A safe 'all rounder?'

Venom of God · #1 01-19-2013, 01:08 AM

Hey guys
I've had a couple of basses, and I wouldn't say any of them have been all that versatile. I started off at 17 with an Epiphone Explorer. I was playing hard rock and metal and thought it was pretty cool. Then, at 19, I then played a Squire Jazz Bass and bought a second hand MIM Fender Jazz literally a day or two later, selling the Explorer. The Jazz I used for a few years and really loved, but it never QUITE did what I wanted out of it, so in 2010 at 22 years old I saved for months and months and ordered in a Gibson Thunderbird. This thing I love and will probably keep until the day I die.

I sold the Jazz a couple of months back, the last owner had put Seymour Duncan Basslines in it with a humbucker at the bridge and it just wasn't what I wanted. I'm now starting to think about replacing it. I love the Tbird for hard rock, but I must admit to feeling a little silly when I pull it out for blues or folk jams, haha. What do you guys think would compliment it as a second bass? I was originally thinking a StingRay, but now I'm thinking that's another niche sound and maybe I should get an American Standard J or even a P? Any thoughts?
Cheers!

thedudebrah · #2 01-19-2013, 01:14 AM

Get a P.

BlueTalon · #3 01-19-2013, 01:14 AM

A couple of thoughts.

Who cares if you show up with a T-bird to a blues or folk jam? I wouldn't be the least bit shy about pulling a T-bird out at a blues jam.

Nothing wrong with getting another bass, but you have to let your own ears decide what would be a complimentary 2nd bass.

If you really don't like your user name, re-register.

SoVeryTired · #4 01-19-2013, 03:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thedudebrah

Get a P.

That's where I'd start for a 'one bass fits all' approach.

A PJ even more so.

73jbass · #5 01-19-2013, 03:57 AM

Sterling HH. 3 way tone control,and 5 different coil combinations will give you lots of tonal variations.

aerodyne1 · #6 01-19-2013, 05:04 AM

A bass players favorite letter? P of course

cnltb · #7 01-19-2013, 05:18 AM

bassgod0dmw · #8 01-19-2013, 05:37 AM

P or J

kevteop · #9 01-19-2013, 05:52 AM

G&L L2000.

mystic38 · #10 01-19-2013, 06:58 AM

I think you would need something a little more flexible than a straightforward P bass.. so G&L M2000, Ibanez SR500, or similar

j.kernodle · #11 01-19-2013, 07:01 AM

hard to argue with the P recommendation.

but if you want to get a little more adventurous, the sterling HH or L2000 recommendations are great.

themaestro78 · #12 01-19-2013, 07:13 AM

I picked up a t-40 a few months ago and im STILL trying to figure out all the sounds that can come out of it

wvbass · #13 01-19-2013, 07:45 AM

A jazz bass is THE "safe all arounder." If the one you had didn't quite do it for you, maybe you should try another. There are lots of jazz bass manufacturers out there and lots of pickups, too.

Mr_Music90 · #14 01-19-2013, 07:49 AM

A lot of people always talk directly about P's or PJ's, Music Man and such when it comes to a ''allround'' bass guitar. I'd like to go completely the other direction

Spector Rebop 4, Ibanez ATK 800, Ibanez SR 1200 / 1400, Ibanez BTB 700, Sandberg Panther 4, Sandberg Terrabass (great for slapping!), Fame Baphomet are some that can work very well as a allround bass

khutch · #15 01-19-2013, 07:58 AM

Nothing says versatile like a Reggie Hamilton Standard Jazz. The Custom Shop five string version is better yet as it adds a passive tone control and a fifth string but you'd have to have a lot more spare cash than I do to get one!

Ken

MrLenny1 · #16 01-19-2013, 08:04 AM

P bass

C.Linton · #17 01-19-2013, 08:17 AM

And yet another vote for the P-bass. Other basses may have more pickups and knobs and such, and on the surface might be deemed more versatile, but I have yet to hear a genre of modern music that included a bass guitar in the lineup that a P-bass didn't fit like a glove.

godofthunder59 · #18 01-19-2013, 08:32 AM

I'm a Thunderbird guy but the P bass gets my vote! A P/j and you could cover all the basses!

georgestrings · #19 01-19-2013, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueTalon

A couple of thoughts.

Who cares if you show up with a T-bird to a blues or folk jam? I wouldn't be the least bit shy about pulling a T-bird out at a blues jam.

Nothing wrong with getting another bass, but you have to let your own ears decide what would be a complimentary 2nd bass.

If you really don't like your user name, re-register.

Agreed on all of the above...

- georgestrings

georgestrings · #20 01-19-2013, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassgod0dmw

P or J

Yup - a P Bass works in most circumstances, and for variety, a good Jazz with a series/parallel switch is extremely versatile, also - even more so with a Hipshot drop tuner...

- georgestrings