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"Common Sense" Bass

#62
I think an SR5 is a good choice. I like my Yamaha BB605 (with Barts) for an economical choice. I had a Sadowsky Metro 5 that was very nice, but a little out of your budget. I may go back to that bass. I love my Sadowsky RV4 (see avatar) but I have maybe a little more money into that than I need for a bass really.

I applaud you realistic price range. You can get a nice bass for that budget. My Yamaha was about $700 when all was said and done.
 
#66
For your price range, a used Lakie Skyline 55-02. Or a new Conklin GT (Groove Tools) 5, since you've mentioned that you don't mind tight strings spacing. I think you can get one new for around $1,000. The new one's come equipped with Barts. You can get the older one's used for pretty cheap, and still have enough money left over to buy a new pickup to replace the stock Conklin pickups. The GT5 is a nice playing bass, it's like giving your fingers a treat.
 
#67
BartmanPDX said:
You're gonna hate me for this, Cheese . . . :hiding:

Save your pennies and get yourself a used Sadowsky Metro. Just be done with it. Then you won't be playing bass roulette all the time. :D

If you must stick to the budget though, I'd say a 55-02 or a JO5 would do quite nicely. You could add a stompbox Sadowsky pre to the JO5, too.

Best of luck finding the one!
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No Bass Roulette <----> Dr. Cheese = Oxymoron. :rollno:​

(Nothin' but love for ya, Anthony but we all know the deal!) ;)
 
#68
SteveC said:
I think an SR5 is a good choice. I like my Yamaha BB605 (with Barts) for an economical choice. I had a Sadowsky Metro 5 that was very nice, but a little out of your budget. I may go back to that bass. I love my Sadowsky RV4 (see avatar) but I have maybe a little more money into that than I need for a bass really.

I applaud you realistic price range. You can get a nice bass for that budget. My Yamaha was about $700 when all was said and done.
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You know I currently have a BB605 with stock electronics. I can see why you installed the Barts on yours. The stock sound is not bad, it just sounds very modern (like a Cirrus) and totally unlike one would think a bass with two single coil jazz style pickups would sound. My main issue with it is that the preamp has way too much treble, and the mids are voiced a bit high for my taste. That said, the bass cuts through pretty nicely, and now that I am getting used to a fairly fat neck profile, I can play it more easily too. I may ultimately go your route, and simply mod the electronics on this bass to reduce the highs and increase the bottom, and maybe get to sound a touch more Jazz like. I guess I could do that for $300-$400.
 
#70
Dr. Cheese said:
I deserve any teasing I get!:D In my heart, I will always be a gasoholic, but age and children (plus a wife who cannot resist a sale:hiding:) will make a man reassess his priorities!:atoz:
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For what its worth; get the Sadowsky NYC and be done with it! :D The only GAS I had to satisfy after I got my Sadowsky was for another Sadowsky. Sure, i've bought other basses because I wanted them, but once I got the Sadowsky, my "needs" (well...GAS pains) were satisfied. Sometimes the cost is justified in the lack of GAS alone! :)
 
#71
Mark Latimour said:
For what its worth; get the Sadowsky NYC and be done with it! :D The only GAS I had to satisfy after I got my Sadowsky was for another Sadowsky. Sure, i've bought other basses because I wanted them, but once I got the Sadowsky, my "needs" (well...GAS pains) were satisfied. Sometimes the cost is justified in the lack of GAS alone! :)
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You are right Mark. I just don't know if I have it in me to save like that for a luxury. I can do it for a house or car, but my will breaks down when it comes to fun stuff!:hmm: Like I said, getting a Sadowsky will be more like a 1-2 years saving instead of a few months.:help:
 
#73
In that price range there are many good choices. I tend to agree w/ElMon about the Lakland & Fender 5s. It's hard to go wrong with those two. Plus, upgrades are available & numerous. You could check out MTD Z, Brubaker Brute, Spector Legend or Rebop, G&L, Carvin, & PV. They all make good sounding basses in that range. Last night I played a gig with a black Fender MIM 5 string Jazz I bought off a kid for $300. I didn't like the sound of the stock pups so I dropped some active Barts in it. The original pick guard had been sawed in half so I got a green pearl one. That plus a great set up & viola....a viable studio & live gig worthy bass for way under $1000.
 
#74
Cheese, I have seen you have and let go of some great basses!

The Peavey Millenium USA is a great choice!

I think a Jazz V of some kind is a good choice.

A stingray just doesn't sit well in every mix to me, but if you like that tone, go for it!

G&L's and Lakland 55-02's seem to also be a good choice.

If you wanted to design your own bass, give carvin a call.
 
#76
The Dr. and I come from a similar place. Plus he has great taste in basses as we each have a Yamaha B605. I almost prefer the feel of that neck to my Sadowsky 4 - even after come getting used to it time.

I like the Bartolini stuff in my Yamaha. It isn't quite as "bassy" though as my Sadowsky. I have toyed with the option of replacing the Bartolini pups and preamp with a Sadowsky but that would be about $500. I may be better off getting an Sadowsky DI and run my bass passive, then I could have a couple tone options. There's nothing wrong with the Bart sound, it's just very different from the Sadowsky.

I'm guessing if I put the Sadowsky away for a while or sold it that it wouldn't take long to "get used to" the Yamaha/Bart tone again. After all, it was my go to bass for a long time. More than any other as I have played Bass Roulette as well and get brutally teased about it on another forum - not so much here...yet.

I'd try replaceing electronics in your BB605 - as long as you like it otherwise, which was my case.

It's a tough thing as you get older, family, thinking more future fiscally, etc. I loved my roulette playing over the years. I got to try a lot of nice and not so nice gear. I have found though, that as long as I have a "decent" bass and amp, I'll cover any gig I'll have in my community. The Sadowssky is really nice, but a new patio, or cook top, or etc., etc. would be nice, too, and used by more than just myself.

It's tough getting old and being poor.
 
#77
Mod that Yammy Doc! The benefit to modding is that you will not have to get used to a new bass, it's gonna be cheaper than buying a new or used bass and from what I can tell from your posts, it will eliminate your potential buyers regret, should you spend you entire budget.
Life and gas don't mix well, I would expect that you would start to feel guilty should you spend the budget. I know I would!
The other advantage to modding the Yammy is you won't have to wait too long to afford it, thus again and probably only on a temporary basis, killing the gas pains.:bassist:
Fishheadjoe

Or you could save for a Roscoe! LOL
 
#79
IotaNet said:
No Bass Roulette <----> Dr. Cheese = Oxymoron. :rollno:​

(Nothin' but love for ya, Anthony but we all know the deal!) ;)
Click to expand...

LOL. Kinda what I was thinking myself after I posted.

Anthony, you deserve one really nice bass. Nothing wrong with a Lakland or Fender 5. But you DO deserve one nice bass.

Someday I hope you'll have the funds to see if a Metro is right for you. They're not for everybody, but more than a few GASaholics have finally found peace with one.

I do understand the married/kids thing though. I'm fortunate enough to be married to an electrical engineer who feels guilty about me staying home with our daughter (special needs -- and screaming at me at the moment), and thus enables my GAS obsession. I'm now at the point though where I try to fund any new bass gear purchases by selling some of what I have. I'm on my way to selling five basses this year, which will mostly cover the three I'm getting. :hiding:

Best of luck. I still think a JO5 would be a nice option.
 

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