What is just like a black Laguna LB224?

dayb · #1 07-30-2011, 01:03 PM

Dear all you wise cool people,
I have been inspired and want to learn to rock this magnificent instrument but first I must get a bass.

In my research online I fell in love with the laguna. Bearing in mind I know nothing about bass in general(which I hope to remedy asap), I like it for these cosmetic/vanity factors:
1. the look
The polished black finish. The pickup placement. The matching head and body. How the tuning pegs lie on the same side. The perfectly conventional body shape. The head shape and the dark but not black neck color. Yeah yeah I know, I'm a girl what can I say.
2. the price point
3. the sound
I heard youtube demos and I find nothing objectionable soundwise at least from a complete noob pov. Plus I read the plethora of positive reviews.

As with all things that sound too good to be true, I learnt that this bass has been discontinued ::heartbreak::

prior to seeing this we've been to GCs and seen some squiers, ibanezs etc but this is the one I want. I'd like to be a bass monogamist at least for the first 2 years (I will give myself to practicing like a fiend for the first 6 months before school gets heavy)

Please show me the way of the bass by recommending an alternative that I can fool my heart into falling for and tell me why. Or should I keep looking out for this used? Or what would you suggest I do otherwise?

Big thanks and I await your wisdom!!

Turtle71 · #2 07-30-2011, 01:19 PM

Well, I've never played a Laguna, so I can't tell you what will be comparable.

You mentioned you looked @ Squiers & Ibanez, so I'll assume you are working with a "smallish" budget.

Either of those instruments would be fine a beginner (and not so beginner) piece, and the Squiers can be modded to suit nearly any taste.

A couple other brands worth looking at are Dean, ESP & Schecter. they all have body styles similar to the Laguna, and all have lines that are fairly friendly on the wallet.

UnfortunateTony · #3 07-30-2011, 01:32 PM

Here's a couple good ones:

Rogue LX400 Series III Pro Electric Bass Guitar: Shop Bass & Other Musical Instruments | Musician's Friend

Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar Electric Bass Guitar Special Humbucker: Shop Bass & Other Musical Instruments | Musician's Friend

dayb · #4 07-31-2011, 08:59 AM

Thanks muchos for the recs; I think they look great and will have the names on the list for the shopping trip.

Yep I was pleasantly surprised to learn that bass budgets were so accessible to beginners!

Maybe the inlay pickguards make the guitar look better, I dunno, it seems to me that they are totally superfluous if one doesn't play with a pick.

Xx

Dark Horse · #5 07-31-2011, 09:15 AM

There's a sunburst one currently on Ebay ...

Laguna LB224 4 string bass | eBay

If it's gotta be black, then just keep watching - one will eventually turn up.

notverygood · #6 07-31-2011, 07:33 PM

I've owned one of these. It was a nice bass for the price. Quality wise it was better than the Squier Affinity series IMO. Laguna also makes another bass the LB-200 I believe. It's a P/J.

Nobody · #7 07-31-2011, 07:38 PM

Ibanez GSR100EX Soundgear Bass Guitar: Shop Bass & Other Musical Instruments | Musician's Friend

Maybe this one in black?

XtheDeadPawn · #8 07-31-2011, 11:50 PM

I played one while looking for a music man type bass it sounded great. Was really light and suprisingly versatile.

I also side by sided it with the GSR100ex which sounded better to my ears. Ibanez makes alot of beginner bass models sometimes the quality can be hit or miss but, the one I played actually was better fretted than a Squier that was priced twice as much.

The Laguna would be a great starter if you can find it but, if worse comes to worse that GSR100ex will be a good 2nd choice. Hope you find that Laguna.