Hey guys, it's my first time using TalkBass.com however I just need help on this one...

[I D K O K]

A backstory for some context...

A year ago, I got myself a Gear4Music Seattle Bass Guitar (White) and honestly, I hate the quality. Just a few weeks after I got the bass, I unplugged the bass from the amp and the screw holes that were responsible for holding the screws of the pickguard was stripped and I couldn't tighten the screws ever again. I sent the bass back to Gear4Music and their services were terrible! For some reason, when they returned the bass, they didn't do anything to fix it. The screw holes were still stripped. Not only this part of the bass was crap but also the pickups, the neck and the bridge is outmost terrible.

So next year hopefully, I can get a new, better bass but I have a problem, which is to pick the bass...

I have 2 options:

Ibanez SR370EF Fretless Bass in Brown Burst
Ibanez GSR206B-WNF GIO 6-String Electric Bass Guitar

I like the fretless one because I want to get some unusual tones and I like the 6 string because I want to get more range out of it. If you have recommendations, be free to recommend (only have budget under £400/$500)

Thanks,
I D K O K

P.S. The only brand I would like to avoid is Fender because well I already have a similar styled bass (which is the crappy bass I currently own) and I would like to try another bass of different shape.

 

[bobyoung53]

Well, you said you didn't want the brand of bass I would have recommended but perhaps you ought to try a real one?

 

[murphy]

Ibanez makes great quality basses

Welcome to Talkbass

 

[Lackey]

Welcome to Talkbass - it's impossible to recommend either as they are completely different instruments despite being from the same manufacturer. You either want a fretless 4, or a fretted 6 - tell us which one, we can start giving opinions, and we won't limit it to one brand ...

 

[/\/\3phist0]

I can vouch for the SR370EF I have a 375EF

 

[knight of ni]

First things first. What kind of music do you like to play ?
Fretless may seem like cool, but it's also quite harder to play because intonation must be precise. Also I guess it would be your main instrument, and fretless is not what comes in mind when playing, say, punk rock. Or metal (although I bet there're exceptions).
Ditto for 6 strings. String spacing can be quite smaller esp. on Ibanez. It takes a lot more effort to mute the strings because while with a 4 stringer is forgiving a 6 stringer will tell you very quick if your muting technique is good or not. Slap is more difficult and is more oriented towards fusion jazz. Again, it depends what you're aiming at. If you want to play Dream Theater, etc or Jazz then it's worth it. If not stick to a 4 or a 5. No instrument is better or cooler. They are tools that are fit (or not) for the job. It also depends on your (bass) taste but, and I say that with all due respect, you seem too young in bass playing to have developed one, so it's important to stick to basics.
So, all in all, I'd stick to a fretted 4 or 5 string bass depending on if you need the low B string. You have a bit of homework to do : historically there are Precision and Jazz Fender basses. They don't have the same sound/usage, and they are the foundation of bass instrument (again there are exceptions). A lot of basses today are derived or plainly copied from these two models. Then there are Stingrays, more 'in your face' sound with a single pickup. There are also the dual humbuckers types of bass.
At 400£-500£ you have a wide range of options especially if you look for used.
Look for the gear bass players use for the music you like/want to play and get a picture of how the different models sound like. Don't hesitate to come back to discuss, you'll have a much better advice.

 

[murphy]

SR370 is higher end than the GIO , I believe ...Isn't the GIO the bottom of the line in the series?

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

A backstory for some context...

A year ago, I got myself a Gear4Music Seattle Bass Guitar (White) and honestly, I hate the quality. Just a few weeks after I got the bass, I unplugged the bass from the amp and the screw holes that were responsible for holding the screws of the pickguard was stripped and I couldn't tighten the screws ever again. I sent the bass back to Gear4Music and their services were terrible! For some reason, when they returned the bass, they didn't do anything to fix it. The screw holes were still stripped. Not only this part of the bass was crap but also the pickups, the neck and the bridge is outmost terrible.

So next year hopefully, I can get a new, better bass but I have a problem, which is to pick the bass...

I have 2 options:

Ibanez SR370EF Fretless Bass in Brown Burst
Ibanez GSR206B-WNF GIO 6-String Electric Bass Guitar

I like the fretless one because I want to get some unusual tones and I like the 6 string because I want to get more range out of it. If you have recommendations, be free to recommend (only have budget under £400/$500)

Thanks,
I D K O K

P.S. The only brand I would like to avoid is Fender because well I already have a similar styled bass (which is the crappy bass I currently own) and I would like to try another bass of different shape.

