Buying a bass with Christmas money

[bkbirge]

Apologies for previous post if you aren't a troll. But I'm still leaving it up 'cause I like it.

That said, I'd wager your $4500 that you wouldn't be able to tell the difference of a $4500 bass against a $45 one at this point if they were both stuck in your hands.

As you also seem to be new enough that you don't know what you want then I echo other's advice on here to go find a teacher. Buy a cheap starter bass, the worse the better in some respects as it will force you to play and squeeze out what sound you can via technique and sweat, not $$. This will teach you what your hands, back, ears want. Then you will be better able to judge not only the questions you are asking now, but the answers you have been receiving.

Now, if you ask this question in the double bass forum you will be better received as $4500 is still in the expected working man's budget for one of those instruments. But they would say the same thing for your first step. Get a teacher and a starter bass and practice your ass off before blowing the bucks.

[hrodbert696]

Y'know, he's asking about a bass, but it occurs to me that he could buy a decent bass and amp rig and have enough left over to be the hero who outfits his band with a whole PA. If he has/anticipates having a band, anyway.

MIA Fender (for instance) - $1300
Ampeg portaflex 500 half-stack (just to pull one out of a hat) - $1500
Yamaha PA setup - $1500ish (looking at the bundles on MF)
and $200 to spare for straps and cables or pedals or whatever.

If it were me in his shoes, that might be the direction I would go.

[Alex1984]

Try some basses out first, figure out your preferences (pickup configuration, neck profile, construction, preamp, number of strings, looks, etc.) If you want a instrument that's true to vintage specs, I'd look into Fender CS or John K, Fender's AVRI are very good instruments, too without going into CS territory, and they've recently seen a price drop.

IMO, $4500's a bit much to sink into 1 bass. I tend to feel the sweet spot in terms of price vs performance is around the $1K~$1.5 mark. I'd much rather have 2 or 3 quality instruments than 1 VERY expensive one. Also, just because you have the money now doesn't mean you need to spend it all. You should save some for later. You never know when that "dream bass" might come up on TB Classified!

[Brad Johnson]

Originally Posted by DropDaBass

College student here just got early Christmas money looking to purchase a 4 or 5 string bass from the companies below

ESP ( NOT LTD )
FENDER ( NOT SQUIRE )
IBANEZ

There is a really nice ESP bass from Japan I am planning on getting which is going to cost around 4,500 USD

If anyone got a esp,fender or Ibanez BTB comment below for your prices.

If it's what you want, buy it. Others opinions of the bass don't really matter. You've figured out that the bass is worth what they're asking.

[tjnkoo]

Sorry if I offended, man. I am around the same age as you (early college) and just thought that might be what you meant. I have a couple of nice basses, although not $4500. I found them all after actually playing them. That said, the Ibanez Premiums are nice, Fender Custom Shop is in your range, USA Laklands (often Fender styled) are of your caliber, etc. I have a friend from brazil who is from a rather affluent family. He has many basses that are very very nice, such as Ritters, EB Family Reserve Musicmans, Statuses, etc. Makes my Dingwall ABZ5 and 77' Fender Jazz look awfully humble, haha, but both of my main players there just came to me in one way it another. If the ESP just grabs you than go for it. That's how I got my Dingwall and I play that bass everyday. I got my 77' from playing tons of custom basses at a bass shop that I assumed were far beyond me, but somehow found it amongst them and dug it.

[lowphatbass]

Originally Posted by kjpollo

If he really does buy the $4k bass, can you picture him bringing it to his dorm after the holidays??
Personally, I'd be scared stiff to bring something that expensive to a dorm. WAY too many opportunities for all kinds of unfortunate things to happen to that bass.
I know if I had $4500 to spend on gear, there's no chance I'd buy just one bass. I'd spend about a grand on putting together a nice used amp rig, probably order ONE custom bass for around $2k and pick up a couple others that interest me.

I doubt the OP stays in the dorms.

We don't even know if he's/she's going to music school, has been playing 5 days or 5 years, what kind of music he/she likes or wants to play or how many and what kind of basses are or have been owned.

Honestly, if I had to spend the whole $4500 on just one bass(not spread it around on amps, etc) I would go Dingwall or Sadowski.

[DropDaBass]

Thank you all for your honest input, now to answer the "trolling" no I am not trolling. When I first moved into my dorm I was given a couple hundred bucks just for food and in case something comes up, when I joined this site I had about 500 that TO ME felt like a good idea to get a bass THAT is when I posted looking for a bass, THIS IS CHRISTMAS, A LOT CAN HAPPEN IN ONE MONTH. Parents gave me money, now I have enough to get almost any kind of instrument I want. I've bugged them about them getting me a new guitar/bass they said if I can prove to be responsible with grades then they will consider it. Which they did hence why I currently have the 4500.

Now for general questions, I was in a metalcore band back in my home state, ever since we all went our separate ways for college. I am no longer in one. At this time I have found some people here willing to make a band which is why I would like to get one and I thought this site would help.

I have played guitar for 7 years and been playing bass for about 4. I have a ESP Horizon 7 guitar back home and a cheap warwick bass which now belongs to my brother who is doing music lessons by my old jazz teacher.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhQUyeQf01Q

This is the kind of band I was in.

Everyone has their preferences. I have been a long time supporter of ESP and I am aware Fender makes amazing bass's. There was a Carvin 5 string that got my attention.

Any other questions ask.

[DropDaBass]

I have been studying english and living in America for 3 years now. I am from Japan.

