I have a Rumble 500 Combo V3, and it's an amazing piece of equipment. I love it! The brick and mortar stores around my parts can't keep any of the new Rumble models in stock because they're flying out the door as soon as they come in.
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Unless you have very specific needs, it's hard to go wrong with a P or PJ type bass. If you want a Fender, I'd recommend the Fender Standard Jaguar Bass as it's very versatile and looks good and sounds good at a reasonable price. A used Modern Player Jaguar Bass is not a bad idea either. Or just a bog standard Precision is great, too, and you'll probably find one used for $300 or less.
As for strings, there are some basic decisions to make. Rounds, half-rounds, pressurewounds, flats, etc. I personally adore flats as I find they occupy a very specific place in the mix that works perfectly with other instruments but your mileage may vary.
In this day and age of computer-made instruments, it's harder to find a bad instrument from a major manufacturer than one that's good enough, even at an extreme budget. After a setup and pickup changes, even my friend's $149 Squier Jaguar Short Scale Bass sounds and plays fantastic. I was recording some tunes the other day with her and all we had on hand was her Squier Jaguar SS (w/ a cheapo Dragonfire P pickup and a DiMarzio Ultra J in the bridge) and the tracks sound just fine, no need to get a "better bass" to record with. The secret ingredient is having the right strings (La Bella flats in this case), the right technique, and a good signal chain. The price tag of the bass is really not that important.
Thanks heaps.
There is a Squier Affinity Club? I will have to check that out - that is where I am right now.
Welcome to the Fender Rumble Club, Jonathan Blair!
You are member #448 
Rumbles Rock! 
Welcome to the Fender Rumble Club, Jonathan Blair!
Awesome! Thank you Linnin -- Very cool!
Excellent feedback - thank you. I will have to do some string research. I have found myself to be much more comfortable with the old strings on the Affinity J than picking up a new bass in store and playing with brand newies, but that is probably also limited experience on my part.
My Squier Affinity Bronco Bass (my oldest instrument) lives in the same house as instruments costing north of $1000 and regularly make it to recordings ahead of my MIJ Fender w/ Aero pickups. When you know an instrument really well, and it has zero resale value anyway, you hold onto that thing and milk it for everything it's got to give.
The thing I love most about Affinity instruments is the finish on the necks. The satin poly barely feels like it's there; some people mistake them as unfinished. This finish is so fast and so easy to play. I love it.
I was exactly there with you about those old strings. I loved how my Bronco Bass sounded with old stock strings. One day I changed them w/ the exact same strings, but they were new roundwound strings, and I lost everything I liked about my bass tone up to that point. That's when I decided that I needed to get some duller sounding strings, so I investigated flatwound strings. I had a transitional period where I mainly used pressurewound strings (which sort of split the difference) but these days, I just play flats for everything. I can get all the tonal variation I want by buying different kinds of flats. I got D'Addario Chromes for a bright flat sound, GHS Precision Flats for a thumpy sound, and La Bella Flatwounds for that Motown vibe.
I was just looking at all the Mexican made Fender Standard Basses over at Invalid Link Removed
They are all right about $600 or less full Manufacturer's Advertised Price: Precision; Jazz, Jaguar, or Dimension. Take your pick as they are all good.
They are all right about $600 or less full Manufacturer's Advertised Price: Precision; Jazz, Jaguar, or Dimension. Take your pick as they are all good.
My Squier Affinity Bronco Bass (my oldest instrument) lives in the same house as instruments costing north of $1000 and regularly make it to recordings ahead of my MIJ Fender w/ Aero pickups. When you know an instrument really well, and it has zero resale value anyway, you hold onto that thing and milk it for everything it's got to give.
The thing I love most about Affinity instruments is the finish on the necks. The satin poly barely feels like it's there; some people mistake them as unfinished. This finish is so fast and so easy to play. I love it.
