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getting ready to pull the trigger on a cheap maybe short scale bass...opinions please

S

sins tailor

Jan 14, 2011
28
0
lewisville,texas
www.freewebs.com
#1
ok...first of all let me say i've played bass and guitars on and off since 5th grade and i'm 54 years old........been in a million bands, done a few cd's, opened for many groups ....the byrds reunion ( with nicky hopkins ) among them as well as the fleshtones,lords of the new church,new model army..........done a few radio shows and even a couple tv shows...............that said.............here's what i am looking for..........first of all once i used an aria pro 2 csb..i was sold........and used nothing but them for most of my time............but have had framus,vox,hofner,hagstrom,and various other basses ..mostly i like small necks.....i chose the aria's MAINLY because the neck DOES NOT FLANGE towards the body..........it stays the same width.........and i love that the most..........they are also built like a brick,have massive adjustable bridges and feel good to hold and play........HOWEVER.......just doesn't give me the balls i want...........tried modding one once with a guild starfire pickup but didn't make a huge difference.......still not the sound i wanted...........that said............i really don't love the viola type ( read hofner ) type basses.......due to the shaky floating bridge with limited adjustment capabilities and overall temperament to weather and tuning /feedback problems..and not much sustain......also the neck even though it doesn't flange ...is a bit tiny and you just can't dig in and rock the **** out with them.............with the aria's we used to close our set with the who's ( my generation ) and of course we threw our instruments all over and destroyed the area..........and the aria held up to that.........the hofners and such would have broken..........not saying i wanna do that again.......but it's nice to know you got a solid instrument that can handle a good high energy show..............now.......my main question is.......what are the necks that DO NOT FLANGE and get bigger toward the body ?????? the aria's were medium scale 32" and so far that has been my favorite neck..........the viola types basses also don't flange but like i say they are kind of flakey to me.......though i like the epi viola's sound..............
i don't care about scale full,medium or small..........just so the neck stays the same all the way up..............i play a lot of chords and such towards the 12 fret area...........my hands do not get bigger and i prefer the neck do the same.........

right now my choices are down to these
looking to spend no more than $300..........

1. gretsch g2202 ( top choice right now )
2. cort action bass junior
3. epi viola
4. hofner icon
5. aria dmb 380
6. douglas hofner clone
7. brice les paul clone
8. italia maranello
9. ibanez artcore
10. ibanez mikro
11. jay turser hofner clone
12. johnson hofner clone
right now i'm leaning towards the gretsch..........

my favorite bass players are all rhythmic players......and they rock........

1. the guy from joe jackson......first 3 albums mainly
2. the guy from the jam
3. the guy from the stranglers
4. chris squire from yes
5. elvis costello's guy from the attractions
6. the guy from slade
7. the guy from xtc

those are the tones i dig..............rhythmic but cut through like a bitch..............

is there a cheap non flanging neck bass for around $300
that is solid as a brick.........but has the balls to get these tones.............without a bunch of modding ?????

right now the gretsch seems to be the winner..............but should i consider any of these other ones or even something else ??????

opinions please ????? gonna buy next week...........thanxs.....

so anyway.....i want a neck that stays the same all the way up...............

i want something that stays in tune.............

i want some sustain.........

i want good low end but also some good growl and unique tone that will cut through the mix............

i want a good solid bass that will work for gigs and not need retuning throughout a show...........good intonation is a necessity..............

i will be playing probably mostly sixties garage rock and some heavy power pop a la cheap trick...........maybe even some punkier stuff like vines or strokes.............oh yeah i play with a pick......and i play rhythmic rock..........nothing too fancy......but i ain't gonna be in the background either.......;)

i would prefer something that isn't a copy or trying to be something else but has it's own unique thing..........

i got pretty stubby little fingers and i'm no virtuoso.....i play rock n roll..........but i like to dig in and play rhythmically..........

help me decide..............
 
