A Good Bass to buy around $950

[Vugla94]

Hi, i've been playing for quite some time now, but haven't gotten a chance to play a decent bass. My current bass is some Stagg $150. Now, im hunting a new bass just wanted to get some advice in what to buy. Your help will be greatly appreciated

[pocketgroove]

You'll get a ton of suggestions. What style of bass do you prefer? My first recommendation would be a used Highway One bass, but I can completely understand if you were looking for something new, or you're not into the Fender style.

[nubs]

really, for 950 clams you can find yourself a ton a "good basses" far to many to mention. new and used i suggested a used one you can get darn near anything you'd like start playin em and pick one out.

[gumbynotpokey]

Go to the Carvin website and look at what they offer. Amazing quality, amazing choices, amazing prices.

[jlepre]

New or Used?

[tjnkoo]

Fender, Lakland Skyline, Musicman, Dingwall, Ibanez, MTD, etc. When I started bass I upgraded from a starter to a $600 Ibanez SR600 which was great for years. Oddly enough I picked up a Stagg fretless back in the Ibanez days and upgraded it recently to a Fender Tony Franklin fretless.

[Direct Box Rox]

You can get a new Modulus neck for $559 and then a cheap loaded jazz body.

[Joe Louvar]

~ Fender ~

[mcm]

Laklans skyline, g and l, fender USA

[smogg]

As already stated, tons of choices in your price range both new & used. If you're going new def take a look at the new Ibanez ATK basses. 800e (4 string) 805e (5 string)
http://www.ibanez.com/BassGuitars/Series-ATKPremium.
Try everything you can though and have fun.

[Malak the Mad]

They're right. Without any criteria we're just spitballing in the dark. All we can do, for the moment, is recommend something and perhaps explain why. For example, I'm a very big fan of the Fender Aerodyne Jazz (note, sig) because;

1. I'm a personal fan of Precision/Jazz pickup configurations for their variety of tone and sound.

2. The tighter fretboard radius (7.5" instead of the standard 9.5") plus the slim jazz width makes it, in my hands, feel super smooth and fast.

3. It's carved top shaves some weight off. Mine weighs in at 8.5 pounds.

4. It looks effin' spectacular! It's downright distinctive, even in a market full of jazz basses. At two different places music shops I've had employees stop in mid-stride, exclaim "Is THAT an Aerodyne?!" and then come over to paw at it.

They're back to their $800 price-point, now that the big Fender sale is over, but that would still leave you some extra cash left over for any necessary accessories, new strings, etc…

But all this is irrelevant if you don't get a chance to actually try one out. Personally, I'd much rather find out you made a decision after trying out several models at different stores and found the one that feels and looks best for your tastes.

P.S.: Please let us know what you pick, why and post a pic or twelve.

[Bassist Jay]

If you are looking used, I have 2 Music Man basses for sale right now on here. One is a Stingray 4 H and the other is a Sterling 4 H. The Stingray has only about 2 hours of play time on it and both basses are in like new condition.

My stuff aside, Music Man is a very good company and a lot of their used stuff is in the price range you mentioned.

As far as new goes, That is a little tougher because I see a lot of stuff either slightly lower than your price range or slightly higher.

[Jerry Ziarko]

Another gem is the USA Peavey Cirrus. I still say, dollar for dollar, they are the best deal on the used mkt.

[Dredmahawkus]

you get a better quality guitar used for the money. I bought a MIM fender new for 600 put $180 pickups in it and its not half the instrument my MIA deluxe used for 1000 is.