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Help me decide between two basses!

Which 2nd bass compliments a Player Precision best for a singer/bassist in a rock band?

  • Fender American Pro II Jazz

    Votes: 65 56.5%

  • Sire P7 active PJ

    Votes: 6 5.2%

  • Music Man USA S.U.B (Stingray-type)

    Votes: 25 21.7%

  • Sire V7 active J-Bass

    Votes: 9 7.8%

  • Other (comment)

    Votes: 10 8.7%
  • Total voters
    115
Anjohl

Anjohl

Oct 2, 2010
269
442
#1
Long story short, I am the singer/bassist in a band, using a Fender Player Precision exclusively. I want something new, & was eyeing a Jazz specifically. I actually HAVE a Dean Juggernaut J-type, but am selling it to a friend that needs a bass, as part of raising funds for this purchase we are going to talk about!

I would like something with two pickups ideally, and MAY be willing to make a big jump up in terms of caliber, to a Fender American Pro II Jazz specifically. The others in the running are significantly cheaper. Here are the candidates, details, and pricing. Note that musical instruments are *much* more expensive here in Canada than in the US, but I will list them in *US prices* to make this easier. I will list them in no particular order:

1) Fender American Pro II Jazz: $1,600 (new). This would be a big step up, & would entail me selling off several pieces of gear, including my HX Stomp. I am fine with that, just saying for info. I have enough cash/trade to get it down to about $700, which I would finance over a year.

2) Sire P7: $350 (used). I like this choice a lot. I was previously against PJ basses, feeling they were the worst elements of both combined, but I honestly think I was ignorant in that view. I could see an active PJ complimenting my Precision perfectly, but not quite scratching the Jazz bass itch, so would likely mean a 3rd bass would happen at some point in the future.

3) Music Man S.U.B.: $700-ish (used0. This one is super interesting, as it's the actual Musicman SUB, *not* the Sterling model. I haven't played this one yet, but I imagine it's incredible.

4) Sire V7(new): $750 (new): This is a strong contender. I played a Squier Affinity Active Jazz tonight, and *loved* it, so I can see a V7 being somewhat of a "best of both worlds" that's both a Jazz bass & an active.

Something to note, #1 & 4 would both be sold by the same local retailer that I have a very strong relationship with, so there are various layaway/financing options, plus they are very welcoming of trade-ins. They can also get any other Fender/Sire basses, so if you would reccommend something else from one of those brands, feel free to list it!

We play roots rock, so a lot of CCR/Eagles/Dylan/etc, as well as a lot of blues. In terms of effects, the most I use is a bit of drive on the heavier songs (Creep & Sunshine of Your Love for example). I do have a bass Pod that covers most of the other bases if desired, but the only things I find myself going to really is a touch of chorus here & there, and maybe some Envelope Filter on funk.

I want something I will keep & use for several years, and would like it to feel/sound at *least* as good as my Player Precision. I feel like that's *my* comfort level in terms of a quality/price sweet spot. I am not completely against not getting a proper Jazz right now, tho I *do* feel like I will want one eventually.
 
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#2
I have an Am Pro II Jazz and it definitely delivers. Sounds and feels good. Mine is the roasted pine model.

The SUB is also a good choice and pretty rare here in Canada. I happen to like the Stingray sound and think these are a sleeper.

I can’t comment on the Sires as I’ve never played one. I know they are well regarded.

Good luck with picking a bass. I think these are all good choices.
 
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#4
Well I'd say go try a Warwick. Jack Bruce played one. If you want something very different might as well go exotic. You can find a Rockbass version right in your budget. The streamer with jazz pickups is very nice.
 

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#6
I prefer a PJ over a J bass. Just sounds fuller. Hate the asymmetry of how it looks but I live with it. Can't stand thin necks so my only J has a P neck.
If you're mind is set on a J then you can get a fuller tone by rolling the neck pu back a smidge to 95%-98% and roll the bridge to between 20-35%. Just hunt for the sweet spot and you'll get back most of the mids and have good low end.
 
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#8
I think the Am Pro II is the "best" bass in your list. I am a huge fan of the series and think Fender hit their sweet spot there in terms of quality, sound and price. Plus, I am a J bass guy, so it really would be the obvious choice for me.

However, I voted for the Music Man. First of all, I don't think you need a second bass at all. A P will get you through whatever set just fine. But if you are looking for tonal options, I think a passive J wouldn't be the way to go. The neck PU will be close to your P's sound anyway and I never got a decent use out of the two PUs combined when playing rock music. The Music Man will give you something different and fit perfectly into that genre.

If there were no list whatsoever, I'd recommend an Ibanez Soundgear in that price range. If you are looking for a true opposite to a passive P (in terms of sound and playability) that does well in a rock setting, that is what you want.
 
#11
I wouldn't get a Ray unless you specifically want that kind of tone. They are obviously great if you want THAT tone, but not so great if you don't.

I wouldn't get a Fender unless you specifically want to pay extra for the Fender logo on the headstock.

From your list my choice would be Sire. They are easily as good as a Fender AmPro IMO, and a lot cheaper. They are also more consistent, better QC than Fender in my experience. P7 vs V7 would be a matter of taste. Do you want a PJ or a J?

As for "other":

My first choice would be a Yamaha BB in whatever price range you can afford. They pretty much outclass everything in their price range, except maybe...

...Sire. But I would get a P5, because I prefer passive P-basses. I would honestly rather play a P5 than a Fender AmPro P-bass. And yes, I own both.
 
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#14
Post title suggests a decision between two basses, but the poll is between 4 basses, so I got confused and read the text.

I want to offer the following thoughts:

If money is an issue, never do trade-ins. I run a shop (not a music shop, but I do trade-ins) and the calculation is as follows:
1. I want to sell it on, making a profit.
2. I will have to sell it professionally, which means taxes, and warranty.
3. I'll buy it now, no questions asked, so I will take the risk of sitting on it and selling it for less than I paid at some point in the future, so a little buffer goes on top.

Example: In Germany, the VAT is 19%.
If you have an item that would sell for €1000,-, I'd have to pay €190 VAT when selling it for €1000. I'd like to keep at least €160 when selling it, so we're looking at €650, but with the buffer for the 'risk factor', we'll end up with an offer around €575 for your item that has a second hand market price of €1000. Before trading it in, you could try and sell it for 850 instead - undercutting the market price to ensure a quick sale, but still making a significant amount more than the trade-in price would be.




Go to your local retailer and play basses 1 and 4.
Especially your argument for bass 4 is a bit weak.
It sounds like "I ate a banana once and liked it, so I'm gonna buy an eggplant because both originate from southeast Asia."
That can be remedied quickly by taking it up and playing it.
The one I tried had neck dive and I could not comfortably play it.
 
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#17
We’re so used to buying online, we often buy based on our eyes and what people say on talkbass. That’s just the start. Go find one of these somewhere if you can and play it. That will tell you what you need to know. If it were me I’d start with the Jazz and see how that feels and sounds to you.
 

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