#4
this is my first post here....sorry if i broke any rules or something..
anyway....this is how i post...been doing it like this for over 20years with no big problems on any other boards......but i can remove the periods if it hinders comprehension...pretend i'm talking and those are pauses..................................................ok
can we move on to the advice ???
i was hopeing to make some friends here....:hmm:
 
#5
I'm a fan of the Ibanez basses. They do get wider towards the body (but not thicker). I'm not sure which you meant. But they are quite thin compared to others which makes them comfortable to play all over imho. I can't speak for how rugged they are since I've only had mine three months. No problems yet, but I don't do the Who tribute thing. :)
I bought a store demo that I knew had been there for 6 months because neck stability is the big concern when buying an inexpensive instrument. I figured, if the neck still looked good after 6 months of in store use, then it was a stable neck. So far that has worked out well. (Mine is not short scale though).
If you want something built like a truck, you're talking Peavey. I have no idea what their necks are like since I've only owned their five string.
I've had a Hofner and a Hofner copy. Those necks are pretty thick. They may be consistent (it's been awhile - I don't recall), but if they are, then they are consistently thick.
You mentioned Hagstroms - they have an I beam in the neck. Super thin and stable - but not adjustable if they do go out. Plus, now they are vintage so they don't fall in the cheap category any more.

P.S. I've been unimpressed with the quality of the Epis that I have played.

Another P.S. Do they make a Squire Mustang? Fenders are rugged, Mustangs are short scale.
 
#9
thanxs guys,the hofners have thickness in my palm like a small baseball bat which is ok.........but not across the fretboard which makes stretching necessary..that's what i like to avoid...so i kinda like em...i've had a few ibanez and they just seem very generic sounding..do any pro's endorse and play those things ?? had the gaxb,and couple others,really never found fenders to my liking don't know why,had an epi ebo which was pretty nice..never got the chance to use it much...i hear they are quite muddy and a 1 trick pony as well...had the dano longhorn and hated it...most uncomfortable awkward body style ever..sound was ok...i liked the sound of my old girlfriends hondo rippoff better i think...anyway no go...again with the dean's just never seen much good word...can't recall anyone of any note playing a dean...or mentioning the "dean" sound....;)
but keep em coming.............anyone played an italia,dipinto or eastwood ??? not cheap but i dig the look...
 
#12
sins tailor said:
this is my first post here....sorry if i broke any rules or something..
anyway....this is how i post...been doing it like this for over 20years with no big problems on any other boards......but i can remove the periods if it hinders comprehension...pretend i'm talking and those are pauses..................................................ok
can we move on to the advice ???
i was hopeing to make some friends here....:hmm:
Click to expand...

Wasn't breaking any rules. My comment (although a little childish) was more about making it easier to read for other people.

I once played an Italia Mondial and the looks are awesome but it didn't feel like it wanted to go home with me so I passed on it. Worth checking out if you can find one.
 
#14
I have a Mustang bass I bought used and love it . Even better with flatwounds .
Firstly I wouldn't go with many of your selections with the exception of the Italia. I used to like the Gretsch till I played it . Not my feel . I would recommend a good used bass than a cheap new one.
But you insist on new for a shortscale bass get a Squier Bronco and mod the heck out of it . Seen some killer modded ones done cheap that sounded and played better than my Stang RI IMHO. If that is not up your alley go with a good used one .
 
#18
I know what you mean about preferring the narrowness of the neck and not flaring too much at the heel. That's probably one of the reasons I like vintage "oddities" like Tiesco, Kingston, Harmony and such so much. It's also one of the reasons I bought an EPI EB0 and modded it to my liking. The neck is narrow side to side and pretty consistent from nut to heel but fairly chunky front to back which helps when knuckle pain flares up. Definitely a very different feeling than my P basses.
 
#19
>i was hopeing to make some friends here....
you will surely make lots of friends here. But you can do even more if you just write your things while observing the simple, elementar rule of... adapting your behaviour to the current actual forum rules!!!

Each now and then maybe just leave some space: write, say, two/three lines then leave space. That just makes easier to read and smooths out the "conversation", inviting people to read the things you want to say. Don't get it personal if people just tell you frankly something: just think they might be right.

Peace and welcome!

:)
 

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