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Basses with 2x2 headstock?

#41
A used Dingwall D-Roc can be had for a little bit more ($1200-1300ish), added bonus of being a bit Gibsony.

D-Roc-Standard-4-String-Matte-Vintageburst-Vertical-Shot-1467x2200.jpg
 
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#44
badinage said:
One of my first thoughts. I like a 2x2 but can't get happy with a lot of Gibson tones and I don't think I could enjoy a 30" scale for long. I'd love to have Gibson EB2d or a Les Paul Signature, but that kind of money for a bass I'd likely get nothing but "pride-of-ownership" out of would bug me.

A good while back I ended up in possession of a minty Aria Pro II CBS-380 (mfg early/mid 1980s) for a while and I recall it as a well-built good feeling bass. Tone, IIRC, was more modern than a Fender but not too far off, definitely NOT dark and thuddy like a traditional Gibson. Might have even been a little thin and weak sounding but it was plenty acceptable with a decent amp.

If I ever run across an Aria Pro II CBS-450 (basically same thing but neck-through instead of bolt-on like the 380, both have 32.5" scale length ...I think) in Sunburst/Good/VG condition I will likely buy it. It would just scratch that itch for me.

View attachment 4910343
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Can’t go wrong with these guys!
 
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#45
carlosjrf said:
Planning on selling one of my basses. I would like to get one with a 2x2 headstock tuners layout. Always preferred les pauls for guitars, so that headstock style is appealing.

For ~$1k, looking for ideas of basses with this layout. My biggest hurdle is that i want passive electronics. Not averse to active, but i want great passive tone. Although not ideal, im willing to do the electronics if i find a great body and neck.

Here’s the ones ive found so far:
Ive tried ibanez sr line, though great, but string spacing is a bit tight. Dont have warwicks to try. Dont care for schecter. There is a washburn taurus that seems a good one, but considering it was ~$300 new, paying $600 seems crazy, its an option. I would tell you the 2 very expensive brands that are great examples of what I’m thinking about, but don’t want to distract from someone giving me ideas.

Thanks in advance. Have a good holiday!!!
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Warwick Corvette standard, this is a five but 4 is 2x2. You can find used German made for $1k.
8E68E1E5-D25D-435F-B033-AD41BD57EC0A.jpeg
 
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#46
Ibanez Talmans are 2+2 as well. The short scale version is passive, the rest are active, except for the 500/600 models with the Nordy pickups, which had a switch for active/passive. Considering the used price of the higher end models is still under the $1k range, you could buy one and save yourself the trouble of doing any mods. They’re very easily modded though if you opted for a cheaper model. Wider string spacing than most modern Ibbys I’ve tried, and the neck is also thicker front to back, which some people dislike, but I found it to be in a sweet spot for me. I’ve come to find that a lot of necks people find too thick don’t really bother me though, and the only neck I ever tried and found too thick was a parts ‘51 P, whose neck was the definition of a baseball bat.
 
#48
carlosjrf said:
Planning on selling one of my basses. I would like to get one with a 2x2 headstock tuners layout. Always preferred les pauls for guitars, so that headstock style is appealing.

For ~$1k, looking for ideas of basses with this layout. My biggest hurdle is that i want passive electronics. Not averse to active, but i want great passive tone. Although not ideal, im willing to do the electronics if i find a great body and neck.

Here’s the ones ive found so far:
Ive tried ibanez sr line, though great, but string spacing is a bit tight. Dont have warwicks to try. Dont care for schecter. There is a washburn taurus that seems a good one, but considering it was ~$300 new, paying $600 seems crazy, its an option. I would tell you the 2 very expensive brands that are great examples of what I’m thinking about, but don’t want to distract from someone giving me ideas.

Thanks in advance. Have a good holiday!!!
Click to expand...

Can you say "Danelectro"? I have 2 of the long scale DC59s, and a short scale Longhorn. With the light gauge La Bells "Dano" strings? Yeah, there's no doubt you're hearing a Dano. But, with other strings - like, say, the Fender 9050 flats one of my DC59's wears? Nah... just a nice semi-hollowbody bass... Eastwood also makes some pretty nice 2+2 headstock basses. My Magnum doesn't have one - but my Gibson-clone Flying V Bass does... You might luck out and get a vintage aluminum-necked Kramer (like my 450B); but, they tend to be a little out of your price range if they're a really nice one - or a lefty like mine. An Epiphone Jack Casady bass is another option. They finally started making leftys; I quite like mine. Well within your budget, too...:cool:
 
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#49
The Yamaha Greco 'Les Paul' bass is excellent value for money, with a 2x2 headstock.
Their older TRB series was their high-end line, and you can find the TRB-4 (in a JJ configuration) pretty affordably. (Not to be confused with the Ibanez TRB).

Another Japanese brand is Greco - the instruments they put out after 1977 were made by Fujigen, who are the company that manufactured most Fender Japan and Japanese-made Ibanez basses.

Here's a Speedway basses, and here's one of theirTRBX series (a rough equivalent to a high-end Ibanez Musician type)
 
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#52
S.F.Sorrow said:
They're definitely single coils. I don't understand why some people find this so hard to accept? This is extremely easy to verify. Also, the fact that Fender has offered a compensation and Gretsch has removed the term "humbucker" from the product description really says it all. Why is this so hard to accept???
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Please notice my opening comment where I said...
"That is my sense of the matter as well."
If you wish to interpret that as my non-acceptance of what went on, I have no control over that.

Without digging into my Gretsch 2220, I had no way of verifying what pickups were in it, and if the previous owner had swapped out pickups, like you did.

There is also the question (in my mind). Was there a time when these basses did come with humbuckers?
And if so, when did they change to single coils?

If Fender/Gretsch did not openly admit to any wrongdoing, then I feel they fell short in rebuilding trust in their brands. Compensations and language changes do not rise to the level of an admission of something they did wrong. Especially for something that seems to have been going on for a long time.

As for me, it might help you to better understand that I am suspect of anything posted on the Internet. This is so ingrained in me that I have even cautioned others here on Talkbass to not automatically buy into any of my postings without further, independent verifications. Most posting comments or videos mean well but often just regurgitate what someone else said without any verification. As we're all subject to confirmation bias, we tend to believe only what we want to believe. That afflicts me as much as anyone, but I am also keenly aware of it in me, and strive to rule it out as much as possible. Thus, what you may interpret as non-acceptance, can also be interpreted as due diligence.

I do appreciate your comments and the opportunity to discuss our differences.
I hope I've been able to clear up my position on this a little better.
Stay warm.

We now return control of this thread to you. :D
 
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#55
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#56
capnjagg said:
Ibanez Talmans are 2+2 as well. The short scale version is passive, the rest are active, except for the 500/600 models with the Nordy pickups, which had a switch for active/passive. Considering the used price of the higher end models is still under the $1k range, you could buy one and save yourself the trouble of doing any mods. They’re very easily modded though if you opted for a cheaper model. Wider string spacing than most modern Ibbys I’ve tried, and the neck is also thicker front to back, which some people dislike, but I found it to be in a sweet spot for me. I’ve come to find that a lot of necks people find too thick don’t really bother me though, and the only neck I ever tried and found too thick was a parts ‘51 P, whose neck was the definition of a baseball bat.
Click to expand...
Actually wasn’t giving the Talmans any chance, because I didn’t really like the look. Looked it up and saw one that i need to look more into with the nordy pickups. Thanks.
 

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