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Best bass you can get for under $1000

#2
devonstone said:
I'm a bassist on a budget. I'm really wanting a new bass and I prefer a five string. I need a great feel and a good tone. Any recommendations I should check out? Need something less than $1000
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Well, "good tone" is extremely vague. My idea of a fantastic tone could be someone else's idea of complete garbage. What music do you play?
 
#4
Schecter Stiletto Studio 5. Play a few and find one that has the weight you like. Solid electronics, great build quality, good low Bs, and excellent tone and consistency. The only variance is the weight; there are some light ones, and some real boat anchors.
 
#8
devonstone said:
I'm a bassist on a budget. I'm really wanting a new bass and I prefer a five string. I need a great feel and a good tone. Any recommendations I should check out? Need something less than $1000
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I'm sure if we took a poll here the the majority would agree that a Fender P-Bass, 5 string, American, with Flats and Tort pickguard is by far the BEST bass made. In fact, if it doesn't say Fender on it it really isn't a "real" bass at all!

Price new is about $1300, so to meet your "under $1000" you'll need to look around used.

(Of course to really be "best" it would have to only have 4 strings, but you did say you just "prefer" a 5 string)

Simple. Next question? :rolleyes:
 
#9
devonstone said:
I'm a bassist on a budget. I'm really wanting a new bass and I prefer a five string. I need a great feel and a good tone. Any recommendations I should check out? Need something less than $1000
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Go to a store and play a TON of instruments. Find one that you like, and then look on the web to find one USED. There are SO many instruments to be had here on TB that you can do VERY well for under 1K. I have been playing semi-professionally for over 20 years, and have only spent over 1K on just a couple instruments (and I've owned over 75).
 
#11
This Invalid Link Removed looks like a good deal. I've never played a Carvin but I've heard nothing but good things about their basses and guitars. The only downside is that you'd have to wait a while for them to build it for you...unless you can find one in stock on their website.

Edit: RedCloud beat me to it.

Edit #2: Hey mang, I hear the Yamaha BB 5-strings are very good. And they're passive. There are two here which are under $1,000. Happy Hunting good sir :)
 
#13
Since no specific tone is mentionned, I will suggest one that can (pretty much) do them all!

Fender Reggie Hamilton Jazz Bass

MIM with American parts (just get it set up and save the MIA price)

P/J with pretty darned good stock pups

Passive/Active

Active EQ with Bass, Mids & Treble boost/cut

D-Tuner for alternate tunings


Long list of sweet features for a bass in the 800-900 (new) range (depending on location and haggling abilities)
 
#15
Anyone have any experience with Warwick rockbasses? I play a Warwick corvette 5 at church occasionally and really like it but don't know what kind of a step down I would be dealing with going to a rockbass, my local guitar stores don't keep Warwick
 
#18
RobertUI said:
Go to a store and play a TON of instruments. Find one that you like, and then look on the web to find one USED. There are SO many instruments to be had here on TB that you can do VERY well for under 1K. .
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+1.

Used Fender Jazz/Precision, Warwick Corvette/Thumb BO, Musicman Stingray/Sterling/Bongo..... there are TONS of used basses out there under $1k.

What I love, you may hate.
 
#20
devonstone said:
Anyone have any experience with Warwick rockbasses? I play a Warwick corvette 5 at church occasionally and really like it but don't know what kind of a step down I would be dealing with going to a rockbass, my local guitar stores don't keep Warwick
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I have a RB Corvette. Build quality is good, very playable neck, hardware is solid. Only issue I have is with the preamp. Mine is active, and the Crystal Sound pre is cheap, and sounds like it.
 

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