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Active 4 string, under $1200?
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I currently own this bass and it’s going back up on the market soon. Plays great. Sounds great. Upgraded American Bartolini pickups. Austere preamp. Active/Passive switch. This bass is a steal at this price. If I weren’t moving to 30” Basses full time I’d keep it.
SOLD - (Price drop) Ibanez SR-700 with US Bartolinis and Audere Pro-Z Preamp
SOLD - (Price drop) Ibanez SR-700 with US Bartolinis and Audere Pro-Z Preamp
I recommend the Fender CIJ Jaguar Deluxe, really similar to a G&L L2000 with more polite single coils.
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Lots of good options for that budget…
I personally would recommend an ESP (I have an Ap-4 that fits your description)…A bit under-priced for what you get relative to some other brands (I wanted active EMGs and wanted to stay under $1000)
Lakland Skyline 44-64 GZ - Black
Could also look at a Schecter Studio (almost pulled the trigger…I have a Schecter Custom-4 that was technically my first bass…Feels a little more higher end than the actual price IMO:
Stiletto Studio : Stiletto Studio-4
Still want a Studio even though I’m probably going to look for a passive for my next instrument…
Finally, as other have mentioned Ibanez has a good reputation and I’m sure you could find something in a Yamaha or a Jackson that would fit your description…
I have heard really good things on this forum about Lakland, so I don’t think you can go wrong there either…
Passive bass, but I have spent a lot of time drooling over this one online: Invalid Link Removed
Best of luck to you whatever you end up deciding…
Thanks! \m/
Those Rumblefishes come up occasionally on the classifieds here. Reverend makes great basses that feel and sound amazing
Yup. Reverend is the best, IMHO. I have two, A Triad and a Raymond. I purchased the Raymond specifically for this:
Their only rear-routed body (that I am aware of), and they were kind enough to leave room for a pre-amp -- I will be dropping a John East in there at some point.
Got the Raymond used for around $800, John East Pre is around $250; so that's surely one way to go.
BTW OP, if you are unfamiliar with Reverend necks, let me just say
I found that some Ibanez serie 1000 are really really good for this type of price.
But i would look for something used worth twice its used price.
But i would look for something used worth twice its used price.
I got a 55-02 recently and it's pretty killer in both construction and tone. 10lbs according to Sweetwater.. I have heard videos of 55-01's that made me rethink my position on Bartolini MK-1's. Like a completely different experience than the MK-1's in the SR500 in my avatar.
There are quite a few drop in replacements for them even if one is so inclined, including one from Lakland-Hanson.
I chose Lakland because of the feature set of their 5 strings, being 19mm spacing at the bridge and a 35" scale. MM/J pickup config was something else I hadn't tried before. I mean.. I would not scoff at a 44-01 or a 44-02 by any means, but you have a whole heck of a lot of options at that price bracket both new and used for a 4 string with features you might desire.
I will say though.. at least with a Lakland you know that Lakland USA did the final setup and plek process before shipping it to the manufacturer. And while I have three less expensive basses with great necks.. the Lakland feels like home to me.
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Lakland 44-01 has one of the worst pickup/preamp combinations known to exist; the garbage Bart mk1.. I wouldn’t take one of those for $600 let alone $1200 and if I wanted to have a bass with those electronics I’d just get an Ibanez or Cort for half the price because they won’t bend you over a barrel just to give you mk1 quality sound like lakland does... I’d say for $700 go look at the Yamaha BB734 bass, got a classic old school look with some good sounding PJ pickups and a 3-band EQ.
Since you're interested in used, watch for a G&L USA M-2000, or the less expensive Tribute version either new or used. Unlike the L-series basses, these are pure active basses with a three-band EQ, but they still have lots of G&L MFD punch and can cover much of the L-series' tonal range and provide many different sounds as well. I normally prefer traditional passive basses, but I absolutely love my M-2500.
Gonna second the sentiment that at $1200, you have a lot of options. One I didn't see mentioned is Sire's 10-series; they're up-stylings of Sire's more traditional-looking 7-series, with flame tops, roasted necks, abalone inlays, rear-routed with no pickguard. MSRP is $1500, but they change hands used just under your budget, for instance this V10 on Reverb:
So not a traditional P or J, but not totally off the wall.
I'd also point you to Yamaha's TRB "toaster-tops". The TRBX is Yamaha's current evolution for the US market, blending the Nathan East-era body styles of older TRBs with the extreme-offset RBX series, and I personally don't like. However, the TRB-1004J is still produced for the Eurasian markets. They trickle across the pond via eBay, Reverb etc, and online retailers like Thomann would be happy to ship you a brand-new one across the pond.
These basses just flat-out play; 35" scale with two low-impedance dual-coil soapbars feeding a dynamic, interactive 3-band active onboard. Only downside is these can be a bit of a battery hog compared to other actives (the preamp is significantly more complex than a Bart or Aguilar), but the tone is worth it.
So not a traditional P or J, but not totally off the wall.
I'd also point you to Yamaha's TRB "toaster-tops". The TRBX is Yamaha's current evolution for the US market, blending the Nathan East-era body styles of older TRBs with the extreme-offset RBX series, and I personally don't like. However, the TRB-1004J is still produced for the Eurasian markets. They trickle across the pond via eBay, Reverb etc, and online retailers like Thomann would be happy to ship you a brand-new one across the pond.
These basses just flat-out play; 35" scale with two low-impedance dual-coil soapbars feeding a dynamic, interactive 3-band active onboard. Only downside is these can be a bit of a battery hog compared to other actives (the preamp is significantly more complex than a Bart or Aguilar), but the tone is worth it.
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I can't remember if it was an M2000 or an L2000 tribute.. I'm thinking it must be an M2000, but.. picking one of those up for the first time was what set me down the path of bass guitar. It's odd that I've never owned one myself given that honestly.
Sweet basses.
Yup. Reverend is the best, IMHO. I have two, A Triad and a Raymond. I purchased the Raymond specifically for this:
View attachment 4312298
Their only rear-routed body (that I am aware of), and they were kind enough to leave room for a pre-amp -- I will be dropping a John East in there at some point.
Got the Raymond used for around $800, John East Pre is around $250; so that's surely one way to go.
BTW OP, if you are unfamiliar with Reverend necks, let me just say
My Wattplower is rear routed and I love that bass as well. Definitely passive. But plenty of room in there for a preamp.
used carvin (or new actually within your budget) or kiesel.
the carvin i use I got for $600 on craigslist (LB76) and put $400 or so of work into to completely gut the electronics with nordstrand pickups and pre.
that bass sounds as good as anything you can find.
hugely undervalued instruments, but especially with new pickups.
the carvin i use I got for $600 on craigslist (LB76) and put $400 or so of work into to completely gut the electronics with nordstrand pickups and pre.
that bass sounds as good as anything you can find.
hugely undervalued instruments, but especially with new pickups.
MIJ ESP J Style basses can be found used at your price point. Not sure if that is too much of a clone for your tastes but they are very well made with top end woods and hardware and sound great. Many options on Ebay. A little less clone-like, the MIJ ESP Horizon basses from the early-mid 90's (?) were fantastic.
BobDeRosa
Commercial User
- May 16, 2012
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Yamaha BB734A. Way under $1100 and WAY high quality. I think there's a used one in the Classifieds right now.
Thanks for the ideas all! I ended up going with a G&L JB-2 tribute and plan to replace the electronics. I didn't want to go the mod route but I figure with the j pickups I'll have endless options and this bass has a nice sized control cavity to fit everything. It'll be a nice summer project anyway.
