Help w/Strings, pups, bass quality

[Zeus_Mutation]

My question:
I want a better bass but just can't afford to buy a MIM or American Fender. I want to get rid of these damn rattles. What are good strings for a nice warm tone but not muddy and with just enough highs thrown in? Will better pups do any real justice as well... Its an Agathis body.

Background info:
So I'm 40 and started playing bass a year ago... the idea, I have always wanted to play an instrument so lets start trying and stop wishing.

I purchased one of the Squire J-bass packages from GC and 6 months into it I regretted it due to its lack of quality. Just to many rattles and such, even the knobs work backwards (Top adjusts bottom pup, bottom controls top).

The long story is after 6 months I still sucked and couldnt play anything except Dive by Nirvana... my wife asked for a small e-drum kit because she liked playing garageband, so i got a decent used kit. Muscian friends would come over and we would mess around between the drums and bass, sometimes they'd bring a guitar... anyway, they all said I was a natural at drums, my fav instrument anyhow, and so I focused on it. I've since been asked to join two bands, it came real easy for me... once you gain independance your off to the races.

After a few months on the drums I picked up my bass and BAMB!! the light went on and I could play something other than the one scale I was practicing. I still sucked but that feeling it was possible was enough to keep me playing at least once a week (now thats a slow progression).

Fast forward... now I don't want to put my bass down... I play for at least 30 minutes a day for the last month. Songs I know are Dive, Superfreak, Flashlight, Pawn Shop, and then the first 2 minutes of Iron Man, Run to the Hills, Ramble On, Dazed and Confused, should I stay or should I go, and then all the stuff I make up.

I want to play Funk, Sublime, and Rock... lots of Rock.

Sorry for the long post... I figured the more info the easier it would be for assistance.

Thanks!

[darkstorm]

Id suggest something like the esp ltd B50 bass. They sell new for $199 and would be better imo then trying to improve one of those starter pack basses. Those are lower qaulity then ay of the regular lowest pricess squires by themself. Stock the b50 is gonna be better hardware, pups, fretwork, and build then what you have now. So even if you spent the $150 on upgraded pups, and hardware which is real easy to do even iwth inexpensive upgrade stuff, your still not going to have as well built a bass as buying new one like the Esp Ltd B50. You might even get lucky and find used one or similiar for less then that.

Normally I favor upgrading basses one otherwise likes. But starter pack basses are not worth it and the exception imo. you will enjoy playing a better made bass more and its stock stuff pretty well equals upgrade stuff. For example the stock pups are so close to dimarzio model P and J pups that upgrade to them wouldnt result in anything noticeable really.

[RickenBoogie]

New strings on a crappy bass will still be a crappy bass. Now, if you get new strings, and take the bass in to a luthier to set it up with the new strings, that might be a big improvement. However, I'd suggest selling it, (or trading), to something nicer. You'll need to actually go out and play a bunch of basses, to know what's good for you. Stick within whater your budget is, and play EVERYTHING within that budget.

[Zeus_Mutation]

Thanks a lot!

I've noticed a huge difference in quality and playability. I'm just going to hold out for something nice.

[JB36]

I've read some people like their Affinitys. I purchased a P bass pack to make sure I was going stick with it and it was a terrible decision. Couldn't get a good tone out of the bass and amp to save my life. I suggest learning how to do your own setups. I found the videos on Bass Player Mag website the most helpful. It's not hard to do and shouldn't take long to get a handle on it. This may help your rattles. Maybe the bass has issues. Nickel string are a bit quieter and will help. I when first started practicing I found a lot of noise was technique. I actually liked having noisier steels because it forced me to improve my technique. Upgrading to a Squier VM or Classic is a natural progression. Good luck.

[SLaPiNFuNK]

Are the rattles in the bass its self? or is it due to needing a setup?

It could be the strings rattling behind your fretted finger if the bass needs a setup...