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Looking for a modern J-Bass

MrWolf14

MrWolf14

Jun 28, 2015
276
806
54
Munich (Germany)
www.phonotom.de
#1
Dear TB community,
After some years playing almost exclusively 6 string basses, I am now back to my real love: 4 strings.
My main player is a Fender Geddy Lee J-Bass (CIJ).
I love everything about this bass: the look, the sound and ... most of all... the neck.
This bass is a dream to play. I really love it.
But now I am looking for a more modern sound, possibly with an active EQ.
And since I don't want to touch a thing on my current bass, the quest starts!

What I have on my radar so far:

- Squier and modify it (maybe Delanos + Noll electronic).
- Mexican JJ + same treatement as the Squier would get (which will lead to a more expensive bass...but it may still be doable)
- Sandberg Electra TT4 (never played one, but I read good thing about them).
- ESP LTD J-204 ... but I have read they have a "fatter" neck, maybe not my thing.
- Sire V7 (EDIT: added ... thanks to @SpazzTheBassist)

Anything else?
Any thoughts on the basses I mentioned?

Thanks in advance for your help!
Ciao, Domenico
 
Last edited:
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#3
Thanks Spazz!
I fully agree with you... there is not much the Geddy Lee cannot do :-)
Still, I would like to get a second bass which gives me a similar "feeling" (fast neck) and some different sounds.
And in the past years I always had active basses (typical on 6 strings... not so sure why) so I kind of "got used to it" and now I like the options.

I did not think of the Sire (how could I forget one of the most loved basses around here?) ... but of course this is a possibility.

Lookwise, my favorite would be the Sandberg: I like a fretboard with no inlays.
And it may become my first 3TS bass ever :-)

sandberg_electra_tt4.JPG
 
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#4
If you are looking for a great mod platform, the Squier VM Jazz is the best bang/buck, though it hardly needs it. Basic construction is on par with MIM, the electronics could definitely be improved. I’d play a couple in store though, at that price point you will see occasional QC dogs, but I was pretty impressed with the ones I’ve played.
 
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#5
depends on your budget. Sandberg is a good option - I have tried one, never actually owned one. However, I do have the Sire V3 - (flatter neck radius compared to the V7), mahogany body and the preamp on these Sire basses are really something else. As a passive, it's very similar to your typical jazz bass sound but once you flip that active switch, the tonal variety is simply amazing. Easily one of the best preamp EQ I've seen yet, so it's easy to get that more modern jazz sound. I love all kinds of jazz basses and have a few Fenders, but the versatility of the Sire is something I've always been looking for and hadn't seen yet until the Sire basses came around.
 
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#6
@Maxdusty : Sire V3 you say.... this would be on the cheap side (never a bad thing).
Just judging by the look... the Sandberg is still "nicer": I don't like too much the head design of the Sire (I could live with the dot inlays).

Sire_v3.png


Now I have to do some research to better understand the differences between the V3 and the V7 (I am sure I'll find plenty of info on the subject).
 
#8
MrWolf14 said:
@Maxdusty : Sire V3 you say.... this would be on the cheap side (never a bad thing).
Just judging by the look... the Sandberg is still "nicer": I don't like too much the head design of the Sire (I could live with the dot inlays).

View attachment 3226929

Now I have to do some research to better understand the differences between the V3 and the V7 (I am sure I'll find plenty of info on the subject).
Click to expand...

The V7 has blocks..........My V7 is my Number 1 -- it costs 1/3 the price of my American Deluxe Jazz V.....The best way I can describe it is this: You are buying an amazing pre-amp...and it comes with a free bass attached to it that has a build quality similar to a Squier...Ive never held a V3 so I cant compare but the radius on my V7 is pretty flat and fast (very Ibanez-like)...Im sure all basses are different within themselves so I cant say that about all V7s
 
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#14
@Chef & @Jimruth : thanks for the suggestions. I don't want to start a discussion on "passive + external EQ" vs "active basses", but I would like to get an active J-Bass. Not saying that I am sure it will be "better", but I want to try.
And my Geddy will stay untouched: it can't get any better than this. I am just looking for something "different".

@nilorius : Lakland... I was thinking this a different budget. Of the options listed until now the most expensive was the Sandberg, going around 750 Euros. Won't a Lakland be much more than that?
 
#15
MrWolf14 said:
@Chef & @Jimruth : thanks for the suggestions. I don't want to start a discussion on "passive + external EQ" vs "active basses", but I would like to get an active J-Bass. Not saying that I am sure it will be "better", but I want to try.
And my Geddy will stay untouched: it can't get any better than this. I am just looking for something "different".

@nilorius : Lakland... I was thinking this a different budget. Of the options listed until now the most expensive was the Sandberg, going around 750 Euros. Won't a Lakland be much more than that?
Click to expand...
Well, you didn't mention your budged before, but yes, Lanlands's much higher.
 
#16
nilorius said:
Well, you didn't mention your budged before, but yes, Lanlands's much higher.
Click to expand...

And you're right! Sorry, I did not mention it. :-)

I would like to spend something below 500 Euro and maybe something afterwards to upgrade.

The Sandberg is more expensive but I may get lucky and find one used here in Germany.
A used Lakland may be an option (I've seen them online for ~800 dollars) but they don't pop up that often in the "old continent". Beautiful instruments by the way.

Thanks!
 
#17
MrWolf14 said:
@Bass V : you have indeed a new entry! I did not know about these basses. It looks cool!
One question: looking at the picture the neck seems a bit "straight" ... I mean nut-width and 12-fret-width seem very similar. Is this an optical effect of the photo or is it really like this?
Click to expand...
yes, it's a perspective issue, the neck is slim / fast and narrow at the nut, very Jazzy, in fact I bought my Retro cos it looked cool and was petite / comfy and the folk lore was that this was the Jazziest Jazz bass out there*. it scored on all that and more, it's ballsy, they're real sleepers and this is the only one I see available currently in a quick search. they rarely show up and always go criminally cheap. it's a Curbow fer crisaskes, made by people who know what they're doing, and for tip money it's a no risk deal. in fact, I'd consider buying it off you if you didn't like it, that's how confident I am.
* that prize ultimately goes to my insane Fender Jazz Bass Power Special
 
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#18
I'd find a used Ibanez SRX bass. There's tons of them on the used market for cheap, 2 humbuckers, active (only downside to the bass is 2 band eq and the hardware on some has tarnished). Awesome solid neck (little beefier than the SRs). I have 2 strung with flats and I get tons of compliments on their looks and sounds.
20181126_101507.jpg
 
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