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Help me decide on a new bass!

Which Bass to get

  • Classic Series '60s Jazz Bass (sunburst, rosewood neck)

    Votes: 3 4.2%

  • Classic Series '50s Precision Bass (black, maple neck)

    Votes: 10 13.9%

  • Roger Waters Precision Bass (black, maple neck)

    Votes: 8 11.1%

  • Special Edition Deluxe PJ Bass (seaform or white, maple neck w/ block inlays)

    Votes: 15 20.8%

  • 70's Jazz Bass (sunburst, rosewood neck w/ block inlays)

    Votes: 10 13.9%

  • American Standard Jazz Bass (black, maple neck)

    Votes: 9 12.5%

  • American Standard Precision Bass (sunburst, rosewood neck)

    Votes: 17 23.6%
  • Total voters
    72
#22
G&L SB-2:

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#26
Why just Fender?

My advice is to broaden your horizons and be open to other brands. I can tell you from my own experience that getting away from Fender opened up new horizons for me. This is not a bash of Fender, simply a statement that other brands make some killer basses that offer different sounds than Fender.

Try a Rickenbacker, a G & L, a MusicMan, or other brands before you lock in on Fender.
 
#28
Gizmot said:
Why just Fender?

My advice is to broaden your horizons and be open to other brands. I can tell you from my own experience that getting away from Fender opened up new horizons for me. This is not a bash of Fender, simply a statement that other brands make some killer basses that offer different sounds than Fender.

Try a Rickenbacker, a G & L, a MusicMan, or other brands before you lock in on Fender.
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It comes down to financing. The GC card doesn't offer financing for any of those brands. It does for Fender. I stuck what I had the opportunity to play in store and then added a couple of known commodities.

I had the opportunity to stop back by the store across town and try the American Standard P-Bass they had in stock. I also tried the Professional Jazz bass as it was likely close to the American Standard Jazz bass. The P-bass had been put on clearance because of a solid dime-sized dent/gouge in the wood in addition to numerous other dings and scratches.

The salesman said that the model had been set to clearance across the chain and that any model would be a floor model from another store and likely to be in similarly rough shape. The financing doesn't work with clearance models, so that likely excludes the two American Standards.

I did sit down with the deluxe PJ in seafoam and I went ahead and bought it since I have a 45 day return policy. Musicians Friend has the same bass for $750 with free shipping and no tax. That means I should be able to have GC price match that after the fact to drop quite a bit off of the price of the guitar. I just have to make the trip to a nearby GC.

I've had them do that for other guitars that I've financed, and after the salesman was a bit of an ******* at the end, I certainly don't mind looking out for my wallet over his.
 
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#31
lfmn16 said:
First, get a good professional setup on the bass you have. You may decide to keep it. If you don't, go play the basses and make your own decision. Every bass is different. You can play 10 Fender American P basses and they may not all play and sound exactly the same.
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I knew I couldn't be the first one to suggest it but a pro setup on your squier was my first thought. Unless there are serious defects it should setup really well if you've got a tech that's good at fretwork. You could even upgrade the bridge at the same time, it would still be cheaper than a new bass. If you want a second as a backup I voted for the PJ special. Its a jazz bass neck with a versatile PU configuration.
 
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#32
Out of that list I like the MIA jazz best, followed by the classic 50s precision. My off list personal favorite is any crafted in Japan fender instrument.

The seafoam green PJ has been an absolute dog ever time I tried one. Didn't sound like a P or a J even with each pickup soloed, no really good tones available and butt nasty finish color.
 
#33
Do you have other options than GC? Do you have your heart set on new? I'm suspicious about the quality of the new Fenders. I had a late 70's Hondo that, when set up properly and with new pickups, sounded better than many of the Fenders at GC. I brought it in and compared. Then I picked up an old Washburn Scavenger ($350) that had much better tone, sustain, etc... THEN I picked up a Kramer DMZ4001 for $400 that sounds even better than that.

I guess what I'm saying is, if having a new Fender is important than fine, go with that. But if sound is the most important, than shop around and keep an open mind. I see mid to late 70's p-basses on CL for $1200 - $1500 fairly frequently. I'll bet those sound much better than the new ones.
 
#34
kcwm said:
Being that the bass I currently have is a PJ bass, I'm drawn to the Deluxe PJ. I've just never been the biggest fan of seafoam. They have the burst and the white one so I could always order one. I'm tempted to go back and give it another whirl without having my wife and daughter with me. I always feel bad taking 30 minutes or so to familiarize myself with a guitar or bass while they wait.

The USA models are definitely not a bargain, especially when you get to the professional line at $1500, but it's "easier" to find a gem at the American level than it is at the import level, or so it normally goes. I do have a '92 MIM Tele that is the most stubborn guitar in my collection because of how well it plays, so I definitely understand that gems are out there.

I have a PRS S2 SC250 that I'd be happy to trade for a USA bass. Something might pan out before I pull the trigger on a new bass, which I'd prefer over spending close to $1k, even if that's spread out over time.
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If they had it in Race Red with a matching headstock I'd buy one the minute GC opened tommorow.
 
#37
bordinco90 said:
You could get the Fenders, or you could order all your parts through Warmoth and get excatly what you want. You could also go with Carvin as well. With Carvin you get a US made bass cheaper than a standard USA Fender.
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Both excellent suggestions. I've been eyeing some Warmoth parts but I'm very Rainman on precision assembly... Or Jazz assembly for that matter... :laugh:

I've been tempted to try a Kiesel but there have been so many mixed reviews on TB. Many say they don't feel the Keisel P bass has soul or punch. I have a J style bass but want a P style bass with a nice deep punchy pickup. I live at the end of the trail in Alaska so I'm more isolated than you. So I can't drop into a store and try out different basses. And I'm not very knowledgeable on P bass pickups.
 
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#38
alaskaleftybass said:
Both excellent suggestions. I've been eyeing some Warmoth parts but I'm very Rainman on precision assembly... Or Jazz assembly for that matter... :laugh:
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Yeah I had someone build mine for me, he didn't charge me much. The warmoth P bass that I own is way better than any US P bass that I have played. The neck on the Warmoth is bigger a little wider than the Fender, but it's very comfortable. The Carvin has a thin neck that feels almost Ibanez-ish.
 
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#39
jnslprd said:
Prretty sure MF has all 3 colors of the Deluxe PJ for sale at $750. I have never price matched at Guitar Center, do you know what they do about tax?
The white one is killing me here, just signed in here to look for some info on this bass.
Click to expand...

I’m not sure what they do about the tax. In theory, they should match the price at 692.80 or something like that in order to get close to the 749.99. I’m going to call tomorrow to find out.
 
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