Adventures in Bassland!

kbaxter26 · #1 04-13-2013, 04:04 PM

Gonna start this with a disclaimer. I AM NOT A GREAT BASS PLAYER. WOULD NOT CALL MYSELF A BASSIST, FOR SURE.
So, I decided to go to Elderly Instruments in Lansing, Mi today and try out a few basses. Both are basses I have been drowling over for sometime. A Rickenbacker 4001 and a 2008 Geddy Lee. All played through an Ampeg Portabass 250 and Ampeg 810. I am so glad I did. Although both basses were really nice, I mean really nice. I was not at all happy with the sound of either of them. But, that is just me. So, I decided to try every other bass that interested me. This place has so many to try. By far my favorite was a 1962 (ORIGINAL) Jazz. Looked bad, but played so nice. $5000 OUCH!!! StingRay...yawn for my taste. Fender American Std Jazz. Weak on the pups. Jazz MIM. This one was really a good sounding bass. Played nice loved the maple fretboard. Fender Modern Player Jazz, too much distortion for me. A couple P's, sorry guys, just not my cup of tea, as they say. Then, I found a Squire (YES SQUIRE) VM 77, just like mine at home. It convinced me I got a great deal on a great bass. It sounded better than all but the '62. I do know I need to get a Portabass, Porta Flex 350 or 500. I just love that Ampeg tone. I get home and find the GOTOH bridge I ordered in the post. And, my son had dropped of a set of GHS InfinitySteel 44-102 Medium Light strings. So, I remove std bridge and RotoSound Swing 77's from my VM77, install the new bridge and strings (RED, never seen red strings before). WOW WHAT Sustain and crunch I have. I am still playing through my Fender Bassman60, but I am tickled with my low-budget "rig". All told, I have spent (CASH) $140 on my "rig".
Wanted to share this with those of you, like me, who just don't have much to spend on these things. It can be done, and on the low, just need to keep trying different things.
Have a GREAT day ladies and gentlemen!!!

kbaxter26 · #2 04-16-2013, 02:06 PM

On every nice player. Too much for my blood though.

http://www.elderly.com/vintage/names...--55U-4868.htm

joeyl · #3 04-16-2013, 03:29 PM

cool story, bro.

but no pics no bass, that's them rulz

Also Squier not Squire.

joeyl · #4 04-16-2013, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kbaxter26

On every nice player. Too much for my blood though.

http://www.elderly.com/vintage/names...--55U-4868.htm

I saw that bass earlier when browsing the Elderly site, 4900 is a lot for that, and it is on hold!

kbaxter26 · #5 04-16-2013, 04:58 PM

Best pic I can get on my phone.

kbaxter26 · #6 04-16-2013, 05:11 PM

joeyl · #7 04-16-2013, 06:49 PM

Nice, I dig the block inlays on maple.

kbaxter26 · #8 04-16-2013, 07:07 PM

Thanks. Me too. I only like the way a maple fretboard feels.

PrietoBass · #9 04-16-2013, 07:11 PM

Them Squawiers are good basses. I've got 2.

kbaxter26 · #10 04-16-2013, 07:15 PM

I have been VERY HAPPY witb thjs Squier. The Duncans are really sweet.

**hsech** · #11 04-16-2013, 07:22 PM

Squier isn't my cup of tea, but an Am Std P or an Am Std J is. to each his own.

kbaxter26 · #12 04-16-2013, 07:25 PM

If I could have found a Fender American JAZZ that sounded as good as this particular Squier, I might be saving for it. I am very impressed with this. You really ought to try one out.
I wonder if it is the Duncans that make it sound EXACTLY the way I like it. I know the maple fretboard helps.