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in market for new bass -- need advice

giantimi

giantimi

Dec 19, 2009
37
0
Charlottesville, Virginia
#1
Hi,

This is actually my first post ever on talkbass haha! But anyway, I am in the market for a new bass, because I am sick and tired of my old bass. It's a Samick YB5-55A/MBK ( I've looked for it online and I can't find it anywhere).

I bought the bass for 450 dollars in india about 6-7 years ago. It's an active 5 string bass with 24 frets, a 3 band eq (9 volts), rosewood fretboard, chrome tuners, alder body(I think?) with the neck bolted on.

The problem with this bass is that the neck is bowed to such a great extent that I can't adjust the truss rod to correct it and it is affecting my technique and left hand muscles. I also cannot lower the action any further; the saddles are at the lowest height possible.

Anyway, I won't go into any more detail, the bass is a train wreck and I think I should get a new one at this point. I am specifically looking for a bass with at least these qualities:

* 5 string active bass
* 24 frets/with a good cutaway
* 35 inch scale
* Decent string spacing
* I am not sure about what type of woods I want, but I want the B string to be very defined


I've already come across the MTD Kingston Z bass ( 5 string version) and that looks like an interesting possibility. If you feel like you might have good advice, please offer your expertise/knowledge. Thank you in advance!
 
#2
Get the Fender American V P Bass. It is that simple. I got one last week and even though I have been playing for many years, this is my first 5 string bass. . This is the best bass yet.Ok, I paid $1399 and got the extra 2 year warranty with it. You can buy these online from many reputable stores. I do most of my business with Samash. I recommend this bass
,the neck is great and will be a pleasure to play. Do your homework like I did. I also have a Jazz (made in Korea) Bass with active pick-ups. I like this bass but I stopped playing it last week. Good luck ......................:cool:
 
#3
With those specs, I highly suggest the 5 string Spector Euro. Clear tone, with great thickness and clarity. Not as growly as a P-Bass, but has a defined B string with the 35" scale. Has a good cutaway too for high notes. The string spacing is larger than most 5 strings anyway - like Stingray's and standard Warwick's.

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E-mail them and they will make you a good offer! Lots of unadvertised sales over there.....

Do your research, take road trips to try out gear, and remember, it's your bass! Don't listen to us too much, it's all about what feels and sounds good to you - end of story.
 
#4
Carvin can make slose what you want. (22 frets) on extended scale.
US Masters does also. Our EP45 does everything you list, though it has multi-voiced passive rather than active electronics.

The Peavey Cirrus line..the neck through basses are 24 fret. Active, good spacing, cutaways accessible. Exotic hardwoods or beautiful colored finishes. Those I have played were very nicely made.

Peavey GV Gbass 5 string 22 completely accessible frets, active, 2 p/u, light. sounds great, relatively inexpensive, if you can find one.

Check the Peavey Axcellerater series, not sure if 22 or 24 frets.

We have a bunch of gear. Many of the basses (Ken Smith Burner, Peaveys-- TL5 & TL6, B4, US Masters EP45 and B2, and Dean B2) are 24 frets. The others (Rumblefish, 2 precsions, Pallaedium, Gbass,) have 20 to 22 frets.
The music I play can use a few more notes up there, but not often enough to matter whether I use the instrument or not.

There is other quality gear out there.
I missed your local.

All the best.
 
#5
Check out Tom Clement's stuff, a full-on custom build for around the $$'s of the MTD.

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There's a Club Clement thread on here too....

http://talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?p=8782431

Have a look for info, pics and clips.

Build time was around 3 months, from order to receipt (including a rather lengthy delivery across the Atlantic)

I can't recommend this guy enough, a real pleasure to work with and, man this bass delivers on all fronts including a super 'B' on a 34" scale (He will build you 35, no worries)

If you want more reason to check him out, here's another link to Ed Friedlands review on Youtube...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NesfQhGtFQ&feature=related
 
#6
I am from Richmond, Virginia. The only shops around here are Richmond Music Center, Sam ash and Guitar Center. They have yet to replenish their bass inventory with quality instruments. Although I did get a good deal on a Shuttle 6.0 12T at Richmond Music Center for like a $1000.



MKoby said:
Carvin can make slose what you want. (22 frets) on extended scale.
US Masters does also. Our EP45 does everything you list, though it has multi-voiced passive rather than active electronics.

The Peavey Cirrus line..the neck through basses are 24 fret. Active, good spacing, cutaways accessible. Exotic hardwoods or beautiful colored finishes. Those I have played were very nicely made.

Peavey GV Gbass 5 string 22 completely accessible frets, active, 2 p/u, light. sounds great, relatively inexpensive, if you can find one.

