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Help buying first bass

#21
Is the neck profile an issue for you? You are currently playing a jazz copy, while several are steering you towards a P. I know in my early days I went through several basses just because I didn’t like the neck. This may or may not be an issue for You...

The Sandberg VM has a nice jazz like neck.
 
#23
If you want to nail the Motown sound get a Road Worn Precision and put flats on it. That will cover about 90% of anything you may need to do. A Road Worn Jazz with roundwounds, run with the neck pickup, will cover Motown sound pretty well and will provide more than enough variety of tones for everything else.
 
#24
stringent said:
I’m new to bass. I’ve been practicing on a borrowed Diamond jazz bass copy and a little, guaranteed-not-to-disturb-the-downstairs-neighbors amp for a couple of months. I play with the bridge volume turned down or off. I can’t seem to find a use for it.

I love the old Motown sound, so my first bass has to nail the p-bass vibe, but it should also sit well in other contexts. Slap sound is not a high priority, though. The bridge pickup should be useable alone, not just in conjunction with the neck pickup. It should sound good in passive mode.

I have drawn up the following list of candidates. Unfortunately, none are available in my area, so I have no first-hand experience with them. Am I ignoring some worthy model or pickup configuration?

Sandberg VM

G&L L-2000

Reverend Mercalli

Warwick $$ (Double Buck)

I am undecided as to whether I should buy a five-stringer as a first bass.

Comments very welcome, thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Don’t forget your Wolf Box. ;)

Acme Audio Motown D.I. WB-3 - Vintage King Pro Audio Outfitter

I kid, at this point anyway. This is not what you need right now or maybe ever.
I shouldn’t be throwing stuff like this at an impressionable newbie, but I couldn’t resist the Motown reference.
As much as this box is credited for the Motown Sound, I think the guys playing the bass’ plugged into them had a lot to do with that.
But I would like to welcome you to Talkbass! :hyper:

I came across a couple of A-9J transformers which spec out almost the same as the A-11/12J used in the WB. So I built my own version of the Wolf Box, just finishing the rough build this week. After some additional testing and finishing touches, I’ll be posting about it here.

If you are interested in the scoop as told by the inventor, this is an interesting read.

Link Removed
 
#27
I honestly think you can't go wrong with a good Precision Bass. I have a feeling you are like me and tend to lean towards the warmer, fatter tone of pickups that are placed closer to the neck, and that's something that bridge pickups aren't the best at doing regardless of pickup design. I have the L2000 as well and love it, it's extremely versatile but the pickups are quite hot compared to the sound I think you are going for. Precision Basses are also really easy to EQ into any band scenario in my experience, you just set the tone knob to determine how much high end you want and that's it!

This is the video that converted me to a P bass w/ Flats
 
#32
I should also say that there are versions of the Jazz and P bass worth considering that aren't Fender as well. G&L, Sandberg, Yamaha, Sire or even Japanese copies like Greco or Tokai are all worth considering as options as well.
 
#34
stringent said:
I’m new to bass. I’ve been practicing on a borrowed Diamond jazz bass copy and a little, guaranteed-not-to-disturb-the-downstairs-neighbors amp for a couple of months. I play with the bridge volume turned down or off. I can’t seem to find a use for it.

I love the old Motown sound, so my first bass has to nail the p-bass vibe, but it should also sit well in other contexts. Slap sound is not a high priority, though. The bridge pickup should be useable alone, not just in conjunction with the neck pickup. It should sound good in passive mode.

I have drawn up the following list of candidates. Unfortunately, none are available in my area, so I have no first-hand experience with them. Am I ignoring some worthy model or pickup configuration?

Sandberg VM 4 or 5

G&L Tribute L-2000 / 2500

Reverend Mercalli 4 or 5

Warwick $$ (Double Buck) 4 or 5

I am undecided as to whether I should buy a five-stringer as a first bass.

Comments very welcome, thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

Going for the Motown sound and a fender P not being on your list of choice just makes no sense!
(just my humble opinion) with that being said, I recommend for that particular style of course a fender P Bass! Now when it comes to either a 4 or 5 string as a first bass only you can decide that. In my opinion, I would say the 4 , why run before you can walk!
 
#35
Those who pegged me as liking the warm, fat sound are correct. That is definitely where I want to go and I appreciate all those who advise me to ferchrissake get a p-bass. But I was hoping that with another pickup I could get like two basses in one, do some Stingray stuff too, maybe. But the consensus seems to be it can't or isn't done.
 

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