I just received a EBMM BFR 5 string Sterling today.. I have not looked to see how heavy it is.. I don't think that it is unbearable though. But it isn't light either~
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Fender, MusicMan or Warwick Bass
- Thread starter Dane Coles
- Start date
I own German Warwicks, Musicman Stingrays, and Fender Precision basses. All purchased used and all are great basses with their own unique feel and sound. What you want to decide is which is best for what you are doing in you musical life right now. If price is a big issue for you than consider an import clone of one of the above.
I have found that the current Stingray SUB sterling to be a very good bass for less that $300 at GC.
Good luck in your search.
I have found that the current Stingray SUB sterling to be a very good bass for less that $300 at GC.
Good luck in your search.
Active or passive? Don't get a passive Music Man or Warwick. Don't get an active Fender. If you are comfortable on the Precision, I would step up to a higher end Precision - either the American Standard or an AVRI - or try out a good Fender Jazz. Otherwise, all these makes are quite different from each other and I highly suggest you play before you buy.
With a budget of $1500, I'd say get a AVRI Precision. Light years better than a MIM P.
Fender deluxe pj..... Jazz bass neck on a p-bass body and a bridge jazz pickup.... It's amazing... My fingers are bleeding...
Get an American P bass and call it a day. Do you need much more?
I agree with the "play before you buy", if you can. I know places like bass central are good about giving weight and carry good instruments (I would think they would be good about returns). Each bass you are thinking about is very different so it's really up to you. I really like the QC of Warwick and musicman. If you go Warwick, buy used. The prices they command these days are rediculous as far as I'm concerned. Listen to as many YouTube samples of each instrument as that will give you an idea. A lot of people buy a instrument that works with their current band situation (not saying you are but I have done it when I was young) and this is not a good idea. Good finger placement and a little eq can go a long way. What I liked about the warwicks I had was the low mids. I like the Sterling more as its lighter and can dial in low mids and has better top end, keep in mind my tastes have changed with time. I felt the corvette (as nice as it is) was too much like a jazz bass, in that case I would save money and just buy a jazz. It still is a very well made bass. The Stingray was a bit too scooped for me. I love my MIA jazz but it is passive and if you like active tone you won't get it with a jazz (unless you go deluxe).
Last summer I played a cheaper model Spector at my local GC. 200.00 price tag on it.
That bass was phenomenal and it was hard to part ways without it.
I have owned or still own many of the basses the OP and others are mentioning here and there really isn't a bad one in the bunch. Each has their own pros and cons depending on the type of music you play and your style of playing. Here's a quick rundown...
A used Spector Euro can easily be had for $1200 or under and will deliver a very authoritative deep growl, excellent for alternative rock, punk, metal and some of the more frantic music out there. Quality is top notch but if you buy used be sure to confirm what preamp it has, Spector players are an odd bunch, they like to constantly flip out their preamps for after market offerings. A Euro with a tone pump or HazLab or dark glass or OPB-3 preamp is truly something to behold. This is a bass that you can constantly change to fit your tone needs as your needs change without ever having to reroute PU cavities or buy new basses.
A used German Warwick Thumb bass can easily be had for $1500 or under and will have a grit and growl attitude similar to the Spector except a bit more woody, organic and less hifi sounding. Ergonomics on these can be a deal breaker for some so try before you buy. Unlike the Spector, most people keep their Warwicks stock, so you'll find a lot of similarity in sound from one thumb to the next (that's not necessarily the case with used Spectors). I can't think of another bass that sounds like a Thumb and it's a great sound that sits up front in the mix, it's not a P bass Motown wallflower.
By comparison the Corvette seems sedate, mellow and laid back, which can be a good thing if you want to sit in the mix as a foundation and underlying voice. The used German Corvettes can easily be had in the sub $1000 bracket and have less ergonomic issues than the Thumb. Same great build quality and again rarely modded so very similar sounds from one vette to the next.
A used Stingray can easily be had for $1200 or under and has a very unique scooped sound with tons of lows and glassy highs. Great for slapping, funk and classic rock. They can be heavy or average in weight and some prefer the original single Humbucker with the 2 band over the double buck with the 3 band while others prefer the opposite. I'd classify the 2 band single pup Ray as an updated active P bass. It's much more aggressive than a Precision and will sit more up front in the mix but if you roll off the highs it calms down into P bass territory. The 3 band double buck and H/S models start to enter into that Spector territory in sound but retain enough warmth to still work quite well in a classic rock setting.
A Fender precision is like an old pair of house slippers, comfortable, warm, cozy and understated. It's a no frills solid workhorse that delivers a no surprises sound and just beds into many different types of music. From a tool standpoint, it's a hammer. Every bass player should have one in their tool box and you can make it fit the task at hand regardless of what that task might be. All that said, I have several including a sweet 1968 but I just don't use them much these days because I have so many other more specialized tools in the box. If I was told I could only have one bass it would be a Precision but fortunately I've been blessed with the opportunity to own many basses so now I gravitate towards the best tool for the job vs the most versatile tool.
That's about it, and I'm sure there are many exceptions and differing opinions but generally speaking these are my experiences over a long period of side by side comparisons and ownership of these basses. There isn't a wrong answer in the bunch, all are built very well and sound fantastic it really comes down to you and what you're trying accomplish.
A used Spector Euro can easily be had for $1200 or under and will deliver a very authoritative deep growl, excellent for alternative rock, punk, metal and some of the more frantic music out there. Quality is top notch but if you buy used be sure to confirm what preamp it has, Spector players are an odd bunch, they like to constantly flip out their preamps for after market offerings. A Euro with a tone pump or HazLab or dark glass or OPB-3 preamp is truly something to behold. This is a bass that you can constantly change to fit your tone needs as your needs change without ever having to reroute PU cavities or buy new basses.
