Good Choices For Solid Easy To Find Funk Bass?

Why would you want something active for a funk sound?

Check out the Fender 70's Classic Series Jazz Reissues - the MIM ones with the bound & blocked neck. They run about $700.

 

Budget?

Seems that you are set on an active bass. Have you played a Lakland Skyline?
Do you want 4 or 5 strings?

 

Passive American Standard Fender Jazz Bass.

 

Warwick Thumb Bolt On. I play Jazz and Fusion more than anything else and I tried many basses before buying the Thumb and none were better. Be sure to try the same model before purchasing it.

 

I'd go with a precision, or a P/J. As for the active, I think it would sound too "angry" with a preamp pumpin' it up, so I wouldn't suggest it. If you're dead set on it, you can check out the American deluxe fenders.

 

+1

nuthin better for funk slap tone imho
I have active and passive instruments, and always fall to my passive jazz for "that tone"

 

+1

One can ever always "go active" with a pedal, etc. Getting a good bass is step one, IMHO.

 

They're not bad, per se, it's just that the generic funk slap tone we're all used to is the result of passive pickups and an EQ'd amp, instead of an amped up active bass. Plus, most preamps tend to get "overused", and I don't think more gain equals better slap (or any other for that matter) tone. But that's just me.

 

Because actives are too hot. Take a look at the Marcus Miller Jazz model - it has active AND passive modes. I can almost guarantee you that he slaps in passive mode. If he doesn't, well that's why his name is Marcus Miller I guess.

 

I'm not sure why people are telling you to stay away from active basses. Stingrays and Sterlings have active preamps, and I don't think anyone would argue that those basses do the funk thing. Some of the best slap tones I've heard have come from active Spectors, Smiths, Sadowskys and the like.

 

Buy a Fender Squire Vintage Modified Jazz Bass for $279 if you want a jazz. I have played others, but to my ears and fingers there was not a lot of difference.

 

Well, Sterlings were designed that way.
Stingrays didn't have actives back in the day.

(oops, my bad - they did.)

 

My 2 cents is this,... it doesn't matter the brand or model,...it all depends on the particular bass itself. I worked retail in a music store for several years, one year, we got 3,..count 'em,..3 yamaha TRB P II's in,.....all three killer instruments,...great tone, gorgeous basses, rival ANY boutique build I've ever played,...however,..only one of the three really lent itself to slap,...it just had the tone and the feel. All three set up the same,..all identical except for the woods used for the tops,...really made me step back and go...wth?!?!?!?
I think you should just play as many basses as you can until you find the "one" that fits your playing style and ear. The jazzes , musicmans, active, passive, Laklands, warwicks,....play 'em all until the special one falls into your hands,..it's kinda like finding the right woman,...gotta weed through a bunch till you find one that fits you.

 

-1 on the Stingray HH. +1 on the Stingray H. Seems several people find the HH doesn't leave much room to slap.

I like the slap sounds a P bass makes though, so what do I know?

 

Go with the stingray HH. I love it and it has some awesome slap tones.

 

I was an active guy forever and own some of the best active on-board pre's made and have recently discovered that I get a better tone passive.
Passive Jazz bass would be my choice for what you want to do.
But Ray's are cool too(and active).
Wicks too.
Whatever floats your boat, but I'm a Jazz guy for 'that' sound.