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Help with deciding on a home studio bass.
- Thread starter Dudemanbro23
- Start date
Right? I've got a $80 Jay Turser P Bass that happens to be once of the nicest playing/feeling/sounding P Basses I have (and I own a bunch of 'P Basses' - despite them not being my "thing"). It's really depressing to play it side by side with the American P-Bass that cost me 10x as much. I had to have that headstock logo, though...
I love my American Special P-bass, but since I got a JMJ Mustang its become my go-to for recording and sits in the mix really nice. Justin Meldal worked very hard with Fender to design and make a bass from the ground up with a great pickup and well thought out instrument that gets great tone and playability in a small package which is worthy of consideration. Its also a ton of fun to play!
My first thought!
Much as I hate to admit it, most people just don't care what the bass sounds like as long as it doesn't sound bad. If OP really feels he has to upgrade, he can find a nice Squier VM for under $300 and 99% of the listening audience won't be able to tell that from a Fodera in the mix. If he drops a grand on a bass, it's because he wants to, not because he needs to.
first of all, who cares what other people are using, use what works for you. It really doesn’t matter as long as it sounds the way you want.
second, you could drop a new pickup in the Bentley and see if that does the trick on the low end. Used p-bass pickups are relatively easy to find, and not super expensive.
if part of it is you really just want a new bass, then get you a new bass. I’d look at MIM and MIA p-basses, but I wouldn’t discount other options. Try to hit the best store with the widest used selection you can find and just play a bunch of stuff.
I have a an America built Fender PJ (passive). I would suggest it’s a great voice in it’s own right. A dead knock off voice of either a JB or PB is not going to happen. It’s close, but not a dead ringer, but I like it the way it is.
I must echo the previous advice of several others: Find a bass that feels good to you, that you can play comfortably, and that has pickups with a good level of clear sound and no noises from any of the hardware or electronics. The actual sound of the bass can be tweaked to a very large degree by adjusting the EQ not only when setting your level and tone to record it, but also during playback and mixing.
If you like the bass you have currently, maybe get new pickups and a good setup? If the bass is good otherwise, the list of aftermarket P bass pickups is long, some inexpensive, and can completely alter the sound of your bass. You can even research and find exactly the ones with the sound you desire.
For recording at home, and with others, I use a P bass with aftermarket pickups. For the majority of music, it works for me.
My other basses don't see much use these days.
For recording at home, and with others, I use a P bass with aftermarket pickups. For the majority of music, it works for me.
My other basses don't see much use these days.
Just to make sure: Have you checked the pickup height? What kind of strings are you using?
If it sounds good, it is good.
I’ve recorded a few projects with the Epiphone Thunderbird Vintage Pro. I’ve also used a Jack Casady and various basses (including a Pbass) built from parts. Use what works for you. You may want to consider having a bass with flats and one with roundwounds.
FYI it’s good to be able to play finger style or with a pick in case a producer specifies.
Fender has discontinued American Pro Series, Rumor New Model in October. May be able to get some nice deals on Pro's to offset new pickups expense if V Mod doesn't work for you.
I have Ultra Precision superb playability/feel and wearing comfort, Authentic Vintage P sound passive and Active, Stingrayish sound blend control centered in Active.[plenty other useful tones] Active preamp very musical not harsh or sterile and Dead quiet at all times.
I have Ultra Precision superb playability/feel and wearing comfort, Authentic Vintage P sound passive and Active, Stingrayish sound blend control centered in Active.[plenty other useful tones] Active preamp very musical not harsh or sterile and Dead quiet at all times.
For $1500, I’d prefer a Mexican P with great pickups like Lollar or Fralin, and an excellent tube DI like a REDDI.
If you buy everything used, you may even be able to get one Mexican P with broken in flats like La Bella’s (plus some foam stuffed by the bridge), AND one with fresh round wounds.
I don’t believe for a second anyone can hear where a bass is made on a recording.
If you buy everything used, you may even be able to get one Mexican P with broken in flats like La Bella’s (plus some foam stuffed by the bridge), AND one with fresh round wounds.
I don’t believe for a second anyone can hear where a bass is made on a recording.
Bah, good equipment...who needs it?
Actually I love good equipment and I've got plenty. None of my basses are $3000+ good, and some of them were as bargain basement as your Bentley, although not quite $20. But in a studio situation, all of them can serve a purpose, and all of them will sound great. And since your Bentley is a P, then you've got the Sean Hurley angle covered. Maybe you might want to adjust the pickup to where the output is better, maybe you might need another one. But it matters not whether it's an expensive name brand or a budget name brand. What matters is the sound.
As the owner of a very good (imo) bass that cost me $49.99, I support this message. 
Bah, good equipment...who needs it?
Actually I love good equipment and I've got plenty. None of my basses are $3000+ good, and some of them were as bargain basement as your Bentley, although not quite $20. But in a studio situation, all of them can serve a purpose, and all of them will sound great. And since your Bentley is a P, then you've got the Sean Hurley angle covered. Maybe you might want to adjust the pickup to where the output is better, maybe you might need another one. But it matters not whether it's an expensive name brand or a budget name brand. What matters is the sound.
Aside from some cheap ones having hardware issues, like tuning machines falling apart, you can't go too far wrong with any P that's setup properly. String choice will make as big a different as anything.
My 2011 MiM had a nice beefy toned stock pickup - of course that didn't stop me from upgrading to a Nordstrand pickup for the heck of it. I will say say that the Nordy NP4 is a superb pickup. I don't hear huge differences in p style pickups, but the NP4 has excellent detail in the upper mids, with a balanced low end. It's mostly what I use for recording now.
My 2011 MiM had a nice beefy toned stock pickup - of course that didn't stop me from upgrading to a Nordstrand pickup for the heck of it. I will say say that the Nordy NP4 is a superb pickup. I don't hear huge differences in p style pickups, but the NP4 has excellent detail in the upper mids, with a balanced low end. It's mostly what I use for recording now.
thank you! I’m excited to try a bass in this line as well
that’s a great point. I may have allowed the price point to cause a flaw in my logic, it caused me to overlook the option of fixing up my Bentley
This one looks really cool! I will make a point to try it!
I’m glad to hear that the price doesn’t exactly determine the quality of record-ability. This will help me to focus on how the bass truly feels, once I try them, hopefully without my prior bias of $$>$
I plan now to fix up my Bentley and see how it records, while also comparing it to the Basses I plan to try
I haven’t checked or altered the pickup height and I’m actually using the same roundwounds that I bought the bass with... so the strings are around 13 years old! Wow, it shows that I let the price and the fact that I couldn’t find much info about the brand influence me to neglect the poor bass. I’ve been thinking about getting a new one for years so I never gave it proper attention.
Bah, good equipment...who needs it?
Actually I love good equipment and I've got plenty. None of my basses are $3000+ good, and some of them were as bargain basement as your Bentley, although not quite $20. But in a studio situation, all of them can serve a purpose, and all of them will sound great. And since your Bentley is a P, then you've got the Sean Hurley angle covered. Maybe you might want to adjust the pickup to where the output is better, maybe you might need another one. But it matters not whether it's an expensive name brand or a budget name brand. What matters is the sound.
It’s very nice to hear this, it adds a sort of mystical charm to the instruments and helps me recalibrate my focus back onto the main point of why I’m even looking for a bass in the first place, a love of the sound and the music
