I never thought about a Bongo, thanks for the suggestion, I'll have a look at them.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Bass suggestion please!
- Thread starter bassman74
- Start date
In my book, the classic basses are
Precision
Jazz
Ric
Stingray
(Höfner)
and, as I call them: The modern chameleon. Dual humbuckers with active electronics.
I think the Precision, Ric and Stingray could fit your specs well, even though they do it differently.
Once you settle on a concept, you can pick your bass.
Precision
Jazz
Ric
Stingray
(Höfner)
and, as I call them: The modern chameleon. Dual humbuckers with active electronics.
I think the Precision, Ric and Stingray could fit your specs well, even though they do it differently.
Once you settle on a concept, you can pick your bass.
Frank,
I've grown rather fond of the Ibanez Soundgear models. I have two but the string spacing (16.5 mm) may be too narrow for your tastes. Found one with 18 mm (!) spacing, the SR2405W, which hits the upper end of your budget. It's a departure from the typical Fender platform but they're really well-constructed, lighter weight, and sound great.
SR2405W | SR | ELECTRIC BASSES | PRODUCTS | Ibanez guitars
Reverb
Riis
I've grown rather fond of the Ibanez Soundgear models. I have two but the string spacing (16.5 mm) may be too narrow for your tastes. Found one with 18 mm (!) spacing, the SR2405W, which hits the upper end of your budget. It's a departure from the typical Fender platform but they're really well-constructed, lighter weight, and sound great.
SR2405W | SR | ELECTRIC BASSES | PRODUCTS | Ibanez guitars
Reverb
Riis
Get an outboard pre amp, for instance a Sadowsky SPB-1 or EBS Valve Drive. That will give your bass a whole new voice at a fraction of the price of a new bass.
I already have a tech21 BDDI but maybe a preamp with a different voicing would be nice.
not a bad idea!
There is a lot of choice, more than I know about. IMO, it's worth an investigation.
Epiphone.
I'm no expert, but it seems they offer different, unusual, inexpensive, classic bass guitars that are different enough from Fender and all the others to be worth adding to a precision or jazz bass.
I would start with the Epiphone Embassy.
I'm no expert, but it seems they offer different, unusual, inexpensive, classic bass guitars that are different enough from Fender and all the others to be worth adding to a precision or jazz bass.
I would start with the Epiphone Embassy.
Aside from Epiphone, there is the Squier 50s single coil pickup precision bass. Different from anything else, challenging and rewarding. Inexpensive and high quality.
JeezyMcNuggles
Inactive
- Feb 23, 2018
- 14,723
- 20,970
- Disclosures
- I suck, but nobody really notices
G&L L2000. If there's a bass tone in your head, odds are good you can find it somewhere in an L2000. The Tribute series sound great - but I found many of them to be considerably heavier on the strap than their US made cousins. If weight is a concern it's something to be aware of when shopping for a Tribute.
Spector - Generally a joy to own and play. Unapologetically modern looks and tone and somewhat edgy sounding. Nothing at all like a Fender. I own a Spector fiver (my only fiver) and didn't find the string spacing to be an issue.
Gibson/Epiphone (I actually prefer the Epiphone) TBird. It's its own thing. You like it or you don't. Definitely not the Fender sound. I like it a lot.
Peavey T-20 - no longer made and very reasonably priced (currently around $450) on the used market. Single Peavey super-ferrite pickup and fast comfortable neck. None of the control complexity or weight issues some folks have with its heftier cousin the T-40. Strung with a set of Rotosounds and set up for low action it's one of my goto basses for Prog.
Gretsch Junior Jet - small, inexpensive ($300 new!), great sounding, cool retro looks, well made, and flat out fun to play. I prefer the discontinued first version with the single TV Jones designed pickup in the sweet spot over the newer dual pickup Gretsch minibucker version. The first version is well worth hunting down on EBay or Reverb. But both sound really good and are worth checking out IMO.
This one's a long shot: the Guild Starfire. ($1100 new, $800 used) If that creamy sorta jazzy mid to late 60s style "thwump" and "fwoom" thing appeals to you, a Starfire will get it for you. If a Spector is more your thing then the Spector Spectorcore semi-hollow (available as 4 and 5 string fretted and fretless/$1200 new, $750-850 used) is another good choice. Similar in sound to the Starfire. But it still has that unmistakable Spector tone and timbre going for it. I came very close to buying a Spectorcore fretless until a truly rare opportunity for something else unexpected came up and I went in a different direction.
That's all I got for suggestions. ()
Spector - Generally a joy to own and play. Unapologetically modern looks and tone and somewhat edgy sounding. Nothing at all like a Fender. I own a Spector fiver (my only fiver) and didn't find the string spacing to be an issue.
Gibson/Epiphone (I actually prefer the Epiphone) TBird. It's its own thing. You like it or you don't. Definitely not the Fender sound. I like it a lot.
Peavey T-20 - no longer made and very reasonably priced (currently around $450) on the used market. Single Peavey super-ferrite pickup and fast comfortable neck. None of the control complexity or weight issues some folks have with its heftier cousin the T-40. Strung with a set of Rotosounds and set up for low action it's one of my goto basses for Prog.
Gretsch Junior Jet - small, inexpensive ($300 new!), great sounding, cool retro looks, well made, and flat out fun to play. I prefer the discontinued first version with the single TV Jones designed pickup in the sweet spot over the newer dual pickup Gretsch minibucker version. The first version is well worth hunting down on EBay or Reverb. But both sound really good and are worth checking out IMO.
This one's a long shot: the Guild Starfire. ($1100 new, $800 used) If that creamy sorta jazzy mid to late 60s style "thwump" and "fwoom" thing appeals to you, a Starfire will get it for you. If a Spector is more your thing then the Spector Spectorcore semi-hollow (available as 4 and 5 string fretted and fretless/$1200 new, $750-850 used) is another good choice. Similar in sound to the Starfire. But it still has that unmistakable Spector tone and timbre going for it. I came very close to buying a Spectorcore fretless until a truly rare opportunity for something else unexpected came up and I went in a different direction.
That's all I got for suggestions. ()
yamaha TRBX 500 or 600 series (ie 504 or 604). unbelievable basses for the price. great electronics. i have 3000 dollar basses (lull, mayones, regenerate) and i luv 'em, but it is really surprising how good these yamaha's are. i have a 505. can play passive or active. it is nice to have an active bass. great necks. for the money you can buy a 4 AND a 5 and still have some money left over! good luck with your decision. lots of other good suggestions already made!
