Cort GB34A vs Squier VM Jaguar

[Boyakasha]

I'm still wondering which bass to get as my starter bass, which one would you choose between these two?

Cort GB-34A WTS http://www.thomann.de/es/cort_gb34a_3ts.htm 255€ (230€ elsewhere)

Squier VM Jaguar http://www.thomann.de/es/fender_squi...6f8701626a8f50 340€ (310€ elsewhere)

The 80€ difference would go into buying a better amp and acessories.

Please add some info as to why you choose either model.

Are the Duncan designed pickups better than the MightyMites?
Would the MightyMite pickup sound at all like a MusicMan humbucker?


On a side note, is this amp any good? http://www.thomann.de/es/harley_benton_hbw80.htm it's cheaper than some 15w basses and it has built in chorus.
Is the brand reliable?
Assuming it's good how much can I do with 80w?

Thanks in advance.

[Vakmere]

Do Fords sound like Chevys? If you are looking for an economy bass either one will do but you may not like the sound of either one. Your questions about the pickups indicate you have not actually played either one of them side by side and are just looking a the pictures.

With an 80 watt amp it would be just enough to wake the baby but not be heard in a band setting.

Dont waste time and money on cheap gear only to have to spend more later on better stuff.

[Boyakasha]

Originally Posted by Vakmere

Do Fords sound like Chevys? If you are looking for an economy bass either one will do but you may not like the sound of either one. Your questions about the pickups indicate you have not actually played either one of them side by side and are just looking a the pictures.

No, but two cars with similar engines will sound similar whereas an electric will never sound like a hummer with a hole in the exhaust tube, I know it won't sound exactly like a stingray, nor should it at this price range, I just want to know if it sounds like one, meaning, if it resembles the original sound at all or not.

I have not played them, unfornatly I can't, if I could have tested them both this thread wouldn't make much sense.

Originally Posted by Vakmere

With an 80 watt amp it would be just enough to wake the baby but not be heard in a band setting.

Could you be more specific ? I know it won't be powerful enough to be heard along with a drummer, but is it enough to play small venues and for duets with a guitarrist an whatnot?

Originally Posted by Vakmere

Dont wate time and money on cheap gear only to have to spend more later on better stuff.

So I should just wait a couple more years and save 4000€ and buy something in that price range, then learn how to play, then decide wheter or not I actually like bass?
As I said it's my first bass, I don't want (nor can) spend too much on it, I want to spend enough not to get crap, and I'm so keen on not getting crap I'm making threads about it. (:

Thanks for your input anyway.

[EighthNotes]

Go for the Squier, though the VM Jaguar may or may not be available until next month at the earliest. Any of the current Squiers (VM or CV) would be a great starter bass IMO. A helluva lot better than what I started on. I don;t have any experience with Cort, but the Squiers are something that can be used even after you've gotten good at playing. I play a $700 Japanese Fender and I still want a Squier.

[VincentGrim]

you might get something similar to a musicman tone out of the cort, a pale shadow in comparison, but similar. The beauty of it would be that if that is the sound you're after and you decide you like bass, the cort is ready for some better MM style pickups to be dropped in. As far as how the Corts pickups will compare to the Squier's, they really are completely different animals. Their only thing in common ((the J pup)) is in a completely different location. Other than the old saying "a bass sounds like a bass", a P/J set up and a MM/J set up are massively different. I would at least listen to some clips on youtube if you can't get your hands on two basses with a similar set up to test out.

80 watts will take you far as a first amp for a beginning bassist. When/if you find yourself in a full band situation you will want to upgrade.

[DrPepper09]

go with the squier. squiers are usually a good starter bass and sometimes, imo, better than fenders. I've played a cort (not that bass) and felt as though it was cheaply made, your experience could be different though. Don't buy an amp until you need to, and even then don't go for the biggest bang for your buck. For example: a Marshall MG (guitar amp) may cost x10 less than a orange of the same wattage, but what sounds better? Make sure you do plenty of research before the purchase of the amp.

[vedi]

Originally Posted by VincentGrim

you might get something similar to a musicman tone out of the cort, a pale shadow in comparison, but similar.

played the above mentioned cort many times, own a stingray for 10yrs+. not even a pale shadow in comparison - they are completely different animals. i think it's the wiring, because the thing sounds like a beefy single coil to me. vintage honky. which might not be a bad thing. ymmv.

regarding the quality of the cort - it's fine. considering the price - it's awesome. put on some good strings, have someone do a good setup... off you go.

squire... never played that one.

cheers!

[Boyakasha]

Originally Posted by vedi

played the above mentioned cort many times, own a stingray for 10yrs+. not even a pale shadow in comparison - they are completely different animals. i think it's the wiring, because the thing sounds like a beefy single coil to me. vintage honky. which might not be a bad thing. ymmv.

regarding the quality of the cort - it's fine. considering the price - it's awesome. put on some good strings, have someone do a good setup... off you go.

squire... never played that one.

cheers!

It sounds like a jazz bass then?
Can I get something closet to a musicman tone if I upgrade the pickup or not at all?
Have you tried any Squier VM? How would you compare them in terms of built?

[VincentGrim]

Originally Posted by vedi

not even a pale shadow in comparison - they are completely different animals.

I expected this, but figured I'd throw the Cort the benefit of the doubt. Well there you have it, they are not the remotely similar, but the Corts I have played have been good instruments for the money and if the OP is after the Musicman tone he has but spend the extra scratch on a new pickup/electronics and wind up with something probably kinda close at a fraction of the cost

[Orangeclawhamme]

I do not have experience with very many basses. However, I own the Cort that you are considering and love it. I hope you can find samples to play to see which one you like.

[MUSHROOMSeAcOw]

VM. Squiers are so wonderful. I have a $800 Ibanez SR700 and a $300 Squier Affinity V. Guess which gets more playtime?

[Mr BattleArmor]

Originally Posted by Boyakasha

No, but two cars with similar engines will sound similar .

Untrue! The air intake is what makes up most of the sound. You can have the same engine sound completely different with a different intake...as well as many other properties for that matter. Many car manufactuars use the same engine in tons of cars, and tuned differently, sound drastically different.

Sorry...I couldn't let it go.

[vedi]

Originally Posted by Boyakasha

It sounds like a jazz bass then?
Can I get something closet to a musicman tone if I upgrade the pickup or not at all?
Have you tried any Squier VM? How would you compare them in terms of built?

nope, doesn't sound like jazz bass the "MM" pickup is closer to the neck and even if it weren't it is still beefier than single coil. might be it is wired in series, but it doesn't sound like SR5 either.

i can't predict the success of pickup swapping operation. there are other things to take into account, imho. plus - you would be paying about the same amount of cash for new pickup and electronics as you would for a new cort (the one mentioned above). that doesn't make sense to me.

the last thing to take into account is the neck pickup, which is extremely weak. now that i think of it - they might have tamed the bridge pickup somehow (like a permanent volume+tone circuit?), because they had kinda same output.

cut the story short - you can get usable slap sound with some eq, and soloed bridge pickup is kinda funky... you get the bang for the bucks.

i was put away by the quality control of squire long time ago. i heard that they improved that lately, but i can't be bothered you see this face? it ain't bothered