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Best bass under $3,000?

TimeBombJohnny

TimeBombJohnny

Jan 12, 2019
32
26
Nevada
#1
I’m in the market for a new bass, I have $3,000 to spend but could spend more if I find the right one. I live in an area with a very limited bass selection, but I travel for work almost every week so have been visiting bass stores hoping to get my hands on upper end basses to try out with limited success. So far, I have my eye on Sandberg, Mayones, and G&L. I’ve only owned lower end basses, so looking for recommendations if y’all wanna pitch in. I play rock and punk mainly and dabble around other styles for practice. Thanks!
 
#2
What do you want out of a bass beyond costing around $3,000? There are only amazing basses available in that price range, everything is top-quality gear. Nothing is objectively better at that level. It is the little things that sets them apart and makes you prefer one over another. I think you have 3 great options listed but my last big $ bass is a fretless "Fender" Jazz built to my specs, pretty far from what you want.
 
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#3
DiabolusInMusic said:
What do you want out of a bass beyond costing around $3,000? There are only amazing basses available in that price range, everything is top-quality gear. Nothing is objectively better at that level. It is the little things that sets them apart and makes you prefer one over another. I think you have 3 great options listed but my last big $ bass is a fretless "Fender" Jazz built to my specs, pretty far from what you want.
Click to expand...

I feel the cost just gets me to the level of quality I’m looking for, I hope to spend less if I can. I want something that’s very playable, active/passive switchable, lightweight-ish, and that’ll last basically forever. The Fender USA or custom shop basses could be on the list too but so far I’ve only found one USA model that felt good to me
 
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#7
Obviously there are so many great options out there. However, for just sheer versatility, I think Sadowsky. I currently have 8 basses. Last year when I sat in with my buddy's 10 piece cover band, which had an extremely diverse set list, I knew the right tool for the job would be my Sadowsky. It ended up working out perfectly.

In the end, have fun hunting for your perfect bass.
Bones
 
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#8
TimeBombJohnny said:
I feel the cost just gets me to the level of quality I’m looking for, I hope to spend less if I can. I want something that’s very playable, active/passive switchable, lightweight-ish, and that’ll last basically forever. The Fender USA or custom shop basses could be on the list too but so far I’ve only found one USA model that felt good to me
Click to expand...


Cost does not equal quality. Neither does it equal satisfaction. It's entirely possible to find a bass for under a grand that can blow you away. But that's personal. I've played $4k basses that I wouldn't buy unless they were being blown out and I knew I could easily flip it. What you pay only guarantees that that's what you spent.
;)

Can you expand on what you like about a bass? The feel, the spacing, the sound, the balance, weight, looks, etc.?

Unless there's a time constraint I'd try to get my hands on as many examples of basses I might be interested in as possible. People can toss out names of basses but that's largely about what they like, not you. I'd travel if I had to because most areas don't have a lot of selections. I personally shy away from new basses because I've been at this a long time, know what I like and have found killer basses in that range and above for less than half the price used. Which means I not only get to play them, I can often resell them at a profit. A win-win.
 
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#10
When I assembled my gear choices I took into consideration returns. There is no store, for example, to see an Acme cab unless you stumble on a used one being displayed. No G&l, Acoustic Image or Vanderkley in walk in stores either. I did return some things that weren’t for me but what I kept I never auditioned in a walk-in environment. There is simply too much really good stuff that you’ll never find in a store.
 
#16
Tommyc said:
When I assembled my gear choices I took into consideration returns. There is no store, for example, to see an Acme cab unless you stumble on a used one being displayed. No G&l, Acoustic Image or Vanderkley in walk in stores either. I did return some things that weren’t for me but what I kept I never auditioned in a walk-in environment. There is simply too much really good stuff that you’ll never find in a store.
Click to expand...

Yeah I’m finding most stores don’t bring in this kind of stuff often since it doesn’t move too quickly
 
#18
For rock and punk, a high-end Fender P, J or either with a P/J pickup configuration will do a marvelous job. If you get a J, consider modding the pick-ups for series/paralell tonal options. In series you get the typical J sound and in paralell, you get more of a P-ish sound. My 2 non PJ Jazzes have that mod, its usually done for 60$ or so. Another option: MM Sterling or Stingray. It's of course up to you, but you don't have to spend that much to get a great bass, IMO. Oh, I'm almost forgetting the legendary Gibson Thunderbird !!
 
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#19
Brad Johnson said:
Cost does not equal quality. Neither does it equal satisfaction. It's entirely possible to find a bass for under a grand that can blow you away. But that's personal. I've played $4k basses that I wouldn't buy unless they were being blown out and I knew I could easily flip it. What you pay only guarantees that that's what you spent.
;)

Can you expand on what you like about a bass? The feel, the spacing, the sound, the balance, weight, looks, etc.?

Unless there's a time constraint I'd try to get my hands on as many examples of basses I might be interested in as possible. People can toss out names of basses but that's largely about what they like, not you. I'd travel if I had to because most areas don't have a lot of selections. I personally shy away from new basses because I've been at this a long time, know what I like and have found killer basses in that range and above for less than half the price used. Which means I not only get to play them, I can often resell them at a profit. A win-win.
Click to expand...

I have a weird hang up about buying used, a bit irrational maybe but I prefer new. I like G&L / Fender necks, they feel comfortable to me. MM necks feel chunky. Weight wise I’d prefer under 9 lbs but balanced well to avoid neck dive. I understand Sadowski has this nailed but I don’t know if I’ll ever find one that I can get my hands on unless I go to New York (I’m in NV). I like the sound of passive electronics but want the option of active. I like colored finishes, no natural looks.
 
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