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Best bass for $3k-$5k?

#27
3-5K?! holy crap man i hope its made of solid gold and shoots lazers out the headstock lol for real tho unless your looking for a classic bass then really theres no need to spend that much. you can get some really really nice stuff for like 1-2k. i honestly couldnt imagine buying a 5,000 dollar bass, hell ive owned 4 cars in my life and all of them put togehter is like 4500 dollars lol
 
#28
I agree with the "sit on your wallet" advice. Take your time, try out as many nice basses as you can--one great and fun way to do this is to go to TalkBass get-togethers--and eventually you'll be able to make a decision. In that price range, you've got some fantastic choices.

I've been fortunate to be able to try out a lot of basses in that price range and just below it--US Laklands (I own three), Sadowskys (NYC and Metro), Valentis, Lulls, a couple Dingwalls, a Ritter and a Skjold. Guess what? They were all really good to superb! (One exception in that price range: The vintage Fenders have been hit or miss, try the one you want before you buy it.) There simply is no "best", there's only what's best for you in terms of looks, feel, ergonomics, tone, etc.
 
#29
GregC said:
I agree with the "sit on your wallet" advice. Take your time, try out as many nice basses as you can--one great and fun way to do this is to go to TalkBass get-togethers--and eventually you'll be able to make a decision. In that price range, you've got some fantastic choices.

I've been fortunate to be able to try out a lot of basses in that price range and just below it--US Laklands (I own three), Sadowskys (NYC and Metro), Valentis, Lulls, a couple Dingwalls, a Ritter and a Skjold. Guess what? They were all really good to superb! (One exception in that price range: The vintage Fenders have been hit or miss, try the one you want before you buy it.) There simply is no "best", there's only what's best for you in terms of looks, feel, ergonomics, tone, etc.
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Thanks, I really appreciate your help!! Have you tried any US decade model lakland basses? I am very curious about these basses, but I haven't heard much of anything on them! Are they crummy? They have been out for a bit, and I can barely find any when I search google. Sadowsky and Laklands seem to be a lot of people's fav's for the 2k-3k price range!!
 
#30
Alex000 said:
Thanks, I really appreciate your help!! Have you tried any US decade model lakland basses? I am very curious about these basses, but I haven't heard much of anything on them! Are they crummy? They have been out for a bit, and I can barely find any when I search google. Sadowsky and Laklands seem to be a lot of people's fav's for the 2k-3k price range!!
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No problem, glad to be of assistance. I have tried several US Decades--I live 15 minutes' drive from Lakland--and they are excellent, in my opinion. (I happen to own a Skyline Decade.) They are rare, but I believe that's because they are a bit unusual in terms of their body shape and their pickups (formerly Dark Stars, now Chi-sonics). Also, they were US-only models until late 2008, so not many people have had a chance to try them in stores.
 
#31
Like someone mention earlier, just try out different basses for the sound you are looking for. I own a LowEnd LEPJ5 and an Alleva Coppolo LM5. They are both different basses. I would own a vintage Fender, but they don't come in five string, so I purchased an Alleva Coppolo for my vintage vibe. The LowEnd gets my modern vibe. So, just do your research, I'm sure youll find the one that suits you. For a vntage Fender 4 vibe, check out Nash Basses.
 
#33
As I gulp..

Something that says Fender and USA

Then get a large collection of low cost great sounding basses...

I've done more paid studio work on my $40 garage sale bass than on my vintage or botique stuff.

I'll always bring in a Fender.. then ask if I can test DI with the one I really want to play.

I RARELY actually plug in a Fender.
 
#34
Alex000 said:
I had a good friend of mine tell me "If you want to be taken seriously, you need to show up with the right gear to be TAKEN seriously." It's stuck in my head now that I need to show up with an early 60's jazz to get the best gigs. Or at least catch someone's attention. I also understand that some of the best bassists have extremely ordinary basses.
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If you're in high school or thereabouts, it seems that the gear you have is VERY important to being accepted.

Once you get past that and go out in the world, what you play is much more important than what you play it on. I've heard some brilliant musicians playing some very average instruments. I've also heard others playing high-end instruments. I don't take the one any more or less seriously than the other.

If you have a bass you love and works for you, don't spend your money to find something that might impress other people more. No need. On the other hand, if you check out a different bass (whether it's a Sadowski, an MTD, a MusicMan, or whatever) and fall in love - then buy it.
 
#35
For ~$2000, you can get two used MIA Fenders. Get a P and get a J. Get a 4-string and a 5-string.

Producers hate individuality from anybody other than vocalists and you'll probably be asked numerous times to produce one of the above. For the remaining $3k, order some awesome custom 8-string fanned fretless and take bass pr0n pictures of it. Don't play it though - you'll look like an over-compensating a-hole and everybody will look down on you for even trying to play it, except the one other bassist in a 50 mile radius that thinks it looks cool.
 

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