Budget Crisis

How about an Ibenez Ergodyne? GC in my town was offering me one for $475. I didn't start bargaining yet, but who knows...$450 or so is not too far out of your range. Neck is nice and thin, it looks hot, sounds great.

 

They're not for everyone but the Univox Mosrite clones are really cool looking and have a very small neck. Thin and 31" scale so its easy to get around.
I think they have a cool sound too, the dual humbuckers have a rough growl I really dig.
I picked mine up for $70 but it was rough. I've seen nice ones going for around $200.

There's some nice Epiphone basses available in your price range, I think they all have kind of thick necks though. But its hard to get more rock and roll than a korina Explorer or Vee.

There was a thread here about the Dillion basses somewhere. I don't know anything about them personally but my guitar player just bought a Dillion PRS clone and its beautiful and plays awesome. Especially for a cheap Korean guitar.

I think that alot of people have a bias against the Korean and Chinese made instruments but if you think about it those countries have a lot more craftsmen left than we do. Depending on who you're buying from you might get something put together in a sweatshop by 8 year olds but some of the companies importing from those areas are having instruments built by guys whose experience goes back multiple generations.

 

Squiers would be about $150 to $250 new. MIM P or J 4s seem to be about $300 to $400. There are a lot of low end basses that are well under the $400 mark. You mentioned that that you may be able to go as high as $500. For that, I am getting a MIM Fender Jazz 5 deluxe. On Ebay you could get a MIA model for that much. I would agree that Ibanez necks seem to be very, very playable at that price range. If that is your only criteria then the Ibanez would be a good choice. However, in all of the Ibanez basses that I tried, something seemed to be missing (to me) tonewise.

 

try the OLP Stingray 4? thats around $200-250 brand new for a nice feeling bass

 

You didn't say whether you wanted a 4 or a 5 but you might want to look at the import MTDs. The 4s have a 1-5/8" nut width (in between a jazz and a precision neck size) that is very comfortable for me. I think the 5s are 1-7/8" at the nut which is a little wide but the neck is asymmetric which is supposed to make it comfortable. I've had a couple of the Czech MTD 4s and they are great, very comfy. The Beast (passive jazz bass electronics, Czech-made) is discontinued but Adrian can tell you who to contact to get them new in-the-box for $450 (4 or 5 string) if any are left. Otherwise take a look at the MTD Kingston and Heir basses. I'm selling my Beast 4 but expect it to be sold to one of the two people interested in the next day.

I had an older Ibanez Musician (neck-through) that was very comfortable to play. Again a 4-string (I'm a 4-string) guy. There are a couple for sale at http://www.broadwaymusic.com. I've never bought anything from them, just found the site when I was looking for Musician prices when I sold mine a while ago.

The Musicyo Steinbergers have pretty small necks, in particular the 5-string neck is about as narrow as you'll find (although I found it fairly thick front-to-back). Whether you like the look and sound of those would be another story - search around on TB for plenty of threads on them.

I'm personally a big G&L fan and you might be able to find a used 4-string with the #6 (jazz-style) neck for $4-500. If so the quality is great and the sound is amazing (IMHO).

Good luck and enjoy the search.

 

im in agreeance with gabu here, a mim jazz is a good way to go, classic body style and small neck so theyre pretty easy to play, the ibanez's have one of the most user friendly necks ive ever been able to play, but they are definatly lacking in the tone dept imo. but if you just want a cool lookin bass with easy neck and dont care about the tone then its a good choice.

some other choices are
dean. theyre cheap and very easy to play.
peavey fury, looks great, sounds good, and plays nice

 

IBANEZ SR300DX!! I had your same probablem and Itried out every bass in my state that was around 400 bucks and that was the one I bought and the reason was because of its sooooper fast neck, Is the easiest bass I've ever played.

 

Your dad is right. Ibanez soundgears have no mids, which is what you need to be heard.

Get a MIM Jazz.

 

your dad is right about that, They imo have a more well rounded sound than the Ibanez's do, and much more "umph" than Ibanez basses. Better resale value too, that comes in very handy when you decide to trade in and upgrade.

 

MIM Jazz bass. The neck is smaller on a Jazz than on a P-bass but both are manageable.