Check out Harley Benton. Loads of options, very inexpensive, great basses. For real, check them out.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

You really need to play these yourself because you want something "different". Go to Thomann, search that the categories and sort by price low to high and you'll see what is available. As you know, you budget is tight and will limit you to a handful of choices.

 

[Element Zero]

TRY BEFORE YOU BUY!!!

 

[I D K O K]

Ibanez makes great quality basses

Welcome to Talkbass

thanks!

 

[I D K O K]

SR370 is higher end than the GIO , I believe ...Isn't the GIO the bottom of the line in the series?

i think so

 

[I D K O K]

First things first. What kind of music do you like to play ?
Fretless may seem like cool, but it's also quite harder to play because intonation must be precise. Also I guess it would be your main instrument, and fretless is not what comes in mind when playing, say, punk rock. Or metal (although I bet there're exceptions).
Ditto for 6 strings. String spacing can be quite smaller esp. on Ibanez. It takes a lot more effort to mute the strings because while with a 4 stringer is forgiving a 6 stringer will tell you very quick if your muting technique is good or not. Slap is more difficult and is more oriented towards fusion jazz. Again, it depends what you're aiming at. If you want to play Dream Theater, etc or Jazz then it's worth it. If not stick to a 4 or a 5. No instrument is better or cooler. They are tools that are fit (or not) for the job. It also depends on your (bass) taste but, and I say that with all due respect, you seem too young in bass playing to have developed one, so it's important to stick to basics.
So, all in all, I'd stick to a fretted 4 or 5 string bass depending on if you need the low B string. You have a bit of homework to do : historically there are Precision and Jazz Fender basses. They don't have the same sound/usage, and they are the foundation of bass instrument (again there are exceptions). A lot of basses today are derived or plainly copied from these two models. Then there are Stingrays, more 'in your face' sound with a single pickup. There are also the dual humbuckers types of bass.
At 400£-500£ you have a wide range of options especially if you look for used.
Look for the gear bass players use for the music you like/want to play and get a picture of how the different models sound like. Don't hesitate to come back to discuss, you'll have a much better advice.

Well I've used a 5 string Ibanez bass and it seemed quite nice actually. Maybe I should get a Fender bass...

Anyways, I like to play some metal (prog and not prog) and some jazz and funk. The 6 string seems cool (not just this model but also the SR series). btw, when I meant different i meant the shape of the bass and design (im not talking about the pickups)

Also, I've been playing bass for almost 3 years now so try to find a bass that's best suited to me

 

[I D K O K]

Well, you said you didn't want the brand of bass I would have recommended but perhaps you ought to try a real one?

Well yh I should've thought of that... Even if it's Fender you wanna recommend then feel free to recommend

 

[I D K O K]

Welcome to Talkbass - it's impossible to recommend either as they are completely different instruments despite being from the same manufacturer. You either want a fretless 4, or a fretted 6 - tell us which one, we can start giving opinions, and we won't limit it to one brand ...

Well, I don't mind any recommendations tbf. I'm having second thoughts on the fretless because people are saying that the intonation is hard to keep. So I'm going for the fretted 6... Maybe later in the future, I can mod it into a fretless

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Your 400 GBP budget includes 20% VAT, right? So, for the folks on this side of the Atlantic, we're really talking ~$400 and £320.

 

[I D K O K]

Your 400 GBP budget includes 20% VAT, right? So, for the folks on this side of the Atlantic, we're really talking ~$400 and £320.

yh i guess so

 

[BarfanyShart]

I would think a fretted 5 in the SR line would work very well for the music you play. They are great basses, but for me personally I don't like the narrow string spacing. In that same vein, a 5 string Jazz bass style would work good for you - Sire v3/v7 are a good deal, and Squier makes a great J in your price range. You can find used Warwicks in your price range, too (I sold one last year), and I personally think this is the ideal brand for a jazz/metal guy - of which I was one.

 

[murphy]

Well, I don't mind any recommendations tbf. I'm having second thoughts on the fretless because people are saying that the intonation is hard to keep. So I'm going for the fretted 6... Maybe later in the future, I can mod it into a fretless

If you really want a Fretless...no reason you should not buy the Fretless...I think it worth the extra quality.
Get what makes you happy.....Many people only use Fretless basses...makes you stand out too.

 

[JRA]

So next year hopefully, I can get a new, better bass

you could probably get through a couple of lessons on the instrument you currently have. those 'consultations' could give you things to think about that would help you make a realistic plan about which instrument(s) to check out. good luck on your "new bass" quest!