Toffeexbassist Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 I'm 15 years old, only been playing bass for a year and a bit. I'm on my way to buying a third bass, but looking around the £200-£300 price range. My parents have agreed to buy me one for christmas Are there any reccomendations? My playing styles are Mainly Funk + Metal (aka RATM + RHCP). I prefer 24 fret to 19 but obviously i'm willing to sacrafice for the better model's. plus, tips on buying will be appreciated. Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark_random Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 At the moment, I really don't think you can go far wrong with a Squier Vintage Modified Jazz. They are such good value for money and perfect for a Timmy C sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toffeexbassist Posted July 21, 2007 Author Share Posted July 21, 2007 Thanks, i was looking at Fender Jazz's but they we're out of my price range (obv). My stepdad think's id be more suited to a precision. Do Squire do them? and I never realised squire did Bass's as well as guitars (i have a stratocaster Squire) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayfan Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 Check out the Yamaha BB414 for sale in the "Basses: For Sale" section. A really good buy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 Tell your Stepdad that Jazz's can be just as cheap as Precisions The Vintage Modified series does look impressive for low bunce! A precision isn't gonna give u a Timmy C or Flea sound........a Jazz will! Seeing as they both use them Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toffeexbassist Posted July 21, 2007 Author Share Posted July 21, 2007 [quote name='Sibob' post='35259' date='Jul 21 2007, 03:10 PM']Tell your Stepdad that Jazz's can be just as cheap as Precisions The Vintage Modified series does look impressive for low bunce! A precision isn't gonna give u a Timmy C or Flea sound........a Jazz will! Seeing as they both use them Si[/quote] That's what I thought, he seemed to think it'd suit my style more. I'll bug him a little for it =] Are Gibson bass's as bad as people make out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul, the Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 Used? New? Ebay? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon1964 Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 (edited) +1 for the Vintage Modified Jazz. Also, in your price range look at the Ibanez and Yamaha range. The OLP Stingray copies are good value for money as well - you could get the active OLP Tony Levin signature for under £300 which is a cracking bass for the money. Most of all, try several basses before you buy. So much of the feel of a bass is personal preference - buy what feels and sounds right to you. Edited July 21, 2007 by simon1964 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 I would highly recommend you check out Schecters. I bought a Schecter Model T (modelled on a 51 precision, but with P + J pickups, real Seymour Duncans at that, none of tha Duncan Designed nonsense!). I bought it for £206+postage on Ebay and it's become one of my favourite basses. Being open minded and shrewd in your second hand purchases can be much more rewarding than just sticking to budget and buying new... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MythSte Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 [quote name='Toffeexbassist' post='35263' date='Jul 21 2007, 02:25 PM']Are Gibson bass's as bad as people make out?[/quote] Yes. Well, i think peoples beef is more with the price than anything. 1000 odd for a bass thats just, averagely average. Anyway, there have been a few old warwick streamers fitting your budget recently. theyd keep you going Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassboy115 Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 +1 on the squire vintage modified jazz... If you really want a fender You can probably get a 2nd hand mexican jazz or precision off Ebay or off here. For a FUNKIER tone youre better off with the jazz as said above but its worth trying em both to see what you prefer. +1 on trying OLP music man copies. Flea used a Music man and the one double humbucker pickup makes alot of difference IMO. Again try alot of different basses. And look at second hand ones aswell as you will be able to get alot better than what you can get straight from the store. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geejay Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 Definately go for a used bass unless you happen to find THE ONE in a shop. You should get a much better bass for your money used. Geejay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayman Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 Most people have already said it but........... Squier Vintage Modified Jazz, Yamaha BB414, Schecter Model T, all great basses. Don't let your stepdad decide for you though, go and try a few in the shops and decide for yourself, you'll know what you like the best only by listening to them with your own ears. For what it's worth, if it was me, the Squier would be favourite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdwardHimself Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 [quote name='Toffeexbassist' post='35245' date='Jul 21 2007, 02:37 PM']My stepdad think's id be more suited to a precision. Do Squire do them?