Pick My Next Bass For Me

BayStateBass · #1 11-09-2012, 08:40 PM

Funny, eh?

Well, seriously, I'm going into the 5 string life. It will be useful for what I am doing (modern Country) and I think it is where I'm meant to go with my playing.

I have narrowed it down to two basses but am interested in opinions.

Just for reference, both of my main 4's are Schecters. I really like them a lot. I have a Raiden 4 and a Diamond P 4. The P is my main player and I really like it a whole lot, well, except for the weight. It is a real heavy bass and takes it's toll on you after a couple hours.

Here's where i'm at.

I want to buy new. I know all the reasons to buy used but I'm buying new. Call me crazy. But I like the idea of being the first owner of a bass without a history.

My amplifiers are all Carvin. I love Carvin stuff. I know people knock it from time to time but I feel like Carvin is a great company and I like their stuff. They've done well by me on everything I've ordered.

Here's my first choice;

Schecter Stiletto Custom 5. Love the looks of this and I've tried one and really liked it. I can buy it new for under $500 with GC coupons.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Schecter...00-i1147948.gc

This is where I am leaning.

However, I really like the Carvin B50 passive bass, although I've never played one. I have played a 4 string bolt on and really liked it a lot. I like the idea of passive basses, all of what I have are passive basses (two Schecters and one Squier). Carvin actually has in in-stock B50 just the way I'd order it (white bass, passive electronics, really basic bass, white is my favorite color).

http://www.carvinguitars.com/guitars-in-stock/113537

The Carvin will run me about $900 after all is said and done.

Opinions?

This will be a long term bass and I doubt I will sell it. Just wondering if anyone thinks the Carvin is a better bass at almost double the price. My psyche wants to buy the Carvin but my practical side says the Schecter is the way to go.

Thanks

Kmonk · #2 11-09-2012, 08:45 PM

I had a Carvin LB75 which was one of the worst sounding basses I've ever owned so I am not a fan of Carvin. I would look at Fender, Alembic, Sadowsky and Lakland.

George Mann · #3 11-09-2012, 08:58 PM

This is one bass you may want to take a serious look at.

http://www.rondomusic.com/defiant53235nat.html

tbirdsp · #4 11-09-2012, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kmonk

I had a Carvin LB75 which was one of the worst sounding basses I've ever owned so I am not a fan of Carvin. I would look at Fender, Alembic, Sadowsky and Lakland.

This is actually the frst complaint I've ever heard of about a Carvin bass. Plenty of Carvin love threads here on TB. My BB-75 is 19 years old and sounds great. I doubt I'll ever sell it. I'm looking for a nice 4 string Jazz-style(ish) bass, am considering Lakland but the SB4000 looks nice too.

Kmonk · #5 11-09-2012, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbirdsp

This is actually the frst complaint I've ever heard of about a Carvin bass. Plenty of Carvin love threads here on TB. My BB-75 is 19 years old and sounds great. I doubt I'll ever sell it. I'm looking for a nice 4 string Jazz-style(ish) bass, am considering Lakland but the SB4000 looks nice too.

The LB75 had absolutely no punch to it at all even though it also had the bridge piezo pickups. I was very disappointed. It was very dead sounding. The only good that came out of it was that I sold it a week after I bought it and made a $500 profit. I will take my MIA Jazz or Alembics any day.

kaputsport · #6 11-09-2012, 09:22 PM

I liked my Schecter Stilletto Elite I had. Neck through 5 with active pickups. I would push to get that one.. Much better tone and sustain.

Bassist4Eris · #7 11-09-2012, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kmonk

I had a Carvin LB75 which was one of the worst sounding basses I've ever owned so I am not a fan of Carvin. I would look at Fender, Alembic, Sadowsky and Lakland.

You either got a dog, or you and I have very different taste in basses. I own three Carvins, and they all sound amazing. My other basses include a Fender P and a Ric 4003, and they're great, but the Carvins are my faves for sure. That said, in this case, I think I'm actually going to recommend you at least try the Schecter. A Carvin with 2 J-style pups sounds rather, well, J-like (lots of sparkling clarity and midrange punch), but I'd personally rather use something warm and P-bassy for country. Now, I don't know what that Schecter sounds like, but the big ol' humbuckers look promising. And that maple top would look great with a cowboy hat!