A used German Warwick Thumb bass can easily be had for $1500 or under and will have a grit and growl attitude similar to the Spector except a bit more woody, organic and less hifi sounding. Ergonomics on these can be a deal breaker for some so try before you buy. Unlike the Spector, most people keep their Warwicks stock, so you'll find a lot of similarity in sound from one thumb to the next (that's not necessarily the case with used Spectors). I can't think of another bass that sounds like a Thumb and it's a great sound that sits up front in the mix, it's not a P bass Motown wallflower.
By comparison the Corvette seems sedate, mellow and laid back, which can be a good thing if you want to sit in the mix as a foundation and underlying voice. The used German Corvettes can easily be had in the sub $1000 bracket and have less ergonomic issues than the Thumb. Same great build quality and again rarely modded so very similar sounds from one vette to the next.
A used Stingray can easily be had for $1200 or under and has a very unique scooped sound with tons of lows and glassy highs. Great for slapping, funk and classic rock. They can be heavy or average in weight and some prefer the original single Humbucker with the 2 band over the double buck with the 3 band while others prefer the opposite. I'd classify the 2 band single pup Ray as an updated active P bass. It's much more aggressive than a Precision and will sit more up front in the mix but if you roll off the highs it calms down into P bass territory. The 3 band double buck and H/S models start to enter into that Spector territory in sound but retain enough warmth to still work quite well in a classic rock setting.
A Fender precision is like an old pair of house slippers, comfortable, warm, cozy and understated. It's a no frills solid workhorse that delivers a no surprises sound and just beds into many different types of music. From a tool standpoint, it's a hammer. Every bass player should have one in their tool box and you can make it fit the task at hand regardless of what that task might be. All that said, I have several including a sweet 1968 but I just don't use them much these days because I have so many other more specialized tools in the box. If I was told I could only have one bass it would be a Precision but fortunately I've been blessed with the opportunity to own many basses so now I gravitate towards the best tool for the job vs the most versatile tool.
That's about it, and I'm sure there are many exceptions and differing opinions but generally speaking these are my experiences over a long period of side by side comparisons and ownership of these basses. There isn't a wrong answer in the bunch, all are built very well and sound fantastic it really comes down to you and what you're trying accomplish.
1500, you can buy a used Stingray and a Warwick, or two used SR, or two used Warwick, etc. Check the classified section.
I am in agreement with everyone here: try the basses out lots. I was lucky to test out a lot and find what I liked right while just starting out a year and a half ago.
I tried a Spector Rebop MM first and while it was NICE LOOKING, the string spacing, feel, and sound were just not for me.NOT taking away from them, but just not for me, which is the main thing in MY case lol
I bought a Sadowsky Metroline MV4 Jazz: as a novice, I just felt the sound was a bit much for me....too much for me to control when I played my first gig, so off it went quick for a Warwick Thumb.......do heed the advice sir: I bought a Thumb and LOVED it til I had to STAND AND PLAY.....oh man I felt like an idiot it was a lot of money and too hard for me to play. Had to sell it.
Settled on the MM Stingray I had FIRST PLAYED: the 2014 limited with a mahogany body and stainless steel frets....Mr. GBassNorth explained perfectly, and I think the Precision would've been my only other choice besides a single humbucker MM (though I like the 3 band EQ).
With $1,500, you have the pick of the litter (and used there are darn good deals with people letting things go, like me lol), and so please enjoy and try without the staff trying to get you to pick too quick. If you are playing in a band, it will become perfectly clear which bass will work for you out of the three; I was lucky to be in a band and while my learning curve was costly in a VERY SHORT TIME, I am VERY GLAD I could figure it out....because there really isn't a "grow to like it situation" I think, if it isn't working....ESPECIALLY ON BASS, IMO.
I tried a Spector Rebop MM first and while it was NICE LOOKING, the string spacing, feel, and sound were just not for me.NOT taking away from them, but just not for me, which is the main thing in MY case lol
I bought a Sadowsky Metroline MV4 Jazz: as a novice, I just felt the sound was a bit much for me....too much for me to control when I played my first gig, so off it went quick for a Warwick Thumb.......do heed the advice sir: I bought a Thumb and LOVED it til I had to STAND AND PLAY.....oh man I felt like an idiot it was a lot of money and too hard for me to play. Had to sell it.
Settled on the MM Stingray I had FIRST PLAYED: the 2014 limited with a mahogany body and stainless steel frets....Mr. GBassNorth explained perfectly, and I think the Precision would've been my only other choice besides a single humbucker MM (though I like the 3 band EQ).
With $1,500, you have the pick of the litter (and used there are darn good deals with people letting things go, like me lol), and so please enjoy and try without the staff trying to get you to pick too quick. If you are playing in a band, it will become perfectly clear which bass will work for you out of the three; I was lucky to be in a band and while my learning curve was costly in a VERY SHORT TIME, I am VERY GLAD I could figure it out....because there really isn't a "grow to like it situation" I think, if it isn't working....ESPECIALLY ON BASS, IMO.
I have owned many basses but Spector will always be number one. The build quality is hard to beat and the tone unmatched. The NS body is so comfortable that you must experience it. I will only say that if you are not comfortable with the larger neck profile it may not be right for you. I can play them as well as the skinny jazz style necks so no problem for me. The Euro models can be found used for around $1,000 and will not disappoint. I'd even recommend the Korean made models. Upgrades can always be done at a later time. Here's my current line up. Spector Rebop dlx and Euro 4. Fender mim Special and EBMM Sterling 4.
The Rebop has a very different neck from other Spector basses, so don't judge Spector basses solely on the Rebop. They are a great bass in their own right, but truly a different animal from the rest of the Spector hurd!
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