I am lost, basically....

[IconBasser]

please please please play the ergodyne.

note: not the old luthite ones, they are heavy as a mofo. The new versions (despite being made of maple or basswood) are extremely light.

 

[Gorilla]

for a couple hundred above 1000 you could think about a warwick or the Ibanez srx1000 prestige

 

[agreatheight]

Does any one have suggestions for a new bass? 4 string electric preferably in the $500-$1000 range? I've been looking at the Ibanez SR500 Soundgear and SRX700. Any other good ones that you guys know of? Any help is much a apreciated
Thanks!
-Tom

I had an Ibanez SR500 and thought it was a real nice bass. I'd suggest buying one used and save yourself some scratch - I think mine sold here for $350 + shipping.

Best of luck!

 

[spideyjg]

Go to stores and play everything you can get your hands on. Everyone will tell you what their favorite bass is but only you can tell what your's is. Buying used is a much better deal but don't let that stop you from buying what you love. Happy hunting.

500-1000 gives you a ton of options. Ultimately, my philosophy is if it sounds good and it plays good, it is good. YOu got any music stores close with a decent inventory? Live within a couple hours of someplace that does?

Everything they said is the best advice you can follow. In all that testing you will likely find a bass that speaks to you and you buy that one.

Jim

 

[Munjibunga]

Fender american Jazz bass

I'm down with that.

 

[Jeralya]

Personally I would not continue in Ibanez, they are great basses (I have three!) but they never IMO/IME leave the medium quality range. If you can get some together I would look for used American Fenders.

 

[crkempton]

Line 6 Variax

awesome bass imo......

 

[ArmyPunkGuy]

my first bass was a MIM jazz which i loved but i thought i needed something better (i was 16) so i sold it and bought an Ibanez Soundgear 5 string, BIGGG MISTAKE. I went from being happy with a $400 bass to being miserable with an $800"upgrade". To make a long story short I'm now 30 and play an MIA deluxe jazz and wow did i miss that jazz feel

 

[dunamis]

I think you should get the Fender. With most of the others mentioned, you'll be ready to upgrade again soon and they'll be worth next to nothing if you try to sell.

OTOH, the Fender is, and always will be, a classic. Many people don't want to sell them even if they buy a another bass, and if you do sell they hold their value better.

 

[lamarjones]

I picked this up on ebay for about 750, never had a engineer/producer need more (some experience, but not as much as some other guys up here), and it REALLY covers anything you would need. Not want, but need. Anyways, I'd have to say if you never want to have to say 'I need a bass that doesn't suck' you really should get a fender, but also getting a used stingray probably wouldn't put you in a real bad boat either. And there is absolutley no reason you need to go over a grand at all. Go used, or go MIJ.
Link Removed

 

[malisha]

spend your money on prostitutes and by a squier!



Just kidding... Try used. Maybe if you can find a Rickenbacker? They are awesome. And for lower cost, of course Fender. They just never fail... almost.

 

[ProfGumby]

J-bass.

problem solved.

Make that a Geddy Lee and now we are talkin....

 

[ProfGumby]

spend your money on prostitutes and by a squier!

Best post of the month! Especially as advice to a 16 year old!!


I don't care who you are, that's funny, right there...

 

[IronSpatula]

Lots of good advice in this thread. I agree you can't really go wrong with a good fender or MM. However, I can dial up a decent fender sound with the electronics in my Cirrus, and that thing feels a lot better in my hands than any Fender, MM, or Ibanez I've ever played.

Like evreyone else has said, play everything you can get your hands on. One thing no one's mentioned yet is higher-end Cort - they actually make some pretty impressive stuff in the $500-$1000 range. And whatever you get, do try to find it used, not only will you save money, but if you end up turning around and selling it, it probably won't be a loss.

Good luck. I envy you for starting out so young.

 

[leroy boy]

there's a used gedddy lee you know where for $495 delivered.

 

[Ethereal Thorn]

Dang man if you can spend up to a $1000 you can get some serious basses your options are huge. Check Schecter stiletto's, Warwick has some in that price, Spector, Carvin, Ltd, Ibanez, Conklin Groove Tools 4 or 5 strings ,as well as tons of other basses in that price range.

 

[Flintc]

I'll also cast my vote for visiting every store you can get to, and playing every single bass you can get your hands on. You'll know what sounds and feels good to you. If you can make the rounds and do this twice, you'll actually be twice as knowledgeable about what you're doing.

Like most people here, I think what I play is the best possible choice. But if that were true, nobody else would be in business. So get out there, get informed, and you'll eventually come home very happy.

 

[ProfGumby]

Sometimes...if there are pawnshops near you....and they are in neighborhoods where you won't get shot at, there can be some really dandies there...for real cheap.....ask Geddy Lee....

 

[doctorjazz]

Buying new, I'd say the SR500, or perhaps one of the higher level SR's if your budget goes all the way up to a grand. It's a great bass, my only complaints thus far have been the lack of a fretless option and an active/passive switch so I don't have to unplug it and replug it all the time. You can get a great used Carvin for that price, and a used EBMM would be something else to look at. Fenders have been suggested, but I prefer the Ibanez to any Fender I've ever played. That's just me though, and they are something of a standard, so it may be something to look into if you can find one you like.