Best bass for slap/funk for about £400.

A Status Washburn bass or a used Status Energy would be excellent for slap in that price range.

 

nononononono^^^^

Musicman SUB bass if you can find one, should set you back between £300 and £400 on ebay

 

Wow! The BP has really fallen, BP400 is only $584US. It used to be twice that much. I think any Jazz-styled bass you find in that price range will do the trick.

 

Yeah but thats SUB-par (pardon the pun), especially when the cheap Status Energy basses are awesome. Lurk classified ads for good deals, but stay away from the pokey SUB bass.

 

Ibanez soundgear they play really nice and sound great.

 

Soundgears play nice, look good, sound great, but not for slapping in my opinion. I'd go for a regular Jazz Bass, or a Status like Baryonyx suggested.

 

Sorry? Stingray electronics? Stingray 2 band preamp?
Yeah, they are crap, that's why i have two of them.


Wait a minute....

 

I had a fretless 5 string soundgear a long time ago and did some slap on it and the neck was really fast which I like for slapping also a friend of mine had a 4 string that I played a few times slapping and afterward almost bought one because it slapped so nice but each to there own. Plus you can get a really nice soundgear for 400 euros or a cheap O fender.

 

Yeah, the necks are great. The sound isn't (for slapping).

 

You should definetly check out the Cort GB series basses. Ash body, active electronic, jazz neck and mm bridge pickups. Most have maple neck,fretboard. Its a dream setup for slap and funk!

 

you can get a fender jazzbass for that which is good for funk and slap. there is also one going on ebay ending in 5 hours which is cheap as chips, search fender jazz bass. apart from that musicman sound nice, but unless as someone suggets you get a sub which is a good bass, your not gonna get hold of a stingray.

i'd say jazz bass though overall. and you can nearly get a brand new one for that price range, GAK.co.uk sell the standard j-bass brand new (probably with a case) for £439.

 

IBANEZ ATK300

 

+1
Good choice! Go for it you won´t regret! I don´t personally owe one myself since I have several other Jazzes 75RI, 62, 65 and Am Dlx V, Bacchus. But I had them checked several times in stores. I think they have a maple body which gives an extra aggressiveness not found in the newer ash bodied J-styles Basses. Reminds my of the very heavy original 70s Jazzs....totally nails the Miller sound IMHO. Really great Bass for the price...and you can upgrade over time. (Bad ASS, otherpickups...)

 

i would say dont go after a squire, they are ok, but for your price range you can get a fender, definately on ebay. there are some real nice bargains going and well looked after basses. the sound is so much better.

try an get hold of an american made one, get the serial number and you can check it at http://www.guitarattic.com/Fender Serial Numbers.htm

but you can get a good deal on ebay, just keep a look out and make sure you ask the seller everything you want to know. only buy from 100% or at least check there feedbac and try and organise a pickup so you can play before you hand over the cash.

 

personally I would not go for MM Sting Ray style Basses as I personally don´t find them that great for slap style.

Before you flame me let me get more precise and...Yes I have heard of Loius Johnson and oldschool Flea stuff and they did put out some great great great Slap sounds.

However I find the transition between finger style and slap style playing kind of strange on StingRays actually when you slap it appears to me that the volume drops or at least the slapsound cuts not as good the mix.
Might not be a problem if you aspire being slapper only type of Player or have a 2 channel amp. Actually I heard that Flea used to use some kind of a Line Booster for Slap parts live.

Also I think that they have a kind of pingy muted attack thing going on (similar to a set neck or a Ken Smith) and an inherently funny nasal sounding g-string. Just my personal taste.

By the way I do owe a Sting Ray Bass and it definately has its place.

But personally I think there is nothing more versatile and natural sounding than a J-style Bass. IMHO if you cannot achieve it on a decent J style Bass than the problem is in your hands not in the gear.

And believe me I took a huge detour with countless different basses and wasted money and 15 years of playing before I finally came to that realization.

Just my 2 cents.


Cheers

 

+1 for any Jazz type bass, if you want 'modern' tone. 'Old school' tone? P bass.

 

Fender Squires are really good for that price range.

 

You'll certainly get more bang for your buck if you get a good deal on a used Status. As for the SUB, well it's undoubtedly a cheapy Stingray and thus fails to come up to scratch. They are alright basses but definitely getting on towards being "low end" whereas a genuine article, graphite necked, hand made Status can be had for the same wedge of cash, should a buyer be patient.