Help a beginner out

[thefunkelastic]

I've been playing bass for a year now on a crappy beat up washburn I bought at a yard sale, the neck is set a 1/4 inch too high and no matter what I do I can't set the action right...time to get a new bass I figure

so I'm lost in the wide world of basses, I'm looking to spend around 500, preferably less, and my main criterion are that A) The bass is well built so that it will last me a long time and have decent tone B) that I can get a wide range of sounds out of it, my friends all play very different style of music from ska to metal to jazz and I would like to be able to play with any of them

so far I've found two basses that have caught my eye

1) The Ibanez SRX2EX1, I know i can trust ibanez as a brand, and I like how much you can change the sound

2) Peavey Grind 4 BXP, Neck through, strings through, I know that's really important stuff for tone, and no other basses (that I know of) in the price range have that, I don't mind changing the strings out of the box but I hear the quality control is shoddy


which one do you guys like, and am I in my ignorance missing a bass that would be an obvious choice for me?



thanks for the help I need it,

-The Funkelastic

 

[CharlyG]

Give the FENDER MIMs and G&L Tribute series a look.

 

[doctorjazz]

I found my SR500 to be pretty versatile, and I still think the neck is one of the best I've ever played. You could also check out some used Carvins, they're a great value when new but used they're an absolute steal.

 

[lowendgenerator]

Another vote for Ibanez. I have 3 of them in the house now and they are very versatile. I can get that low thump, the bright twang, the mid growl. 3 band EQs and vari-mids make almost anything possible.

 

[Webtroll]

Neck through, strings through, I know that's really important stuff for tone, and no other basses (that I know of) in the price range have that

I'm not sure I'd be looking at neck-through as a major selling point unless you just want that feature. I've sold my neck through and set neck basses and only have bolt-ons at this time (not because they're bolt-ons, it's just these particular basses are better than the others I had previously in general).

 

[gre107]

Fender Jazz 'nuff said...

 

[PSPookie]

I've owned Washburn, Schecter, Ibanez & G&L Tributes in that price range. Hands down, the G&L Tributes are the best instruments IMO. They are a fantastic bargain if bought new. If you can find a used Trinute they are an absolute steal. There are nicer basses out there, but you have to spend much more to get any significant improvement in tone/quality.

 

[tigercasual]

I haven't played the Peavey- although, I've heard that they're great for the price. However, I have played the Ibanez and was very impressed. I thought that it stacked up very well with far more expensive- made in the USA- basses. It played fantastic and was able to get wide range of sounds. You get a lot of bass for the money.

Cheers,
TC

 

[thombo]

my experience with both ibanez and the newer peavey basses is that they don't last. if you are looking for a new bass that will last, and is versitile, i suggest a fender jazz bass like this one.
-it's classic, you can use it in a wide variety of settings
-easy to add an active preamp later on if you want to (though passive is just fine)
-it will always serve as a useable bass; even people alot of people with foderas, ken smiths, and other high end basses still use their fenders... it's a studio must.
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if you are ok with used basses (which i think is the better route) check out the used market... $500 goes a long way on ebay or craigslist.

 

[ggunn]

my experience with both ibanez and the newer peavey basses is that they don't last.

What do you mean, they don't last? What happens to them?

 

[thombo]

well, when i was doing alot of repair work and setups, i had to do lots of little repairs on the hardware, electronics, scratchie pots, etc. (especialy on beginer ibanez and dean) sooner than other, more tried and true instruments like fender, olp, rockbass, etc.
that is not to say that they are bad or inferior... in fact, both of the instruments mentioned above are really nice and easy to play (though that particular ibanez is a little tight with the string spacing for me). in the end, people should go with what they want; what feels and sounds the best to them. i do not look down at either (or any) intrument. it is a very personal choice and everyone is different.

 

[Jeff Martinez]

Schecter.

 

[Rugaar]

Check out the Peavey Foundation (not mine) listed in the TB Classifieds. Hard to beat for $175 shipped. There are sound clips, too, so you can hear what it's capable of.