsjx

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Posted

Some good suggestions.
I never thought ACG or Shuker would be in my price range.  I think I'll have to take another look at both.  I like most of Skelf's designs & the Shuker Uberhorn with the infinity fretboard is rather tasty too (though I'm pretty sure that one's gonna be about £1k over budget at least!).

Status basses are a good shout.  & the Celinder does look the part (even for a F***er lookalike :P).
 

Delberthot Veteran

Delberthot

Posted
Posted

What I would get might not be what you would get. It will depend on how you like your string spacing, the sound, pickup configuration etc

Having said that, if I was in the market for a 5 string fretless then it would be without a doubt a Stingray

Woodinblack Grand Master

Woodinblack

Posted
Posted
3 hours ago, xgsjx said:

 the Shuker Uberhorn with the infinity fretboard is rather tasty too (though I'm pretty sure that one's gonna be about £1k over budget at least!).

Yes it is. Its on my dream list too!

CameronJ Mentor

CameronJ

Posted
Posted

Skelf (Alan) has definitely had basses for sale recently which are under £2k. It’s definitely possible to get something beautiful within budget. Just one example: http://www.acguitars.co.uk/project/0282-retrob-5-2/

Re: Sandberg, since you’re not a huge fan of the Fender clone shapes you’ll be pleased to know that their newer “California II” range have redesigned bodies which no longer look like Fenders. They also have a number of completely unique body shapes such as the Classic, Basic and 48.

@xgsjx, where are you based? A trip to BassDirect in Warwick or The Bass Gallery in London will answer a lot of your questions and be a ton of fun too.

Cuzzie Veteran

Cuzzie

Posted
Posted

Sandberg all the way - luthier quality despite being a manufacturer, and if you find something you like second hand, amazing value, great value new as well!

I’ve never looked back and know a few peeps who think/say the same 

ezbass Grand Master

ezbass

Posted
Posted (edited)

Given that you could get down to ACG with not too long a drive and talk face to face with Alan, I’d probably go that way. I’ve had an off the peg Sandberg Basic and I currently have 2 custom Maruszczyk Elwood Ls, all three are very fine instruments and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them. However, being able to be more ‘hands on’ (or at least eyes on) with a build would swing it for me. The instruments that Alan had at LBGS were stunning, I was there another BCer who has an off the peg Elwood L and a custom headless Maruszczyk Frog and he very nearly bought one of Alan’s creations as he was blown away by the build quality, feel, etc.

Edited by ezbass
xgsjx Grand Master

xgsjx

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Sounds like a message to Skelf could be on the cards next month (I'm moving house first).

@CameronJ, I'm up in Perth (not Oz, thankfully), but soon to move down to Falkirk, so ACG would be a little over an hour's drive away (about 70 miles).  Though I'm not against the idea of a wee drive down to Warwick & London.  If I wait until July/August, I'll hopefully have a lekky car, so no congestion charge.

Guitar Guitar stock Sandberg, so a trip to Glasgow/Edinburgh is imminent too.  :)

  • Like 2
CameronJ Mentor

CameronJ

Posted
Posted
52 minutes ago, xgsjx said:

Sounds like a message to Skelf could be on the cards next month (I'm moving house first).

@CameronJ, I'm up in Perth (not Oz, thankfully), but soon to move down to Falkirk, so ACG would be a little over an hour's drive away (about 70 miles).  Though I'm not against the idea of a wee drive down to Warwick & London.  If I wait until July/August, I'll hopefully have a lekky car, so no congestion charge.

Guitar Guitar stock Sandberg, so a trip to Glasgow/Edinburgh is imminent too.  :)

Nice! Alan’s a really nice guy so I’m sure a trip to ACG headquarters would be a fruitful one. 

Looks like GuitarGuitar in Glasgow have a few nice ‘Bergs in stock right now actually: https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/sandberg/guitars/bass/solid-body/5-string-sb/

dannybuoy Veteran

dannybuoy

Posted
Posted (edited)

If you were looking at the Warwick Alien, check out the Godin A5 Ultra. I have the A4 and love it, Bass Direct have a used A5 for sale too:

http://bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Godin_A5.html

Well worth getting the Ultra version for the extra magnetic pickup, it sounds middy and growly like a fretless 'Ray. Older ones are piezo only.

Demo of the A4:

 

Edited by dannybuoy
  • Like 1
TheGreek Grand Master

TheGreek

Posted
Posted

Two grand could get you a custom build by Alan or one of the other BC luthiers - I'm sure you could commission something from Andyjr1515 or Jabba the Gut within that budget...

  • Like 1

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