[DropDaBass]

Originally Posted by hrodbert696

Y'know, he's asking about a bass, but it occurs to me that he could buy a decent bass and amp rig and have enough left over to be the hero who outfits his band with a whole PA. If he has/anticipates having a band, anyway.

MIA Fender (for instance) - $1300
Ampeg portaflex 500 half-stack (just to pull one out of a hat) - $1500
Yamaha PA setup - $1500ish (looking at the bundles on MF)
and $200 to spare for straps and cables or pedals or whatever.

If it were me in his shoes, that might be the direction I would go.

I'm using a AmpSim- Guitar rig 3

[Alex1984]

Ah, I think you know what you're doing and it makes sense to support your home country. Japan does put out great products. I personally don't like Ibanez though. My guitarist swears by his ESP Eclipse II, Japanese Tokai and Bacchus Les Pauls. I've been really digging my Yamaha BB3000 lately, too. Anyway, I'd still say try to not spend all $4500 at once, but if the ESP really is the bass of your dreams then go for it.

[ggvicviper]

Originally Posted by hdracer

$450 doesn't get you anything Fender, even used.
I think that's true for MIJ ESP too

Not true. There are plenty of used Fenders for that price range that are MIM and sometimes MIJ.

EDIT: OP, you're very fortunate to have parents so generous. I like Fender and say go for them. Sometimes used is a nice option, and you can find some classic and some interesting instruments this way. The rest of the money I say save.

[awilkie84]

Originally Posted by ggvicviper

Not true. There are plenty of used Fenders for that price range that are MIM and sometimes MIJ.

EDIT: OP, you're very fortunate to have parents so generous. I like Fender and say go for them. Sometimes used is a nice option, and you can find some classic and some interesting instruments this way. The rest of the money I say save.

I'm kind of glad my parents weren't so generous with me. My dad could easily drop me $4-5k for a primo bass, but doesn't. Why? Because he knows that anything beyond a $2k bass is merely a status symbol for what I'd do with it. I'm not a pro, not touring, not a virtuoso. There's no need for an instrument of that pedigree or cost when you're not in one of those positions, unless it's to say "Look at my Infinity G37!" It's the same reason my dad has a working man's truck (functional, practical) when he could easily drop the coin on a Porsche.

Play what's practical & will make you happy, not what your friends will ooh & ahh over (and many will scoff at as being overkill).

[hrodbert696]

Originally Posted by DropDaBass

Thank you all for your honest input, now to answer the "trolling" no I am not trolling. When I first moved into my dorm I was given a couple hundred bucks just for food and in case something comes up, when I joined this site I had about 500 that TO ME felt like a good idea to get a bass THAT is when I posted looking for a bass, THIS IS CHRISTMAS, A LOT CAN HAPPEN IN ONE MONTH. Parents gave me money, now I have enough to get almost any kind of instrument I want. I've bugged them about them getting me a new guitar/bass they said if I can prove to be responsible with grades then they will consider it. Which they did hence why I currently have the 4500.

Now for general questions, I was in a metalcore band back in my home state, ever since we all went our separate ways for college. I am no longer in one. At this time I have found some people here willing to make a band which is why I would like to get one and I thought this site would help.

I have played guitar for 7 years and been playing bass for about 4. I have a ESP Horizon 7 guitar back home and a cheap warwick bass which now belongs to my brother who is doing music lessons by my old jazz teacher.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhQUyeQf01Q

This is the kind of band I was in.

Everyone has their preferences. I have been a long time supporter of ESP and I am aware Fender makes amazing bass's. There was a Carvin 5 string that got my attention.

Any other questions ask.

Originally Posted by DropDaBass

I'm using a AmpSim- Guitar rig 3

Thanks for the detail, I understand your situation better now. Well, like I said before, I'm pretty useless for making recommendations about premium quality basses. But if you're playing through a computer now, but have a crew of guys talking about putting a band together, I would stick to my previous suggestion; Buy a nice bass in the $1000-2000 range and put the rest of the money into an amplifier for yourself and a PA for the band.

Back on your original question, whether you go with ESP, Fender or Ibanez (or anyone else) is up to you, those are three very different options. Between them, myself, I'd probably go with a five-string MIA Fender Jazz in your situation. But I'm not you.

[Malak the Mad]

Originally Posted by DropDaBass

I have been studying english and living in America for 3 years now. I am from Japan.

Oh, the irony!

I was going to post something to the tune of "If I had even half that amount, I'd get a slick import from Japan!" Probably the walnut jazz bass or an Aerodyne in a color you can't get here in the states. Hell, for half of what he's got to play with, I could get both!

http://www.fenderjapan.co.jp/jb62-wal.html
http://www.fenderjapan.co.jp/ajb.html

But setting fantasy shopping trips aside, I'd feel extremely uncomfortable carrying around a bass that costs as much as a used car. Every ding, scratch and chip would feel like a bleeding wound. And if it got trashed or stolen? Sheer agony followed by overwhelming depression!

I agree with the others, play different models to see what feels and sounds right to you. If it's only a fraction of the money you have…bonus! Then you can get other gear you'll need in the immediate future and maybe have something left for a decent back-up bass.

[KingRazor]

If I had $4500 I'd put a down payment on a car, personally.

[Munjibunga]

Don't listen to these guys. Get what you want.

[K-Punk]

I second that Munjubunga...Get what you want, kid. But get it used if you can. It will be much,much cheaper.