Help buying a new Bass

[Leonardo Coura]

Hey Guys,

So I've been playing for about 10 years now and I'm thinking about buying a new bass.
As i live in Brazil I have to wait until i go overseas to actually find something nice at a decent price and have kind of a hard time trying different basses, so I decided to ask for you opinion on what basses might be worth taking a look.

Since I started playing I have hanged on to the bass I started with, although I did quite a few modification. It's a light bass, with he body made out of basswood, maple neck and rosewood scale.
It's a PJ bass that at this point has two Lindy Fralin Pickups and top electrical components.

My budget is around 2k but can go up to 3k if there is something amazing a bit more expensive.
I'm looking for a passive 4 string bass.
I play in a Prog Rock band and need the bass to be really flexible as we go from jazz to rock (not really heavy, more like ELP style) and Brazilian music.
I'd also like the bass to have a nice low end and some sustain.
I'll be running it through a Sadowsky premap/DI, a Markbass Compressore and hopefully a Myco Three (if I can get my hands on one).

I've tried some basses and have the following opinion:

- Jazz Basses: Tried quiet a few of them but I fell they kind of lack that fat lows that I like.

- Rickembacker: I played one the other day and they sound just amazing. Unfortunately I don't think they are as flexible as I need.

- Gibson Les Paul Standard - I tried one of this the other day and really loved them but I've being trying to locate one of them to buy and it's quite hard. As I have to be traveling overseas to buy a new bass I'd like to ave other options even if this one is on the top of my list.

Any advice in some models that might be worth taking a look?
Oh... I don't really care if it's a new or used one. Just got be able to find them.

Thanks

 

[Malak the Mad]

Fender Blacktop Jazz, perhaps? It's a straight-up Jazz body and neck, but with two Precision pickups. It can do "mellow" by solo'ing either pickup, but when you use them together it kicks like a mule. Very bold sound and relatively inexpensive. But don't let the cost fool you. Mine is incredibly well-built. Here's a sound clip of one being played with a pick. (Use headphones to get the full effect)

But for greater versatility, I often recommend trying out a Fender Aerodyne (Japanese-made). It's a Precision/Jazz configuration, so you get the lows, but with some extra definition supplied by the Jazz pickup. It's more expensive than the Blacktop, but still well under $1000.

 

[jazzsoul]

checkout the sandberg basses:

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Oliver Rieder from Rammstein plays those basses, they are great!

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[mpdd]

i would consider a g&l L2k and if you find that too aggressive possibly a M2k, both are very versatile and extremely well crafted

 

[iriegnome]

Since I am not familiar with what is available in Brazil, I can only say that with your budget, you should be able to buy just about everything under the sun. Laklands, Sadowsky's, Sandbergs, Modulus, Music Man's.. Wow.. just about anything really. All great basses. With versatility in mind, I generally think of 2 pickup basses (IMHO). However, I have heard everything used for every kind of music. I know I am not being much help, sorry.

 

[Leonardo Coura]

Thanks,

I took a look at you suggestions.

Really liked the G&L.
But if I have a chance I'll try and play all of them.