I also have a Schecter in my arsenal (Stiletto Studio 8) and I think they make quality stuff for the money.

Dave the Bass · #8 11-09-2012, 09:23 PM

I have a passive Carvin LB20 and I love it.......easiest playing bass I've ever owned.

Phalex · #9 11-09-2012, 09:23 PM

I want a SB-5000. I think that bass is fantastic for the money...

And then...... I saw the hollow body Valenti bass that Chef just got......

BayStateBass · #10 11-10-2012, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by George Mann

This is one bass you may want to take a serious look at.

http://www.rondomusic.com/defiant53235nat.html

Oh wow......

How do you get a bass like that in that price range?

Seems too good to be true.....what's the catch?

You can tell what my budget is by the basses I'm looking at.

wvbass · #11 11-10-2012, 05:44 AM

If the "country look" is important to you, I'd look at the Carvin. I have an Sb5000; they are great. However, if you already know you like it, and since the price is much lower, you should probably get the Schecter. I wouldn't mind having one of those myself.

wvbass · #12 11-10-2012, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wvbass

If the "country look" is important to you, I'd look at the Carvin. I have an Sb5000; they are great. However, if you already know you like it, and since the price is much lower, you should probably get the Schecter. I wouldn't mind having one of those myself.

Edit: just to keep this from being easy...my SB5000 is not my favorite bass. But, it is my #1 go to bass when I am headed into an unfamiliar gig and don't know what tone I will need. The J99's can cover any genre.

nicopiano · #13 11-10-2012, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaputsport

I liked my Schecter Stilletto Elite I had. Neck through 5 with active pickups. I would push to get that one.. Much better tone and sustain.

I own a Schecter Elite 5 and it's a great instrument that sound right for new country.

BayStateBass · #14 11-10-2012, 08:13 AM

Thanks for the input!

For the classic Country stuff I've been rockin' my Diamond P 4. It has the classic P tone with a little "something extra".

But for the more current stuff we are doing (Big-N-Rich, Brantley Gilbert, Jason Aldean, etc...) I've been faking it and modifying the basslines so I could play them on a 4.

Never heard anything bad about the Stiletto, in fact most everyone who owns/has owned one says that for the price they're pretty good. I know you get what you pay for. But I've been impressed with the Korean made Schecters I have, I like them both way more than the Squier P I have.

Having a bass that "looks the part" is not really important to me. Resale value is obviously not important, if it were I wouldn't be looking at Carvin and Schecter.

Randyt · #15 11-10-2012, 08:30 AM

The Carvin make very good basses,but I encourage you to play a FBass BN5 before you make a decision

Reggiep · #16 11-10-2012, 09:34 AM

Man, just get the Carvin B50 and be finished! They are great basses! I don't think you will be disappointed!

wvbass · #17 11-10-2012, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BayStateBass

But for the more current stuff we are doing (Big-N-Rich, Brantley Gilbert, Jason Aldean, etc...) I've been faking it and modifying the basslines so I could play them on a 4.

By your definition, a lot of touring country players are faking it with four strings. Go for the five, but don't sell yourself short if you end up preferring a four.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Randyt

The Carvin make very good basses,but I encourage you to play a FBass BN5 before you make a decision

Yeah, there's Fodera and Alembic too. Or were we comparing sub-$1,000 basses here?

mitchjonbass · #18 11-10-2012, 11:39 AM

What about the Schecter Diamond P Custom 5?

BayStateBass · #19 11-10-2012, 03:49 PM

Went to my local GC. Really poor selection there for 5'ers.

Mostly Ibanez basses. I didn't really care for them but I can see why others like them, decent sound, pretty light, affordable for nice looking equipment.

Tried a Stiletto 5, but one of the lower end bolt on ones. It was the only one they had. Liked it pretty much, but going to probably go with the higher end Studio.

As far as "faking it", so far it's been okay. But we have a few songs, like a couple Sawyer Brown covers where the 5'er would be nice, and a couple Eric Church tunes where I would like to hit some lower notes to compliment the guitarist.

But really, as much as I'd like to say I "need" a 5'er, really I just want one. Should have done it a long time ago.

And yes, I have an "under $1K budget", so Alembics, Dingwalls, or boutiques are out of my price range.