That makes sense too, And I definitely wouldn't go for 3. I think I'll just wait for an opportunity to look me in the eye instead of searching it out for now. After all I'm super happy with what I have. Only been playing for a month and a half
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A second Bass
- Thread starter BassAt33
- Start date
Well alright. Thanks a ton TB! I'm just gonna save my money and keep playing my awesome Troy Sanders Jag for now. 
I played guitar for 20 years in bands and the most expensive guitar I had in that time (that I used live) was a £700 Epiphone Les Paul. I most often used my £300 Epiphone Explorer. Never sounded bad, never felt bad.
So I say yes, buy several cheap basses. I'd rather have more instruments than fewer, more expensive ones. I do now have a Fender Standard Precision, and I don't regret it, but when I work on my collection (to add a Jazz, a Jaguar, and whatever else suits me - the Troy Sanders you have is next!) it will be Squiers rather than fenders.
So I say yes, buy several cheap basses. I'd rather have more instruments than fewer, more expensive ones. I do now have a Fender Standard Precision, and I don't regret it, but when I work on my collection (to add a Jazz, a Jaguar, and whatever else suits me - the Troy Sanders you have is next!) it will be Squiers rather than fenders.
As a guy who's bought 4 basses since last October.... (Yeah... I may have developed a problem, but I can stop buying anytime I want, its my life and I'm not hurting anyone and....) Save your money. Practice the heck out of what you have now and master it. If you had the money I'd introduce you to my dealer...I mean my salesman. Hes's a nice guy. He's only selling basses until he gets a real job and then he promised me he'd quit and I wouldn't have to buy anymore.
Save your pennies until you get a better idea of what you want/don't want in your sound as well as what you like and don't like about your Squier (love that bass, btw!). You can cover quite the tonal spread with your P/J already and it is certainly easier and much less expensive to just change your strings and try different types (flats, rounds, nickels, tapewounds, etc) versus buying an additional bass for that reason.
With that said, there ain't nuthin' wrong with having a couple sub $300 basses to play if you find yourself longing for something, well, different, or you play a broad variety of music and it's not practical to change strings out all the time. While mine have all been purchased for less than $300, I've spent way too much upgrading components knowing I'll never be able to sell them for more than what they are going for, but every single one of them gets gigged regularly and every single one of them accomplishes a sound/style I was looking for. My fretless jazz and my headless Steinberger copy are not pictured here but they also cost less than $300 and provide a tonal or practical option these do not provide.
The most important thing is to keep playing and learning. You'll figure out what you like/don't like and that's when you'll have the insight to buy what you want versus buying something you think you'll like.
With that said, there ain't nuthin' wrong with having a couple sub $300 basses to play if you find yourself longing for something, well, different, or you play a broad variety of music and it's not practical to change strings out all the time. While mine have all been purchased for less than $300, I've spent way too much upgrading components knowing I'll never be able to sell them for more than what they are going for, but every single one of them gets gigged regularly and every single one of them accomplishes a sound/style I was looking for. My fretless jazz and my headless Steinberger copy are not pictured here but they also cost less than $300 and provide a tonal or practical option these do not provide.
The most important thing is to keep playing and learning. You'll figure out what you like/don't like and that's when you'll have the insight to buy what you want versus buying something you think you'll like.
I like to get a nice bass and bond with it. Others seems to like having a pile of basses. I have never needed a backup. I have two basses and just bring one to shows. If i were in your shoes, i would save at least $800 for a decent bass and switch to that.
Haha thanks Mark!You're lucky! I've been playing for 30 years and I'm still looking
Regards
Mark
I hope you get it! It's a great Bass and pictures do it no justice.
Funny thing is if i got to $800 I'd know EXACTLY what id get haha. Thanks for the input Mantis
PS it would be this
Your Jag will cover a lot of the range that you can get from traditional Fender basses. If you want something that sounds different then you could consider some other brand, or something like a Dimension, Rascal, or VI from Fender/Squier. If you don't know what you want in a second bass then it's probably best to wait until you do as others are saying.
There is nothing wrong with having a dozen $300 basses. These days you can get a very good bass for $300 and a dozen of them is only $3600 rather than the $12,000 and up you would need to get a dozen really fine basses. In fact if you want a really fine bass then just a single one could cost you $12,000, depends on your definition of really fine! It is kind of a personal thing. Some can do everything they want with a single instrument, others find great artistic inspiration from using several. If you want basses because you will play them then use as many as you will effectively use, but no more. Six $300 basses that you never play because two others cover everything you want to do are just money that could have been spent on something else. For those of us on a budget $300 basses make the goal of having 2 or 3 that really speak to us feasible and most $300 basses these days are good enough that if you can't make one really sing for you then the money you would spend on a more expensive bass would be wasted. The classifieds here on TB are also your friend.
There is nothing wrong with having a dozen $300 basses. These days you can get a very good bass for $300 and a dozen of them is only $3600 rather than the $12,000 and up you would need to get a dozen really fine basses. In fact if you want a really fine bass then just a single one could cost you $12,000, depends on your definition of really fine! It is kind of a personal thing. Some can do everything they want with a single instrument, others find great artistic inspiration from using several. If you want basses because you will play them then use as many as you will effectively use, but no more. Six $300 basses that you never play because two others cover everything you want to do are just money that could have been spent on something else. For those of us on a budget $300 basses make the goal of having 2 or 3 that really speak to us feasible and most $300 basses these days are good enough that if you can't make one really sing for you then the money you would spend on a more expensive bass would be wasted. The classifieds here on TB are also your friend.
Nothing wrong with buying another $300-400 bass, not at all. Just make sure it is doing something different for you, and it sounds like you will. That could be different strings/sonic palate; or a five string to go with your four string; or a fretless to compliment a fretted; etc. These days you can get a pretty good bass for $400.
2 right basses is better than one right bass.
The SUB Rays I've played were not that spectacular. I think that if the Squier you have is working for you I'd stick with it and save my money. There's nothing wrong with the SUB if you are willing to live with its flaws or invest in upgrading. If you like a 1.5" neck you may like the Ray34CA by SBMM for about $750 new, or pick up a used one for less. I think the step up in quality over the SUB is pretty substantial.
If you could bump your budget from 300 to 350 or 400 you could probably snag a used mexican fender or if you're really lucky a used american made SUB.
I have one of each and they are superb. I also have an affinity squier and it's no slouch.
the Indonesian SUBs do leave something to be desired. they aren't bad but I think they fare better in more experienced hands that can deal with the hot pups and clipping preamp.
I have one of each and they are superb. I also have an affinity squier and it's no slouch.
the Indonesian SUBs do leave something to be desired. they aren't bad but I think they fare better in more experienced hands that can deal with the hot pups and clipping preamp.
