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Broaden my mind about a new bass!

P

peterwsmith

Jul 24, 2008
463
18
Bismarck, North Dakota
#1
So here's the deal. I love PJs (the basses, not pajamas... actually... I love those too!) and have two. I've been thinking that maybe I'd like to see what other wonders the bass world holds.

So what I'm looking for is some input from other TBers about basses in the $800-$900 price range about anything but Ps, Js, or PJs. Lakland 44-01/02s, Sterlings, Bongos, etc.

This is your chance to brag up your favorite bass, and tell me what makes it so great!

I'd like to limit it to 4 strings, but I'm not against trying a good 5er.

Thanks in advance!
 
#5
I picked up a used Lakland Skyline 44-02 (Jazz/MM pickups) recently for $800. I've been stunned at the number of vastly different, usable tones it puts out and how nicely made and comfortable to play it is. The neck is not quite Jazz skinny, but close. It is rather shallow from fretboard to back, so it's very fast even with short digits like mine. Soundwise, it does a dead-on Jazz neck pickup sound (Duh), a pretty good Jazz neck and bridge sound (with the coil tap switch on bridge coil only) and a credible MM sound (I'm not an expert) using the bridge pickup and switching betwen the two single coil and one humbucker positions. Mine is one of the older Bart-equipped ones, from before the new Chisonic Lakland pickups arrived. I bought this bass on a lark, but it became a solid, go-to bass immediately. :bassist:
 
#7
The two most recent ones I've owned have both been quite tasty:

Yamaha BB-415 (5-string, but the 4 string is the BB-414) - I checked this one out because I'd heard some great things about the Yamaha BB line. One of my favorite bassists is Peter Hook, known mostly for his work with Joy Division and New Order, and he plays BB-2000 (or is it 2200?). I've always liked his tone, and he plays all over the fretboard as I do. So, the instant I picked this one up, I loved it. The tone, both from the single bridge pickup and the split neck pickup, is really...how can I put this?...Pure, I guess. It's a sound that I really fell in love with. I played it through a Bassballs, and needed nothing else to get me where i wanted to be. They go for about $450 new. I forget what I payed for mine, used.

38416_l.jpg


About 8 months ago, I decided I wanted to own my first "new" bass, so me and a friend went down to Ed Roman's here in Vegas to drool over guitars we couldn't afford. I was only really digging the tone I was getting from $3000 and up guitars, and since my budget was a little smaller than yours, I was quite bummed out. I've always enjoyed the look and sound of the Steinberger headless jobs, so I picked up this Hohner copy of one. My fingers are pretty short for a bass player, so when I put my hand on the neck of this puppy, it just felt right. When I plugged it in, it just sounded great. Active pickups make this a guitar with versatile tonage, and even sounds great in passive mode. For me, this one felt and sounded as good, or even better, than the much more expensive ones I had been playing. Marked at $750, I was trying to figure out if I really needed protein in my diet. Scott, the salesman, came over and told me it was on sale since they were closing their retail shop. Came in at just under $550 with tax and a gig bag. I play this through an EHX Clone theory and a GGG-tuned Big Muff. Since I have since become a total (whaddaya call those guys who are really into effects?), I'm gonna add a few (dozen) more. BTW the model I got was a Hohner B2AV:

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It also comes in a 4-string and/or with passive pickups. PM me if you want more info.

23
 
#11
Used Peavey TL-5 with the humbuckers AND a Peavey Foundation with single coils. Almost the best kept secrets in the World o' Bass. Why get just one when you could have two? After you've played one that has a good set up you'll be asking why they're so cheap.

mech
 
#12
Alfie said:
Why not try the Eastwood EEB? It is along the same lines as a P bass, but at the same time, a totally different animal.

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Click to expand...

that's such a cool and vintage looking body shape.(& colour)
First thing I thought of was the Lakland "Decade".
Extend the top horn a bit and it's pretty close.

and so add to your list the 'Decade' [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
#14
Lots of good stuff here!

I don't think I could pull of the Steinberger, but that Eastwood EEB is very cool. Definitely has the Decade vibe, which is high on my GAS list. I actually played a used SB-2 awhile back, but just for a couple minutes. I dug it for sure, but (at least to me) it was fairly similar to my PJ I have currently.

As far as the Peaveys go, I've only ever played a Grind, which I couldn't stand playing, but the TL-5 looks like a possibly cool way to try a 5er!

Roadkill: I've seen those Godins before. What do they sound like? What's the synth access all about?

23travis: Is that Yamaha kind of a PJ sound, or does it have it's own unique sound of it's own? I also am a fan of Peter Hook, so you've got me interested...
 
#16
There are so many great basses out there. But it seems that there are a handful that have truly iconic sounds that you hear on a ridiculous number of recordings. You have the Fender sound covered, so...

I'd say a Stingray is the next thing you need. You might find a used one without a lot of upgrades in that price range. I've also heard that the Sterling Ray is really good and gets "the sound," but I've only played the US model so I don't know.

After that, maybe Warwick? Another iconic tone, the growl from those ovonkol necks is just tremendous (the necks are tremendous too, just like redwood trees). A used Corvette would be right in your range... there are probably a couple in the TB classifieds as we speak!

Another thing you might consider if you want to give yourself a new challenge as a bassist is a fretless. I recently returned to fretless, and now play my unlined SR5 more than my fretted bass. Once I stopped thinking of it as a "niche" instrument and decided it could be my main axe, I've figured out how to make it work at all kinds of gigs. Plus, it's a great way to make new friends, cuz everyone wants to come up to me and talk about it! :D
 
#18
peterwsmith said:
Roadkill: I've seen those Godins before. What do they sound like? What's the synth access all about?
Click to expand...

It's a funny thing: they're hollowbodied, so they naturally sound nice and warm, a little woody but not enough to lose the punch. I put Elixirs on mine and hate the over-the-top sound they gave the axe, but they cost me 76 perfectly good Canadian dollars, so I don't want to take them back off.

Mine's the older one without the synth access. The newer ones are made to work with (I think) that Roland synth system so's you can do all sorts of MIDI goodness. At least, that's my understanding. I've never paid much attention to the SA part of Godin's line.

Uh, here's a sort of example of the sound. Please don't blame me for the song...

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#19
roadkill2309 said:
It's a funny thing: they're hollowbodied, so they naturally sound nice and warm, a little woody but not enough to lose the punch. I put Elixirs on mine and hate the over-the-top sound they gave the axe, but they cost me 76 perfectly good Canadian dollars, so I don't want to take them back off.

Mine's the older one without the synth access. The newer ones are made to work with (I think) that Roland synth system so's you can do all sorts of MIDI goodness. At least, that's my understanding. I've never paid much attention to the SA part of Godin's line.

Uh, here's a sort of example of the sound. Please don't blame me for the song...

Link Removed
Click to expand...

I can't listen to the clip since I'm at work, but I do sure like synthy stuff. MIDI kinda hurts my brain though. I read the "What is MIDI" thing on Godin's site, and I just must not be smart enough. :help: I don't know if I'd have much opportunity to do synth stuff though, since my band has a synth player, but you never know! :D

Right now I'm leaning towards a Lakland 44/55-01/2, a Sterling, another Ray, or :eek: even a Bongo!

I might just scrap the idea altogether though, due to the stress it causes my poor wife!!!

Must... resist... classifieds!!!
 
#20
Whatever you do, don't get caught up in TB hype. Play as many as you can, and pick what you like and works for you. I play a $350 (plus $300 in aftermarket Bartolini electronics) Yamaha. I have kept this bass over MANY others that should have been WAY better than mine.
 

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