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Best bass under $3,000?

#121
TimeBombJohnny said:
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!
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Best Bass? The brand new Music Man that I just bought and now have to sell due to circumstances. lol.

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/bas... HH Neck Through Electric Bass Guitar&index=1

Played it at 3 gigs, great bass but I've got to recoup. (sighs)

Mostly kidding but if interested let me know & make an offer! haha

Besides Music Man, I like the ESPs in the 2k range or the standard Fenders in that range too.
 

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#126
Kerem Koseoglu said:
"Best" is what minimizes the difference between your expectation and what you find. So, it is impossible to answer this question accurately without being "you".

My personal/subjective suggestion would be a Fender Ultra Precision Bass at this time, but I would have given a different answer a few years ago.
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Yeah should have replaced “best” with “what’s your favorite”
 
#129
TimeBombJohnny said:
I hear what you’re saying for sure, I love all those guys’ playing too. This all started because I decided to get one great bass that will last me forever, although honestly I doubt I’ll ever really be done searching. I really just wanted to see what was out there from the guys on TB
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And it's always a good idea to ask opinions on here. Lots of sincere advice by knowledgeable players. The idea of two basses (in any combo of prices for your budget) is a solid thought, too. Your search may ultimately lead you to that conclusion. Or half on a good bass and half on an amp upgrade might tickle your tutu, too. Have fun on your quest and let us know what you discover along the way!
 
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#132
Tim Schnautz said:
"proud owner of an exceptional $180 Epiphone Toby Std. IV - founder of the Epi / Toby Club
heard after paying $2,700 for a custom ''Preach it, my brotha. I shoulda bought the Toby.''

Concerning your advice to the OP, is this a contradiction?
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hell no! lol he wants to spend stupid money and I'm here to help. my Toby preach is there for all to see and act on as they feel motivated, but just as I could have added my mantra of chump change options beyond the Toby it would likely be pointless cos he's got bux burning a hole in his pocket and the customer is always right.
 
#133
Burwabit said:
Your money will go farther with something used. The world is your oyster, pretty much. Roscoe, Sadowsky, Lull, etc.
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This^^ You could get a nice used $5-6K bass here on TB for what you want to spend. Dollar goes farther with used and usually any issues will have already been taken care of. New isn't always better IMHO.
 
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#135
Bass V said:
hell no! lol he wants to spend stupid money and I'm here to help. my Toby preach is there for all to see and act on as they feel motivated, but just as I could have added my mantra of chump change options beyond the Toby it would likely be pointless cos he's got bux burning a hole in his pocket and the customer is always right.
Click to expand...

Correction: I don’t WANT to spend stupid money, I’m WILLING to spend stupid money. I’d be plenty happy with a less expensive bass if I find one, but I have no experience with high end instruments so I reached out to y’all
 
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#137
Kerem Koseoglu said:
"Best" is what minimizes the difference between your expectation and what you find. So, it is impossible to answer this question accurately without being "you".

My personal/subjective suggestion would be a Fender Ultra Precision Bass at this time, but I would have given a different answer a few years ago.
Click to expand...

I agree. Impossible question. It's as stupid as asking "I want to buy a new vehicle. which one is 'best'"? You need to ask best for what? Is your goal to pick up hot chicks or haul gravel?

Which gets to my recommendation which is to spend the money on "lessons" and Knowledge! And what I'm referring to is NOT to go spend a wad on some high end bass. No. That is for people who know EXACTLY what they want. For you, you need to start asking yourself questions about which basses do you know nothing about! What about 5 strings? Six? Fretless? Fender? P-bass with flats and tort? Musicman? G&L? Modulus? Alembic? Ibanez? Semi-hollow body? They don't have to be top of the line, they just need to do their thing well enough to let you know what they do. And then after all your 'education' is through you can return to question you started with and know the answer for the first time. (with apologies to T. S. Eliot)

As for me, out of my 40 basses, my most favorite is my Fretless USA G&L L2500. HOWEVER, even that favorite bass is certainly not "best" for everything I do. And it is interesting to note that I bought that bass used so there was someone else out there who thought so little of the bass I find "best" so as to unload it to me and I might add at a great price...
 
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#138
TimeBombJohnny said:
I read up on Mike Lull, he’s in WA I go there a lot and plan to check his stuff out.
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Next time you're up this way definitely visit Mike Lull in Bellevue. He has a room with some of his basses that you can try out. He's also a really nice guy. And, as previously mentioned, also visit the Seattle Bass Shop. They always have some Lulls in stock and other fine basses too (and they're also really nice guys).
 
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#140
bassbenj said:
I agree. Impossible question. It's as stupid as asking "I want to buy a new vehicle. which one is 'best'"? You need to ask best for what? Is your goal to pick up hot chicks or haul gravel?

Which gets to my recommendation which is to spend the money on "lessons" and Knowledge! And what I'm referring to is NOT to go spend a wad on some high end bass. No. That is for people who know EXACTLY what they want. For you, you need to start asking yourself questions about which basses do you know nothing about! What about 5 strings? Six? Fretless? Fender? P-bass with flats and tort? Musicman? G&L? Modulus? Alembic? Ibanez? Semi-hollow body? They don't have to be top of the line, they just need to do their thing well enough to let you know what they do. And then after all your 'education' is through you can return to question you started with and know the answer for the first time. (with apologies to T. S. Eliot)

As for me, out of my 40 basses, my most favorite is my Fretless USA G&L L2500. HOWEVER, even that favorite bass is certainly not "best" for everything I do. And it is interesting to note that I bought that bass used so there was someone else out there who thought so little of the bass I find "best" so as to unload it to me and I might add at a great price...
Click to expand...

Dude relax. I should have said “what’s your favorite” rather than “best”. I get it. I know how to play, I’m not new at this, I just don’t have much experience with higher end instruments.
 
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