Synthesizers for doing bass

[ribafish]

I have searched Talkbass and found nothing similar, so I am making a new thread. I'm also not shure if this is really the right place, but it seems the rightest. In the Effects subforum, there si alot of discussion going on about how to get a synth sound from your bass...and a lot of answers are: Get a synth. I know that there are bassists that use synths when they have to, they just need to come out=)

The second reason for starting this thread(or maybe the first one) is that I'm getting me a synth to do bass and I'm not sure what to get. The budget is roughly 600€, and so far I have excluded the r3 for plasticy and cheap feel; Waldorf Blofield, Microkorgs, miniak, Mopho desktop, Tetra and probably some more for non-intuitive programming(mainly not enough knobs, or just didn't like the interface). The MS2000 is somewhat expensive where I live with a pricetag of 550€.
So, what I'm left with are Mopho keyboard(havent tried it), Alesis Ion, Novation Ultranova(havent tried it). I'd like to have aftertouch, as I think its a great feature and enables a lot of new possibilites, enough knobs to be able to program on the go(at least on practice, for gigs i'd make patches and change them) and a good feeling when you touch and play it. Moog Slim/Little Phatty is out of budget, so is Nord rack 2x and well, everything thats above that.

I have tried the desktop version of mopho, but it didn't impress me. I'm not sure if it's the sound or the fact that I couldn't program it and the controller they gave me wasn't good. I didn't feel like playing it really....I've also tried the PolyEvolver, and that was really miles ahead....it made want to play and come up with new sounds and way to use it. So, if the Mopho keaboard is anything like the PolyEvolver, I'm sure that if I get it I wont regret it....if it stays closer to the dektop...than I hope I wont end up having it. I know that mopho is monophonic and poyl evolver has 4 voices, but if you use the evolver in monophonic mode and than compare them. Which one is it closer to?
How does the Ultranova do with basses, how does it feel and how is it put together? I'm trying to find one to try, but its not looking good.
What do you think about Ion? I've tried it, but I have to do it again, as all other synths I have tried, I've tried with headphones and Ion was on speakers, so I can't really compare them. Other than that, I really liked it, it feelt good to play, the knobs were firm, I doesn't have aftertouch, but it has two modulation knobs. I've heard some complaints about quality, but the one I've tried had no such problems. Plus, it's polyphonic.

So, any thoughts on what to get?

PS: I wouldn't use it only for bass sounds, it would get some other use too. Mostly bass though.

[MatticusMania]

I have a Novation Xiosynth I use on occasion. My band is trying to get me to use it in some of our stuff, but I dont want the extra gear or setup to deal with.

[jmattbassplaya]

Check this thread out:

Interested in Synths - Not the pedals!

[ribafish]

how could I miss that...I've been through the last 30 pages i think of results regarding 'synth'. Well, the stuff you were searching for and is discussed in that thread isn't really the same as what I'm looking for, so....there's still a reason for a new thread.
How does the Xiosynth feel? As far as I can tell, it needs a computer to be really usefull for on-the-go programming, so it's not what I'm looking for, as I don't want to carry a laptop around too.
Did I happen to mention that I can get the Ion for sub 300€....which leaves me with 300€ to spend on some nice effects....lets say an M9 would be nice....so yeah, I'm pretty much leaning towards the ion...I'm going to try it again tomorrow with headphones. I just may carry it home after that=)

[OhulahanBass]

I have a Micron which is the same as the ION with back pages instead of knobs. I wouldn't call it a great synth for bass. I'm actually looking into a Mopho for synth bass.