Suggestions for basses

[pes_laul]

I mentioned earlier that I'm joining jazz band. But I'm not quite sure what kind of bass to look at.

I'm looking for one that's good for jazz (duh) and one that could also handle some good rock.

My favorites are Fender P and Jazz Bass'

[ibanezjunkie]

i like jazz basses personally, the american standards have a really good, funky ring to the pickups, great for slapping.

the little metal pickup cover things provide a comfortable alternative to the whole thumb-on-pickup thing.

[Spudman***]

Sometimes you can find good deals on used G&L 2500 basses. It's a pro level bass and the new Sterling basses are quite good too. I'm not sure what you are planning to spend though. Robert likes his budget SX Jazz copy bass too. So many options.

So what is your price range?

[wingsdad]

Used MIM Fender J-basses go for $300 or so. If you're lucky, they make it fretless, too. They might go for closer to $400.

G&L's, used, I'd suggest you find & try in person. They come in a variety of neck profiles. The L-2500 is a 5-string, the L-2000 is the top 4-string. The Tribute series, asian imports, have one standard neck profile, have the same USA pickups as the USA G&L's and will cost a lot less. Equivalent model numbers. You could get one new for the same as a used USA model and used will run in the range of a MIM Fender, possibly even a Squire. A newer Tribute model, the SB-2, has a j-bass profile neck & bridge pup and p-bass type split midships pup. The JB-2 has 2 j-bass type pups.

[pes_laul]

Sometimes you can find good deals on used G&L 2500 basses. It's a pro level bass and the new Sterling basses are quite good too. I'm not sure what you are planning to spend though. Robert likes his budget SX Jazz copy bass too. So many options.

So what is your price range?

I'm not quite sure yet but I'm pretty sure it will be at least 300$

[marnold***]

The SXs are pretty highly regarded on the TalkBass forums. Before I got my Spector, I was eyeballing an Ash P/J bass that they had. Don't get hung up on the name "Jazz" in Jazz bass. You can play just about any style with any bass.

[Brian Krashpad]

Yeah, a decent P or J is always a good bet, eventually probably a good idea to have one of each (I do, and I'm not all that "serious" about bass).

[FrankenFretter***]

My brother is the bass player in the family, and he owned one of the SX JB basses for a while. He was actually really happy with it, especially at that price point. It was the fretless model, I should point out. He's had numerous basses, and now he's down to just his Squier Vintage Modified JB and a Warwick, I believe. The Squiers might be a very worthwhile alternative to paying for an actual Fender bass. Just a few random thoughts from someone who doesn't even play bass, FWIW.

[Brian Krashpad]

My brother is the bass player in the family, and he owned one of the SX JB basses for a while. He was actually really happy with it, especially at that price point. It was the fretless model, I should point out. He's had numerous basses, and now he's down to just his Squier Vintage Modified JB and a Warwick, I believe. The Squiers might be a very worthwhile alternative to paying for an actual Fender bass. Just a few random thoughts from someone who doesn't even play bass, FWIW.

Oh there's plenty of Squiers out there that will do the job just fine.

This is my '80's MIJ Squier P-bass:

[pes_laul]

Oh there's plenty of Squiers out there that will do the job just fine.

This is my '80's MIJ Squier P-bass:

what would be a good squier bass?

[Brian Krashpad]

what would be a good squier bass?

Well, the only ones I have personal experience with are the '80's MIJ Squiers. But I would think that the current Standards and up (Classic Vibe, Vintage Modified) would generally be good bets.

The cheaper Affinity models I'm less sure about, but of course there's good'uns and dogs at every level. I had an Affinty Strat that had been modded into a 2-P90 guitar and was emminintly giggable.

[Monkus]

you can try these, Ive played both and they should do what you want admirably:

Spector
http://www.spectorbass.com/NewFiles/basses.html

rbx170
http://www.zzounds.com/item--YAMRBX170

reviews on the rbx 170
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/r...a/RBX-170/10/1

[marnold***]

you can try these, Ive played both and they should do what you want admirably:

Spector
http://www.spectorbass.com/NewFiles/basses.html

I've got a Spector Performer 4 DLX. I'm not sure they're making the Performer series anymore The Legend series would be the next step up but then you're getting in the $500 range new, which sounds like it's out of your price range. I got my Performer last Fall for $179 new on evilBay so deals can be found. Check the bass section for my review of it. I like the NS body shape a lot. It certainly doesn't look like a Fender. It's got a very flat radius which can take some getting used to if you are more used to a Fender-style neck.

[MAXIFUNK]

I do not know your price range
But May I suggest

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Ibanez-S...59-i1148507.gc

I have this Bass and I love it it can be used to play any style of music.
I have no need for a 2nd Bass at all and if and when I get a 2nd bass it will
be the Prestige SR 5000E!

[Zip]

My 2¢ - OLP. Not manufactured anymore, but Craigslist & eBay have them all the time, in the $100-200 price range. Patience will get you the best deal.

I have a 5-string, but the 4's are pretty sweet too. Excellent for slap 'n pop, they'll do anything from jazz to country to metal to screamo to....well, pretty much anything. Basswood or Elm body (ever sat under an 'agathis' tree? Of course not ), nice hardware, comfy neck, the pickup alone is worth the price of the bass IMO. 2 volume (1 for each coil), 1 tone. Yesterday a friend played his 5-string Tobias (active pups, pre-sellout bass), then my OLP. He paid over $1,300 for the Tobias, and wouldn't put down the OLP. Use whatever's left over from the $300 for a nice case.

[Robert****]

My SX jazz bass is awesome. I love it, and it was dirt cheap. No need to change anything on it either.

[pes_laul]

My SX jazz bass is awesome. I love it, and it was dirt cheap. No need to change anything on it either.

how much was that?

[marnold***]

how much was that?

About a C note: http://www.rondomusic.com/bassguitars4.html

My only concern with the lower-end SXs is that really heavy gloss amber tint they put on their necks. It's too dark (IMO) and rather sticky.

[gndboy]

Anything that plays well with a P-J pickup arrangement will likely be fine. Avoid Goth body shapes.