So, played guitar for years and thought I’d give bass a go and am loving it. Bought a s/h budget Yamaha TRBX which has been great to start with but now going to upgrade to something sub £1000. What to get? Thinking about a Player2 P-Bass but open to ideas. Particularly interested in any thoughts on the P-Bass and Jazz Bass ‘copies’ the Bass Centre make. TIA
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Bass for upgrade from beginner
- Thread starter redkite
- Start date
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Everyone is different. I love Precision necks, but I've been playing them for about 40 years.
Get out and play as many as you can. Your best bet is to buy used. Your money goes further.
Get out and play as many as you can. Your best bet is to buy used. Your money goes further.
What does your current bass do that you wish it did differently?
…And also: what does your currend bass not do that you wish it did?
Good q - drops a bit flat up above the 8th fret (fiddling. with intonation doesn’t solve) and frets catch my fingers on the lower neck. Also, who needs an excuse to get a new bass?
This nails it. "Ergonomics" is a very subjective thing and we are all built a little, maybe even a lot, differently. If you are in a situation where you can try as many models as possible, do it. Take notes with each one you sample. Afterward, you can do some research on their specifications and possibly zero-in on what works best for you.
- When I worked up the nerve to try some of the more expensive basses at Guitar Center, I discovered they did not work in my hands. Lesson learned. (Sorry, Rickenbacker and Warwick…you're simply not for me!)
- My first parts-bass also did not work for me. Turned out, the fretboard was too flat. Another lesson learned.
- Once I figured out why said parts-bass didn't feel right ("research", fools!
), I turned my energies towards what does feel right and have never looked back.
And do not underestimate upgrading your amp: A fabulous, expensive bass will get to nowhere near its' potential through a cheap, underpowered amp.
You need to think of both of them together. An unplugged bass is a great door prop, and an amp with nothing plugged in is a big box lurking in the corner. You only get music from both working together.
BTW, even least-expensive Yamahas are better than a lot of similarly priced instruments, and intonation and exposed fret problems can happen to any bass, so you will begin to think in terms of maintenance on anything you own or buy.
You need to think of both of them together. An unplugged bass is a great door prop, and an amp with nothing plugged in is a big box lurking in the corner. You only get music from both working together.
BTW, even least-expensive Yamahas are better than a lot of similarly priced instruments, and intonation and exposed fret problems can happen to any bass, so you will begin to think in terms of maintenance on anything you own or buy.
Good q - drops a bit flat up above the 8th fret (fiddling. with intonation doesn’t solve) and frets catch my fingers on the lower neck. Also, who needs an excuse to get a new bass?
Get it fixed....pocket the savings. Do you know how to do a basic set-up? A decent tech can knock-down fret sprout for the bench fee.
We can help with set-up and the "stickies" provide addt'l guidance.
Riis
I’d get a pro setup on your current bass…you just might fall in love with it.
FullumMusic
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^^^^These
"Upgrade" is a bit of a nebulous and subjective word.
The Yamaha TRBX is a great bass. Just because another bass costs more doesn't mean it's an "upgrade". It's just a more expensive bass. For it to be an upgrade it needs to do something better than the one you have, for you. And "better" is a completely subjective term. You need to specify where your bass comes up short, what problems you're having with it, and what it doesn't do that you wish it did to know what other bass will actually be an "upgrade," for you.
Almost everything on your bass can be adjusted tone-wise. Different strings + EQ will do the most tonal change for almost no money. Differently voiced pickups could change the tone too, without buying a whole other bass. If your bass has issues staying in tune, you can buy new tuners. If the bridge isn't holding string height or intonation, you can replace the bridge.
---
None of this is to say "don't buy another bass." Always buy more basses.
But don't necessarily think of it as an upgrade unless you're actually solving problems you have with your current bass, which goes back to the two questions by @urkel3000 and @JakobTOtherwise, just start looking at whatever basses that strike your fancy.
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I'm going to agree with the suggestion to get the bass set-up professionally first, see if that doesn't get you what you need at this stage. Save your money until you get farther in your journey, where you will figure out what direction you want to go, and can then fine tune your equipment selection. No one bass does everything well, but Yamaha makes a solid instrument even at the bottom levels. If you have money burning a hole in your pocket right now, I agree with suggestion to perhaps upgrade your amp.
Try to go with something better than the Player series basses.
Quite a few to choose from.
Other than that, why buy something from Bass Centre...availability?
Not putting the company down, just not sure of their track record.
Regardless, if this one plays and sounds as good as it looks...
(By the way, don't let anyone talk you out of buying another bass, even if it's not necessarily an upgrade.
One is not enough.
I'm not saying you should own a bass for every day of the weak, but a backup bass is a good idea.)
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Squire Classic Vibe or Vintage Modified are highly regarded around here
Also, don't just try basses in your price range - check out the expensive ones too, see what makes you happy (and what doesn't). Then look for those qualities in basses within your budget.
True no excuse needed; my guess if you really liked the Bass overall would have tried fixing first before you posted here; Yamaha does make some fine Basses and something like a BB734 may also be worth consideringGood q - drops a bit flat up above the 8th fret (fiddling. with intonation doesn’t solve) and frets catch my fingers on the lower neck. Also, who needs an excuse to get a new bass?
Bass Centre seems to have a nice selection and get good press and are a good value; I have considered the Bruce Thomas Profile being a Fan and what I heard online
Player P Bass good choice for traditional P
I would also take a look/listen and feel of the Sadowsky Metro Express line they have nice selection P/J, JJ, J/M, M and new P also my favorite the Modern
