What would you get?

[bassmanAzz]

Hi all, im looking at getting a new bass. I currently play an Epiphone Thunderbird, and basically want to get something a bit better.

Im looking for something with a nice deep bottom end but plenty of tonal variations.
So far i've looked at Lakland's but im not sure what else to try out. Im not keen on Fender's but any suggestions will be good.

cheers aaron

[OutToPlayJazz]

Hi Aaron, what sort of price range are you looking at? At the end of the day, we're all going to suggest a million-and-one basses that we like the sound and feel of, but only you can go to your local music stores and try out as many basses as you can and see what fits you and your ears

Happy shopping!

[bassmanAzz]

Im looking around about £1000, yes i suppose it is personal opinion. Its hard to try basses out around here, we have one guitar shop and it sells mainly keyboards/pianos and guitars, which probably comes as no surprise to you.

thanks

[gerryk]

Hi aaron
From all the basses I've used, the Bartolini-equipped Lakland prob has biggest bottom end - I've often been asked to roll it off a bit in recording situations, and it wasn't even full on. I can't comment on Laklands with their own range of pickups.
Also, Marcus miller jazz with decent preamp (IMHO the stock one is awfull, I fitted a Damien Hickey preamp, @ €100, great natural sound), eg Aguilar etc, really has monster bottom end, though you don't really like Fenders...
I have only played them in shops, but their really nice, and very well thought of on this forum, the G & L basses are worth checking out.
The MM 5s are really great if you can get a nice one - quality control seems to be hit and miss with them - I never had one without some flaw in the sound somewhere, whether it was an isolated but irritating dead spot or a wooly B string...
The Jazz might not be as versatile as the others, but it does the Jazz thing really brilliantly of course.

Try well before buying anything!

[OutToPlayJazz]

Now I've seen a budget, I'd say you're in MusicMan Stingray territory there. You could just about get a deal on a new one or get the very best of the best used ones.

[Mr Bassman]

[quote name='bassmanAzz' post='779236' date='Mar 18 2010, 10:30 PM']Its hard to try basses out around here[/quote]

Where exactly is "around here"?

[bassmanAzz]

Leicester

[bubinga5]

do you want new or used/new to you Arron..

there are sooo many bargains to have on the for sale section here...

i wasnt keen on Fender when i first started buying basses, i thought they were to 'obvious'...but i saw the jazz light..prob not the best for bottom end mind....

you got a good budget to get a great bass there...Lakland are awsome IMO..i take it looking for a 4 string...what about a 44-02 or a Fender P Bass..For £1000 you can get a world class instrument second hand..i got my Sei Jazz 5 for a shade over that and there well over £2000 new...

My Stingray5 had a massive bottom end... i also suggest a Gibson Les Paul...bloody huge bottom end power

like Rich said you should take a few ideas and go and try as many basses as you can...it really is the only way to find an instrument your happy with...you may have to travel a bit to try them out, but if your spending £1000 its prob worth the effort..


happy (envious shopping)..

Edited March 18, 2010 by bubinga5

[throwoff]

2nd hand Warwicks are a good place to be right now. For your budget you could get a real stonker.

Plenty of growly middle and personally I think the Corvette $$ has an insanse amount of low end

[Hot Tub]

With that budget, you need to take a day trip to Bass Direct here in Warwick.

Trust me.

[throwoff]

It really is a great budget!

Im just flicking through thomann and am awestruck at what a grand will buy you

[bubinga5]

[quote name='Hot Tub' post='779273' date='Mar 18 2010, 11:14 PM']With that budget, you need to take a day trip to Bass Direct here in Warwick.

Trust me.

[/quote]+100...wish i lived in Warwick..god i would annoy Mark

Edited March 18, 2010 by bubinga5

[hellothere]

I love my ibane iceman, very good value for money.

Go to a shop and try some out is probably your best bet if you dont have something specific in mind.

[cetera]

Musicman Stingray or Spector EuroLX for starters....

[Balcro]

Here's another alternative that doesn't look like a Fender/clone. Check it out on the web -

[url="http://www.ibanez.co.jp/world/country/frame_uk.html"]http://www.ibanez.co.jp/world/country/frame_uk.html[/url]

The go to Basses; SR Range; SR; 4000E Prestige. Made in Japan with extra deep tone neck pickup and switchable 3-band Eq. Costs £1172 nearly everywhere.

Balcro.

[FlatEric]

Ahhh, what you need is a T-40!
"Plenty of bottom end and lots of tonal variety"
That's what you are looking for?
Come and join us!
Check out Gear Porn, Peavey T-40.
I am not "a million" away from you, so if you are interested,
PM me and you might be able to have a test drive!
Plus. . . . . you could buy 2 [i]good[/i] T-40's and still have change
for a weekend away.

Joking aside, there are [i]so many[/i] used classic basses out there,
do you really need to lay out all that cash?
If you have had the Epi, you could get a Gibson RD Artist, with a few miles
on it, Ibanez Musician, Aria SB, or if you wanted something newer, the very
punchy Status Groove, or Ibanez SR900/1000, there's loads to choose from.

[Dubs]

Get a used SSII

[xgsjx]

Get a rare Matt metallic purple Vox Standard For £500 & spend the other £500 on pick ups, electrics & hardware & putting it back together.

Now that you've decided what you want, finding one could be along hard task as there's only a few black ones about & no others. But don't despair, I just so happen to have one! ^_^

[OutToPlayJazz]

I always smile to myself on these threads, thinking how good we are at spending someone else's hard earned!

[bassmanAzz]

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='780046' date='Mar 19 2010, 05:42 PM']I always smile to myself on these threads, thinking how good we are at spending someone else's hard earned! [/quote]

yeah, we can all spend other peoples money... its when i comes to our own when we struggle

[Dubs]

[quote name='bassmanAzz' post='780082' date='Mar 19 2010, 06:16 PM']its when i comes to our own when we struggle [/quote]

Doesn't seem to be too difficult for me that's my problem!!

[bassmanAzz]

[quote name='Dubs' post='780096' date='Mar 19 2010, 06:31 PM']Doesn't seem to be too difficult for me that's my problem!! [/quote]

haha i dont have a problem spending it, its what on.

[Clarky72]

You really can't go far wrong with a MusicMan Stingray! I love mine, and huge ass end...

[The Burpster]

For £1k you could pick up a used PRS EB-IV - all the bass you'd ever need (unless of course you needed 5 strings) with a D-tuner!

[morsefull]

[quote name='Dubs' post='779725' date='Mar 19 2010, 01:18 PM']Get a used SSII[/quote]

Best thing I ever did! Just an awesome sound and playability too . It keeps me up at night it's that good.