Best middle end basses?

Welcome to TB! Since you've lurked, you know what a great forum it is.

Describing the music you're interested in is definitely helpful. But can you be more specific about your budget/price range? "Middle" can mean different things to different people. For some that's $300, for others it might be $1000 or more.

 

Fender is a pretty good bet, no matter your price range.

Or SX. I got mine for cheaper than a lot of Squires, and I absolutely love it.

Check it out. http://www.rondomusic.com

 

What basses do your heroes play? Chances are that they don't play very high-end basses-- those are typically for jazz cats. Find a sound you like and figure out what they are playing.

BTW-- you will need to provide us with a price range. I typically think low end = $250-$500; middle = $500 to $1200; and high end are $1200 +. Lots of very good basses in the $750- $1200 range.

 

Go to a big music store, where the salespeople are not too agressive, and spend hours there.

Also, look at TB posts, lots of info there.

My personnal middle end basses I like are :

Ibanez Soundgear with Bart pups
Yamaha BB, RBX, and BBN series
G&L Tribute
Fenders made in Mexico

 

500 for "top-of the-line low-end"!? ^

 

Made in USA Peavey circa 85-95 can be had for $200.. Foundations, Dynas etc.

They'll stand up against any higher buck bass...

 

These days, there are a lot of really good-quality basses in the $300-$700 price range--it's a great time to be a bass player. (I have no experience with Traben myself.) If you're willing to buy used, you can get even more bass for your money--especially right now, when it's a buyers' market.

What you might want to do is try out basses in stores that sell for up to $1200 or so new, because you can almost certainly get them used for $700 or less. See what you like, then go hunting in the Classifieds here.

 

I highly, highly recommend going to a GC or any other store that stocks Trabens and giving their higher end Arrays and Chaoses a try. I'm in love with my Array Limited and I will always recommend Traben to anyone.

 

Track down a store with G&L's and try out a Tribute L2500, run about $800 new. Can find deals if you keep your eyes open.

Amazingly good for the money.

 

If I were in your shoes, I'd be looking for a used American made G&L.

L2000 or if you want a 5 string L 2500.

Those should cover all the types of tones you'd be after in that type of music, and the used G&L's can typicaly be had at relative bargain prices.

Great basses that somehow don't hit you too hard in the wallet on the used market.

 

Fender MIM are fantastic bang for buck!

 

Before you decide on a budget....bear with me here ....go and play everything you can get your hands on. Decide what works for you, and more important, what doesn't. Narrow down your list until you have an idea of exactly what you want. Sound, playability, balance, weight, body comfort, looks...everything comes into play. Then you can decide how much you need to save to get what you want. Anything else is a compromise.

 

personally from the suggestions on your sound and what you want to do...well...its a damn simple decision and i think alot of people should agree.....fender jazz.....im not a fender guy..yet... im pretty well set with spector and i also would recomend the a spector legend very very very highly. just the sounds and all your looking for, the jazz pretty much nails all those with an unreal ability. great for metal, great for rock, great for jazz, great for popping/slapping etc etc etc, the list is neverending with them. you could probably get a used american jazz near 700 or so, or go with the MIM as suggested above. again i would check out the spectors and see how sweet the neck is on it. it also comes down to how the bass feels on you and in your hands(sounds very sexual.....maybe it is??? ), if this is something you really want to hang onto and grow with you gotta try a few and see how they feel and how comfortable you are with them. i think the jazz would sit well with you, or most jazz's for that matter

 

+100000000

Very good point.

PS. What state do you live in? Some people might give you some suggestions as to what shops to go visit and try stuff out at.

 

lots of good advice already. i'd check out what's recommended here as well as what else you can get your hands on and see what you like. keep in mind though...basses can be adjusted so a real piece of garbage can feel great with a good setup and a high end boutique can feel like garbage with a poor setup. listen to the tone, and the things that aren't adjustable with a screw driver or allen wrench (weight, body shape) and go with your gut. any music store should be willing to set up a bass to how you like it if you are serious about buying and aren't comfortable doing it yourself.

for me, I've always been a fan of Ibanez soundgear basses for good all around work horses (my SR-505 was my 2nd bass/1st decent bass...and was my main bass for 7 years and held up through all sorts of abuse)