Check the Peavey Axcellerater series, not sure if 22 or 24 frets.

We have a bunch of gear. Many of the basses (Ken Smith Burner, Peaveys-- TL5 & TL6, B4, US Masters EP45 and B2, and Dean B2) are 24 frets. The others (Rumblefish, 2 precsions, Pallaedium, Gbass,) have 20 to 22 frets.
The music I play can use a few more notes up there, but not often enough to matter whether I use the instrument or not.

There is other quality gear out there.
I missed your local.

All the best.
Click to expand...
 
#8
3 things
1 ...play it first
2....do not buy a new bass..exsp.fender
3....make sure whatever u buy has a good resale.
I cant stress that enough.:...example.i boit a brand new fender jazz v ...1500 after tax and what not...i couldnt sell that bass for 900 the next day....so dont buy fender unless you plan on keeping it....if you cant test drive it ..u may not. like it..spector does. Make a good bass for the money .and they hold a good resale.... there are too many different basses with a ton of different.pickup and pre amp configs...have you had the bass you have now looked at by a luthier...truss adjustments are pretty common . And remember you get what u pay. For
 
#9
Why shouldn't I buy a brand new bass? If anything is wrong with it, I can probably get a warranty on it, but that may be not the case for a used instrument.


sirmike75 said:
3 things
1 ...play it first
2....do not buy a new bass..exsp.fender
3....make sure whatever u buy has a good resale.
I cant stress that enough.:...example.i boit a brand new fender jazz v ...1500 after tax and what not...i couldnt sell that bass for 900 the next day....so dont buy fender unless you plan on keeping it....if you cant test drive it ..u may not. like it..spector does. Make a good bass for the money .and they hold a good resale.... there are too many different basses with a ton of different.pickup and pre amp configs...have you had the bass you have now looked at by a luthier...truss adjustments are pretty common . And remember you get what u pay. For
Click to expand...
 
#10
giantimi said:
I am from Richmond, Virginia. The only shops around here are Richmond Music Center, Sam ash and Guitar Center. They have yet to replenish their bass inventory with quality instruments. Although I did get a good deal on a Shuttle 6.0 12T at Richmond Music Center for like a $1000.
Click to expand...

I know exactly what you mean. I live on a speck of rock in the english channel of the 2 music stores, there is a choice of about 5 bass guitars, not one of them over £300. Considering the cost to get off my little rock and somewhere where the bass-guitar is not an endangered species will run me near £250 (hey, and the missus fancies a little break too - £500), sometimes, try before you buy just isn't viable.

In that case then spend a LOT of time on here, find some people that you feel you can trust, chat, PM and post. Let them help you.

Then, ask yourself, are you buying the bass so you can sell it again for little loss, or are you buying it so you have a better instrument than you currently have? If former is more important, then don't buy new. Otherwise, nothing wrong in my opinion with buying new.

Definately not in all cases will you get what you pay for. In some cases you will shell out bucks and get a complete dog. Again, chat, research, get assured.

I posted a link up earlier pointing you towards the Bass Whisperer on You Tube. Get on there and check what Ed's reveiwing, see what he has to say.

I will say it again, Tom Clement, super guy and he built me an incredible bass for a hell of a good price. Bought without ever playing one, but it felt comfortable doing so.

Thats my opinion anyway.
 
#12
@sirmike75 I have had my current bass looked at by someone from a local music store, they said the truss rod cannot be adjusted any more to compensate for the bowed neck and action.

I am not entirely sure anymore about the mtd though. I am going to start a Phd program soon, so I dont see the point in getting an expensive boutique bass when I hardly ever play for the next couple of years. I think I might drop by budget by a couple of hundred dollars.

What might you suggest for a lower budget, say $600 dollars?
 
#13
Don't ignore the Malaysian Squiers. They're cheap, and well made. and if you can find an 80's japanese Squier Jazz, grab it. I regretted selling mine, but still get to use a friend's. Lots of balls for a cheapie. (I suspect, though they're getting harder to find. People who have them are hanging on to them)
 
#14
giantimi said:
@sirmike75 I have had my current bass looked at by someone from a local music store, they said the truss rod cannot be adjusted any more to compensate for the bowed neck and action.

I am not entirely sure anymore about the mtd though. I am going to start a Phd program soon, so I dont see the point in getting an expensive boutique bass when I hardly ever play for the next couple of years. I think I might drop by budget by a couple of hundred dollars.

What might you suggest for a lower budget, say $600 dollars?
Click to expand...

If it wasn't 24 frets I'd suggest an old Yamaha BB 5000 or a japanese Fender but 5stringer 24 frets... the only thing in that budget I can think of is ordering the bolt on bass from Carvin, which is exceptional quality for the price IMO.
 

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