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Help required. First bass purchase!

M

magichours

Mar 16, 2011
3
0
#1
Hey all. I'm after some advice for a first time bass purchase.

Been playing guitar for around 10 years now but just recently I've started playing bass in a Queens of the Stone Age covers band and I've got really into it! At the moment I use an old, low-end ibanez SRG that I have on loan from a friend.

I'd like to get my own bass, I have a budget of around £350. I'm not too keen on the ibanez sound, I think it has a agathite body (not sure of the model), but it just sounds weak in the lower mid range to me.

- It will be used first and foremost for live QOTSA covers, so it mainly needs to sound good with gain.

- I currently play using a pick (please don't hate me :D), but I'd like something versatile enough to develop solid finger style on.

- I'll only be playing rock really, no jazz/funk.

- I'm only looking for 4 string models

- Happy to scout around for 2nd hand stuff as well as new

I've had a look at the Squier VM bass and the Ep Thunderbird Pro IV (specs seem really good for the money). Do you guys have any opinions on these models?

All suggestions welcome, as I'll go shopping next week and could use a short list to work through!

Thanks in advance
 
#2
Squier makes a really good bass for the money. Your best bet is to play several basses and pick the one that has the tone you want.

An active bass will allow you to get more low end and growl by boosting the mids and a slight boost of the lows. Try a used Ibanez BTB model if you can find one in your budget. It's totally different then the SRG models and IMO a lot better of an instrument. I've never liked the SRG's but absolutely love the BTB's.
 
#11
Thanks so much for all the helpful responses guys! Sounds like fender is the way to go :)

Reckon I'll go up to Demark Street - see if I can get a good deal on a 2nd hand MIM/American P-bass. Will definitely give the Squier VM P-bass (with soft maple body) a try as well, I love the look of it and everyone seems pretty positive about them.
 
#12
dvs20 said:
I knows it's and old song with the old bass player but this should steer you in the right direction
YouTube - Queens of the Stone Age - Hangin' Tree (live)
Click to expand...

Might be slightly off topic, but is he rocking a mid-60's P w/ a Maple fretboard!?!

That's a pretty rare bird! I thought it was a 70's, but the PG is definitely mid-60's tort, and I didn't see the TV letters on the headstock logo
 
#13
Had a good play with American (Special and Highway 1), Mexican, Japanese and Squire Precision and Jazz basses today! Spent about 2 hours in various shops. Here are my thoughts:-

I loved the Squire VM series Pbass, didn't get a chance to try out a Jazz. I very nearly purchased the VM Pbass (maple body).

Didn't really like any of the Mexican made basses I played. The sound was there, but I felt like I was fighting to play them all the time. The guy even tried lowering the strings for me, but it sounded a lot worse!

The japanese models were kind of on par with the fender highway 1 series - both of which I like a lot, but there weren't any models with a maple fretboard (which I was very keen on), and I think they were slightly bested by the American Special Series.

Ended up ordering a Candy Apple Red Jazz Amercian Special for £800 - way over budget but the American Special series really hit that middle ground between price and quality and did it better than the Highway 1 series IMO - although I did like the matt finish on the Highway's.

Can't shout loudly enough about Wunjo Guitars in Denmark Street - superb customer service. They let me take a brand new American Pbass home while I wait for my Jazz to be delivered! Exceptionally friendly and knowledgeable staff :)

A good day
 

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