First Electric Bass - opinions

[micguy]

Ideally, go to a store that has them (or most of them) in stock. Sit down and play one, then the next, then the next, etc. At some point you'll find one that you don't want to put down - you want to play it - the feel, the sound, etc. just feels right. That's your bass - buy that one, no matter what name is on the headstock.

 

[jd56hawk]

Hello everyone,
After a few years on double bass, i am going electric now.
I need to decide between 5 fretted basses and need your insights. All in the same price range.
Yamaha bb234
Yamaha trbx204
Sire V3
Cort Action dlx
Fender squier vintage modified jazz bass

thank you for your help

Okay, I pretty much learned to play bass on a Squier Classic Vibe jazz. Bought some Lace Sensor Man O' War pickups for it but never put them in.
Why not?
The tone was fine as it was.
I guess I must've played two dozen Squier Jazz basses over the past three years, if not more...most of them VMs, because the CVs just aren't as prevalent.
I'm not saying I wasn't impressed with the Vintage Modified Jazz bass (I considered buying one before I ordered my Inca Silver CV) but I wasn't exactly knocked out of my socks.
To the best of my memory, however, I've never played a bad one other than a used one with weak-sounding pickups…the Duncan-Designed ones…and I've always liked the looks, especially the natural finishes.
Which brings me to my new Squier Vintage Modified Jazz.

I have two beautiful USA-made G&Ls, an L2000 and a JB-2, and I simply wanted a "cheap" Jazz bass.
So since I had $200 in credit at one of the half dozen stores I frequent, I decided it was time to check out a few Squiers.
Store had five VMs including two left-handed ones…pretty good for a place with only twenty basses or so.
One was in natural and it had the nicest grain pattern I ever remember seeing, a very nice cathedral grain with a prominent eye…too bad it was also one of the worst body piece matches I've ever seen, too, and the left side was far nicer than the middle and right portions. Still, I plugged it and and tried it out and it sounded better than it looked. Could've easily believed I was playing a Fender FSR Jazz.
Next, I tried a black one, just three songs, but it felt good and sounded almost as good as J bass number one.
Then, I grabbed the CAR one…these things always look better in real life than the stock photos, that's for sure…and took it for a spin.
Well, it was evident from the moment I plugged it in and started fooling around with the knobs that this one wasn't just a piece of dead wood, it was a living thing.
Ran through a variety of songs on my ipod, then I tried some originals from my band, typical rock-and-roll, a few mellow tunes, and some very heavy grungy numbers. A tweak here and a tweak there…Fender Rumble 40…a little overdrive, and I noticed the guy dusting off the guitars had stopped what he was doing and was standing there frozen…I kid you not!
Regardless, I walked out the door with the nicest VM Jazz around.
Went home and put o some "new" 35-year-old flatwounds, added the Babicz bridge, and I haven't touched either of my G&L basses in weeks.

 

[phillybass101]

IMO out of your list the Sire V3 will give the you most professional bass tone and for cheap.

 

[BobDeRosa]

Hello everyone,
After a few years on double bass, i am going electric now.
I need to decide between 5 fretted basses and need your insights. All in the same price range.
Yamaha bb234
Yamaha trbx204
Sire V3
Cort Action dlx
Fender squier vintage modified jazz bass

thank you for your help

I'm a Yamaha guy through and through, but know next to nothing about the new ones except for what I've seen on YouTube (I use only older BBs, from the 80s). Search for the BB234 and I think you'll be impressed. You could also check Reverb for a used BB -- I've seen BB300s for as little as $200. BTW, I'd stick with the BB rather than the TRBX series.

The Sires have also been really well reviewed, but I have no first-hand info about them except that I think a Sire will cost you at least $200 more than an a similar Yamaha.

Good luck. As someone who also took up electric many years after playing upright, I can guess you're in for a lot of fun.

 

[DavC]

if you might want to mod things down the road , squire /fender is a easy platform to swap parts .. !

i like a medium P sized neck on my jazz body ... mods like that . !?

and the slightly fatter P neck might feel better coming from DB .?

 

[Wisebass]

After a few years on double bass, i am going electric now.

Hi albertojonas

Welcome to the dark side of the force!

Out of your list, I would pick the Squier Jazz. (or buy a used Fender?)

did not manage to figure out what the knobs did. =(

This is bad! Don 't be shy! Ask!!!
In a good shop, they will explain you how the stuff works!

Maybe edit your thread title and post "Portugese Bassplayer needs help"!
We have TB members in Portugal!
Maybe contact them, to get some advice about the shops? (for buying used)
You might even find someone, who goes shopping with you!

(just my thoughts)

Have fun "going electric"

Wise(b)ass

btw:

Squire

Sire or Squire

Don' t buy a Squire!!!!!! Slavery is illegal!!! You don 't buy or sell humans in Potugal, do you ?

The one to the left is a "Squire". Maybe the one to the right was a "Sire" before he became king.

may the bass be with you

Wise(b)ass

 

[dmt]

btw:

Don' t buy a Squire!!!!!! Slavery is illegal!!!...

The one to the left is a "Squire". Maybe the one to the right was a "Sire" before he became king.

may the bass be with you

Wise(b)ass

You make a good point, oh wise bass one. I’m blaming auto correct. Or rather, I hope it was an auto correct thing (typed it a few days ago). I’d definitely rather have a Squier than a Squier. Er...Squire. Ughhh

 

[albertojonas]

thanks everyone for the replies. I now have an old aria pro II bass from a friend, pj configuration. it is not bad... (waiting for salary =)