Backup Bass

[NickLidstrom]

Hey all,

I know there isn’t a right or wrong answer here but I’m hoping that you guys can help steer me in the right direction.

I’m looking for a backup 5-string active bass. I mostly play in a Top 40s variety cover band and my main is a Dingwall Combustion. I just want something that I can plug in and play if something were to happen to the Dingwall in the middle of a gig. I will play around a little bit with this bass but I don’t intend to gig with it. Don’t want to spend more than $500 or so.

Your help is appreciated.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

The Yamaha BB235 is a very solid bass at a relatively low cost. If you can find a light-ish one, that would be a good option.

 

[Crawforde]

The best D man ever looking for a back up axe?
Do you ever gig with D Mac?

 

[NickLidstrom]

The Yamaha BB235 is a very solid bass at a relatively low cost. If you can find a light-ish one, that would be a good option.

Thank you but I’d prefer something active to keep some sort of consistency with the Dingwall.

The best D man ever looking for a back up axe?
Do you ever gig with D Mac?

Protecting the back end and the low end.

 

[Muttleybass]

Might be able to get a Yamaha BB735a used for that in the US.

 

[erratick]

In that price range, I have played and had a Ray5 for a 5 string and a VM squier Jazz. The VM Jazz is passive. The Ray5, I really liked for the price, but after looking up the Combustion I worry that it will be too different (bridge string spacing- no fanned frets).

So... Schecter Stilletto Studio 5 - the ones used at $500-600 won't be fanned fret, they'll be older.

or Ibanez BTB... they have some 5ers fanned fret. Maybe hard to find used. Also probably more expensive.

 

[NickLidstrom]

In that price range, I have played and had a Ray5 for a 5 string and a VM squier Jazz. The VM Jazz is passive. The Ray5, I really liked for the price, but after looking up the Combustion I worry that it will be too different (bridge string spacing- no fanned frets).

So... Schecter Stilletto Studio 5 - the ones used at $500-600 won't be fanned fret, they'll be older.

or Ibanez BTB... they have some 5ers fanned fret. Maybe hard to find used. Also probably more expensive.

Thanks for this. I should’ve clarified- I don’t need fanned frets, I understand it’s tougher to find those for cheap. I do like the 19mm string spacing though. I’ll look in to some used BTBs.

 

[Gervais Cote]

Sire jazz active. Low cost and good enough.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Thank you but I’d prefer something active to keep some sort of consistency with the Dingwall.

If it's purely for a backup, then the odds of having to use it are quite low, so I personally wouldn't worry too much with trying to match the Dingwall output. Plus, the Dingwall pickups are quite hot, even if played passive. Not all actives are necessarily easy to match. Plus, in that price range, keeping things simple might be the way to go.

That being said, there are so many good affordable options out there these days.

 

[cataract]

Life Hack: Bring a set of spare strings exclusively for use with the spare bass

 

[Lackey]

Yamaha. Find something active with your desired string spacing used or new. IMO

 

[dabbler]

Sire jazz active. Low cost and good enough.

Personally This ^ gets my vote. BUT, I also like options, sooooo, here's another option that busts the budget and some work would be required to make it active, but has some desirable elements, IMO.

Buy a Brice Defiant 53437 ( Rondo Music Bass Guitars ) and install a pre.

 

[drooartz]

I had a Yamaha TRBX505 for about a year, did a bunch of gigs with it. Great bass for the price. Just above your price at $599 at Sweetwater, likely some used to get you under or watch for deals.

 

[Pdaddy1978]

A back up bass is supposed to be just that. A back up when your primary tool goes down.
I went through this very scenario.
I tried a few different basses, and eventually got a twin version of what I was relying on.
Redundancy is what I needed.
So I bought another P.

 

[_One//Man//Mutiny_]

I’d try for a used G&L L2500 Tribute!

 

[chris_b]

Not sure I would buy a bass that I was never going to play.

I take two #1 basses to every gig and sound check both before deciding which one to play.

 

[Stylee Mousse]

One time I forgot to load my bass into the van (aging myself). I had to use the other bands bass players 70’s P bass.

It was awful. It just lay there limply in the mix like a hot hound dog.

Then the Atlanta Olympic bombing came up on the bar’s tvs….

 

[groove pump]

Given your budget, could sample an (ESP) LTD B205.

And in case you don't think that brand is up to your standards, I can admit that I was right there about a year ago. Then I picked up a used B-1004 Deluxe from GC in really nice condition and this has turned out to be easily one of the best instruments I've ever touched. Fits me very well, only about a half pound heavier than perfect (for me), and it gives me several very useful sounds for all the different stuff we play.

I'm 58 and not much into the heavy music scene (LTD seems to be marketed very much in that direction), but I believe that my bass is one of the best kept secrets in the gear world. I'm honestly shopping a fretless and I could easily end up with either a four or five-string LTD.

In other news, I strongly agree with the recommendation for a look into a G&L Tribute. Any of the basses (or guitars) from the Tribute line that I've tried or owned in recent years have been fantastic. Maybe the best bang for our buck going these days in the used market.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

Easy, LTD B205, best bang for the buck, . Owned one for 24 years and it has not fell apart like some think a non-USA bass will do.

 

[jdthaddeus]

Hey all,

I know there isn’t a right or wrong answer here but I’m hoping that you guys can help steer me in the right direction.

I’m looking for a backup 5-string active bass. I mostly play in a Top 40s variety cover band and my main is a Dingwall Combustion. I just want something that I can plug in and play if something were to happen to the Dingwall in the middle of a gig. I will play around a little bit with this bass but I don’t intend to gig with it. Don’t want to spend more than $500 or so.

Your help is appreciated.

I'm in your exact situation. I went with Yamaha and I'm blown away at the quality of my TRBX305. I did notice that the TRBX505 has a mids-knob which is cool, and a passive setting for a little more money.