[/quote] haha that's like saying, "is a canary a bird?" yes squier do make them, sorry to sound patronizing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skywalker Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 I recently bought a Squier P Bass Special which has P and J pickups which would be worth a try I a delighted with it - but as everyone says - try before you buy Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamster Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 You can pick up a used MIM Jazz for £275 ish. OLP Tony Levin, Musicman Sub4 or Yamaha BB414 are all excellent used buys. I [u]very [/u]strongly recommend sitting down and playing with these basses (or any others you have a GAS attack for) before making a choice. You will be (for example) much better off buying a £120 Squier Jazz that is really comfortable in your hands than spending £300 on a MIM Precision that doesn't feel right for you. Hamster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elom Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 [quote name='Hamster' post='35421' date='Jul 21 2007, 11:54 PM']You can pick up a used MIM Jazz for £275 ish. OLP Tony Levin, Musicman Sub4 or Yamaha BB414 are all excellent used buys. I [u]very [/u]strongly recommend sitting down and playing with these basses (or any others you have a GAS attack for) before making a choice. You will be (for example) much better off buying a £120 Squier Jazz that is really comfortable in your hands than spending £300 on a MIM Precision that doesn't feel right for you.[/quote] That's very sound advice. You've got 2 things in your favour though. [list] [*]Experience. You've been playing for a while and have had a couple of basses so you know a bit about what you like and what you don't. Plus you're not going to be intimidated by a music shop in the same way that a complete beginner probably would be. So get out there, try as many basses as you can get your hands on - even ones way outside your price range. Even if you can't afford them it's a great way to learn what characteristics you like and don't like. The bass bashes are a great chance to do this too. [*]Time. This is for Xmas, so that's 5 months. There is no need to make a quick decision and plenty of time to check every music shop in a 50 mile radius! [/list] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassboy115 Posted July 22, 2007 Share Posted July 22, 2007 Pus alot of shopes will have discounted prices around christmas time...why not just get the money and go out and try loads just after christmas in the sales! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MB1 Posted July 23, 2007 Share Posted July 23, 2007 MB1. There are quite a few in that price range.What i would suggest is you try any bass youre thinking of purchasing, on a -strap- in the shop before you buy it.what i have noticed with some of the cheaper basses is they can be quite playable sat down, but the minute you put them on the strap,theyre ridiculously neck heavy.Gibsons and Epiphones can suffer from this,a lot of cheaper basses are really well made these days, but having to hold the neck up on any ill balanced instrument ,wont help your playing.I would say Squire Fender or a japanese/mexican fender, second hand jazz.Try to take another bassist or guitarist friend, with you when you purchase(treat them too a mcdonalds) cheaper than making a costly mistake. Try not to get interested in something with no resale value,just in case you change your mind(thats why i said Fender, they wont loose too much on resale, and theyre always popular).Bear in mind theres many a good tune played on an old fiddle(BRAND NEW, ISNT ALWAYS BEST).SO try as many BASSES as you can, and F++K the fiddle!ENJOY. all the best MB1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul, the Posted July 23, 2007 Share Posted July 23, 2007 (edited) [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=300133551746&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=020"]Here's[/url] a Jazz VM 300133551746 -- Other brands/basses to consider: OLP, SUB, Aria Pro II, Toby Pro. Edited July 23, 2007 by paul, the Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_the_bass Posted July 23, 2007 Share Posted July 23, 2007 [quote name='Hamster' post='35421' date='Jul 21 2007, 11:54 PM']You can pick up a used MIM Jazz for £275 ish. OLP Tony Levin, Musicman Sub4 or Yamaha BB414 are all excellent used buys.[/quote] i found a slightly tatty MIM Jazz for less than £200 which when cleaned up was as good as new. OLPs look good and you should be able to get one of the active yamaha basses (BB614?) used well within your budget but yeah, definitely go into a shop and play as many as you can until you find one you like and even 2 of the same basses aren't necessarily going to be the same Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clauster Posted July 23, 2007 Share Posted July 23, 2007 Toffee, what basses have you already got? Do you want something that's the same but more? Something different? Is one of them worth spending the money on upgrades? At the top of your price range you MIGHT just find an abused MIA fender (especially as you've got 5 months). If you're looking at new basses don't forget to try the Rockbass range. Great instruments for the cash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted July 24, 2007 Share Posted July 24, 2007 There's a rather nice looking MIM Jazz in the classifieds @ £250 just to give you an idea of what you can get S/H for your money... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brave Sir Robin Posted July 26, 2007 Share Posted July 26, 2007 I'd give the Ibanez ATK a shot as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted July 26, 2007 Share Posted July 26, 2007 the best playing bass I ever owned was my Modulus mucho bucks Flea bass. The second was my £299 Bass Collection Speakeasy bass. Incredible value for so little. the next after that was a Rockbass Fortress ( I think ). You don't have to spend mega bucks to get a top bass. Different people play different stuff when they pick up a bass - I play one of the fastest runs I know I can play. If I can't play it, it goes back on the rack, if I can about manage it it is a possible after a good setup, if it seems easy then its an instant purchase - the bass collection was the latter. Not a status symbol but if you're looking for playability over snob factor or a 'name' this is my number one choice. Everyone does them. You can even get them under the SX name (big in the US) for less but they don't have as good electronics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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