I was exactly there with you about those old strings. I loved how my Bronco Bass sounded with old stock strings. One day I changed them w/ the exact same strings, but they were new roundwound strings, and I lost everything I liked about my bass tone up to that point. That's when I decided that I needed to get some duller sounding strings, so I investigated flatwound strings. I had a transitional period where I mainly used pressurewound strings (which sort of split the difference) but these days, I just play flats for everything. I can get all the tonal variation I want by buying different kinds of flats. I got D'Addario Chromes for a bright flat sound, GHS Precision Flats for a thumpy sound, and La Bella Flatwounds for that Motown vibe.
That makes me think flats would be the go for me. I get what you are saying about the neck - I do find it very comfortable to play. When I have picked up new basses they almost sound a bit metallic compared to what I am used to. They also pick up my technique flaws (as a developing bass guitarist) - they seem to pick up every single finger movement, especially when I might play the A string and brush the E for example, or I slide a bit on the neck.
I will give the new Combo 500 a go this weekend with everything else as is and go from there.
Thanks everyone for your feedback.
Is your pic Avatar?
Yes, flats are the easiest to learn on, and they last for years. Fender Flats are an excellent all 'round choice. I play GHS Precision flats but they are a deliberate tone choice.
It is. It's Book 3. Love that series.
If you want your strings to stop swooshing and chatting, yeah, flats will eliminate that. GHS Pressurewounds split the difference, like I said, they're a good transitional string for those who can't quite commit to flats.
GHS Precision flats are also the best 5-string flats I've found!
There isn't that much difference in price from the high end Squiers and the Mexican Standards. Quality wise both are the best they've ever been. It is my view that the made in Mexico Fenders are higher quality than Squiers. Better quality woods; electronics, and fit & finish. Of course the American made Fenders are the best, but they are twice as much $$$$.
Entry level Squier (Affinity): usually clear satin finish, pickups usually ceramic, bodies usually agathis/basswood, often poor hardware like tuners, can usually be made to play very well.
Higher level Squier (Standard, VM, CV): usually tint glossy finish, Alnico pickups (Duncan Designed or OEM that resemble Tonerider pickups), bodies are sometimes agathis/basswood, tuners are usually pretty good.
Entry level MIM Fender: usually clear satin finish, pickups are usually ceramic (long story but Alnico is more vintage correct), bodies are almost always alder, hardware is usually pretty good, sometimes you even see upgrade features like high mass bridges and such.
It is my opinion that a high end CV Squier sounds better than an entry level Fender. However, as I prefer a satin finish, and pickups are easily changed, I like entry level Fenders for a lot of reasons. Plus, if you ever start upgrading, upgrading Squier hardware you might run into some non-standard dimensions and stuff like that. It happens less and less, though. Both Squier and entry level Fender are the best they've ever been.
I agree with Linnin. You're better off purchasing a MIM Fender bass rather than a Squier. Although the Squiers have come a very long way, the quality and workmanship of the MIM Fenders are a bit better in my experience. If I were to purchase a MIM Fender bass, I'd get either a Standard Precision or a Standard Jazz.
Totally agree with this. You can find used Fender MIM Precisions or Jazz basses (the standard variety) for $250-400, depending on age, if they are factory stock or modded, and if there is a case/gig bag with it (the standard doesn’t come with a case or gig bag). Brand new they run for $600. They used to get a bad rap for quality issues and poor hardware, but they made some changes over the past 15 years that really improved the line. I suggest trying one that is from at least 2002 (serial number should start with MZ2) up to current.
All three of my basses are made in Mexico (though two of them are signature models), and I love them all. I can’t comment on the Squier basses much, I have very little experience with them.
I have been pining away for a left-handed Dimension ever since they first came out, but there aren't any and none likely to be forthcoming.
If you are minimally good with screwdrivers, you can assemble basses together easily these days since Fender sells parts direct.
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That way, you can assemble those cool things like P with a J neck or vice versa.
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That way, you can assemble those cool things like P with a J neck or vice versa.
