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Candidadtes for a 2nd bass. Advice needed.

B

BluesMan1

Nov 1, 2010
182
2
#1
I've had a generic P/J copy for a while and I feel that it has served it's purpose. I'd like to experiment with a different bass now. I have short-listed a few basses and split the list into Active and Passive sections. I'd like to narrow the list down to one bass from each section.

Criteria for the list:
1) A body shape that differs from the P bass / J bass template. I tend to gravitate towards smaller bodies.
2) I'd like to keep the price tag under $500.

The List:

Active:

1) Dean Hillsboro Single
2) Dean Hillsboro J Bass
3) Schecter Stiletto Extreme-4


Passive:

1) Yamaha BB414
2) Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar
3) Warwick RockBass Corvette Basic

*Please feel free to list basses that you think have been omitted.

Thanks!
 
#4
I'd personally go with Schecter. I got an Elite-4 as my second bass and I fell in love with it. If you also would like, you can get a very nice used Schecter Elite-4 and Studio instead of the Extreme. Just check the for sale sections on here, or your local craigslist for some nice used ones. I got my Elite-4 for $160 with a hardshell case.
 
#5
The Jaguar can bite those other basses in the @ss and spit them out.

They have perhaps the hottest p'ups on the $300.00 market and I put them up against the p'ups on my Deluxe Active Jazz too!

The body shape will fool you into thinking it's smaller - it's NOT! It's actually 1/2" longer than any of my other Fender/Squier stuff and it weighs just 8lbs - which is 2 ounces less than my SR500!

Today I'm gonna experiment with some strings that mysteriously appeared in my mailbox yesterday. News at Ten.
 
#7
Paniflo said:
I'd personally go with Schecter. I got an Elite-4 as my second bass and I fell in love with it. If you also would like, you can get a very nice used Schecter Elite-4 and Studio instead of the Extreme. Just check the for sale sections on here, or your local craigslist for some nice used ones. I got my Elite-4 for $160 with a hardshell case.
Click to expand...

I like the looks of the Schecter, never played it though. Is it geared towards hard rock/metal or in your opinion is it diverse enough to handle blues and jazz too?
 
#8
SurferJoe46 said:
The Jaguar can bite those other basses in the @ss and spit them out.

They have perhaps the hottest p'ups on the $300.00 market and I put them up against the p'ups on my Deluxe Active Jazz too!

The body shape will fool you into thinking it's smaller - it's NOT! It's actually 1/2" longer than any of my other Fender/Squier stuff and it weighs just 8lbs - which is 2 ounces less than my SR500!

Today I'm gonna experiment with some strings that mysteriously appeared in my mailbox yesterday. News at Ten.
Click to expand...

How's the neck dive on it?
 
#9
BluesMan1 said:
Zzounds is selling a cheaper (older?) model of the Rockbass Active. Any need to steer clear of it?
Click to expand...


I think that's the one I played at GC Friday. I didn't like it - but it sure looked - er, pretty ---- or cute.

The head stock and tuners make me think of a sad puppy. Don't ask. :D

B0002H0FI8.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg


Maybe not though. Never heard any negatives about it on my end though. Other than the sad puppy-part, that is.

The color yellow also makes me sad. :rollno:
 
#13
BluesMan1 said:
How's the neck dive on it?
Click to expand...

I really don't notice any head dive - but I use a leather strap with a suede insides to it, so I may be fooling myself.

Don't get me wrong - Fender heads are like a big-headed cat - they are intrusive, totally in-your-face and I like it!

As I am somewhat disabled and old I don't like head dive at all - and the Les Paul Special I had did that in spades! So anything with the Fender head is a relief to me.
 
#16
Look in Craigslist for a G&L. You should be able to find one for around 5-6 and it's going to be far better and more rewarding than any of those cheaper instruments. For a couple of hundred dollars you will jump up into the pro instrument range and you will love it. You deserve it!
 
#18
Just don't buy anything over the internet! If you can't play it and touch it in a Biblical way, you don't want to own it.

As far as the Fender Jaguar basses go, I know they are 50/50 on whether you'd want to keep one or not after you bought one - and it'd be used as they aren't in production any more.

Fender quite making them for a reason too - they didn't fly when they were new, so why would they be any better older and used? They aren't much more than a Jazz on steroids - bad steroids as far as I am concerned.

Personally I don't buy used - but that's entirely your decision.

G&Ls are a great bass too. Just kinda expensive and really they are just about extra effort in finish and a logo - for a price. Woods are totally subjective and should not enter into the equation here.

Ya know - the SR500 I have is distinctive too - and surely has a smaller body and a super-slick, fast neck. It's active and although SOME people think they suck, there is an avid fan club for them too. I am a member.
 
#19
BluesMan1 said:
I like the looks of the Schecter, never played it though. Is it geared towards hard rock/metal or in your opinion is it diverse enough to handle blues and jazz too?
Click to expand...
I personally play in a heavy metal band with it, but I feel as if it should do well with jazz/blues. I've seen some videos of others playing Jazz/blues with Schecters and they sound very nice. They also get a nice tone when you slap on them.
 

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