Buying a new bass within the week....

[Tugboat]

I know this is one of countless threads looking for an opinion on bass sound/quality...sorry ahead of time.

I'm a drummer by trade, but love to dabble in the bass as a hobby. A few years ago I needed $$$ so I sold my two basses, a Spector Legend and a Fender American Jazz. I'm really jonesing and plan on start playing again as soon as I get a bass. I know I don't need a $2000 bass, or even a $1000 bass, but I am a bit of a snob so I want something halfway decent. Most likely I'll be playing on my own or with my church band, which is actually a pretty decent gig occassionally. I've narrowed my choices down to two basses....either one of the new Epiphone Classic Thunderbirds at $500, or the Jackson Dave Ellefson CBX at $400. I know they are both good basses and to be honest my playing level is above novice but not intermediate. I was wondering if anyone had any opinions on either of these basses? Any Thunderbird owners, or Jackson owners care to chime in?

Also, curiousity here...a friend of mine suggested getting a five string, but I've never played one, does anyone think it's worth it for someone in my position to bother, meaning at my playing level? THANKS GUYS!!!

 

[mmbongo]

Those are quite different basses, but I can't stand Thunderbirds so if limited to those I'd go Jackson.

But, I'd get a Brubaker Brute or Lakland 4401/5501 over either of them if it were me.

And again..for ME..I would get a 5 string. They feel more natural to me, and the extra range is nice to have.

 

[bassplar]

I have neither, but as far as getting a bass goes, I would say sit down with both if you can, preferably at a place that can have them setup half way decent, and see what speaks to you.

 

[Tugboat]

Those are great basses you mentioned, but I have no intention of spending over $500, and would like to keep it as low as possible and get the best bang for my buck.

 

[JacobWhaler]

I personally like the Jackson better. A 5 string is what I like to play and I know my church friends play 5 or 6 usually. I'd sit down with both basses and see what you like. Good LucK!Link Removed

 

[RalphieBoy]

I would also agree with what mmbongo says about the Lakland 4401/5501.

You might want to look into a Schecter Diamond P-Custom Bass. I have the 5-string version that cost $549.00 (4 sting $499.00) After setting up the bass (which it needed). I really like the overall sounds you can get out of it. It's nice because it has a p pickup and a humbucker/single coil pickup. The tones you can get out of it are really great. Only downside is the humbucker vs. the p pickups and the single coil pickup is much louder, so no easy transfer between the single coil and humbucker.

As good as this bass is I think it could still be improved with not to much into it with just a different pickup system that, overall, isn't really needed.

 

[tbird99]

The Thunderbird is an amazing bass. I love them but I would not recommend one if you go about the 15th fret often, other than that you can get a lot of tones out of it and also just look at how sexy they are!

 

[RalphieBoy]

tbird99 is right the Epiphone Thunderbird IV is a great bass, once your set it up of course. When I got mine the action was a mile high, but I've come to expect that (though sometimes your surprised) from foreign made instruments under the $1000.00 range.

I don't know about the Epiphone Pro Thunderbirds though. They look great and probably the onboard eq is good, but never played one.

Only thing I encountered when I bought my Thunderbird IV was that the bass itself is a great price at about $299.99, but your going to want to get a hardshell case for it (at least I did because of the different body case I had to go with Epiphone hardshell), which was around $100.00. So, at a little over $399.99 you can't go wrong with this one either.