I've been playing bass for almost 2 years now. Just long enough that I'm starting to have an idea of what I like and what I don't like.
I spend most of my time playing what I started with -- a Steinberger Spirit Xt-25.
What I like about it:
-- how/where it sits when I play it sitting with that extender leg -- it's light and convenient to grab and play
-- with Status Graphite half-wounds I seriously like the tone and the sustain -- kind of woody thunk followed by sustain
-- the 34 inch scale and the narrower than 'standard' (i.e spacing is < 19mm) suits my hand size
What I don't like about it:
-- the neck doesn't have a high quality feel -- it's not bad, but it can only be setup so well due to minor issues
-- it's limited in the tones it does well -- I guess it's what called modern tone (dual humbuckers)
I also have a Yamaha BB425X
What I like about it:
-- the neck has a very nice feel and finish. It all feels 'natural' the fit and satin finish feel like home, smooth and low. (As a matter of fact that's pretty much what sold me on buying this.)
-- I waver on the tone. The strings are half round d'Addario and with the P pickup there's a definite nice thump/thunk, but then I miss the sustain. That may be the P sound, maybe not that big a fan.
What I don't like:
-- It doesn't sit well on the couch with me or standing up. It's heavy and not well-balanced. As good as the neck feels, I'm constantly wrestling with the body.
-- The room in the house where I practice has electro magnetic interference that excites the single coil J pickup to an annoying hum. That i sthe only room it does this, but that's the room where my home studio/practice space is.
So looking to upgrade -- I want to stay around $1k.
-- I could wait till Lakland has Skyline 34 inch scale models
-- I could go with the Brubaker Brute, but that spacing looks wide -- hence the name Brute
-- I'm thinking a Zon Sonus Standard 5 would be just about perfect -- spacing, scale, versatility with passive/active, quality feel low smooth action.
But the wife being practical points out I should play one to hear it to make sure I like the tone and there aren't any local dealers around.
So my question to assemble TB'ers would be about how a Zon Sonus standard sounds -- it turns out I'm a bigger fan of modern than I am of precision thump with jazz grind leaning more that way, but don't like the sizzle of round strings.
And any models between $600-$1000 I may be unaware of that meet the preferences.
Thanks
I spend most of my time playing what I started with -- a Steinberger Spirit Xt-25.
What I like about it:
-- how/where it sits when I play it sitting with that extender leg -- it's light and convenient to grab and play
-- with Status Graphite half-wounds I seriously like the tone and the sustain -- kind of woody thunk followed by sustain
-- the 34 inch scale and the narrower than 'standard' (i.e spacing is < 19mm) suits my hand size
What I don't like about it:
-- the neck doesn't have a high quality feel -- it's not bad, but it can only be setup so well due to minor issues
-- it's limited in the tones it does well -- I guess it's what called modern tone (dual humbuckers)
I also have a Yamaha BB425X
What I like about it:
-- the neck has a very nice feel and finish. It all feels 'natural' the fit and satin finish feel like home, smooth and low. (As a matter of fact that's pretty much what sold me on buying this.)
-- I waver on the tone. The strings are half round d'Addario and with the P pickup there's a definite nice thump/thunk, but then I miss the sustain. That may be the P sound, maybe not that big a fan.
What I don't like:
-- It doesn't sit well on the couch with me or standing up. It's heavy and not well-balanced. As good as the neck feels, I'm constantly wrestling with the body.
-- The room in the house where I practice has electro magnetic interference that excites the single coil J pickup to an annoying hum. That i sthe only room it does this, but that's the room where my home studio/practice space is.
So looking to upgrade -- I want to stay around $1k.
-- I could wait till Lakland has Skyline 34 inch scale models
-- I could go with the Brubaker Brute, but that spacing looks wide -- hence the name Brute
-- I'm thinking a Zon Sonus Standard 5 would be just about perfect -- spacing, scale, versatility with passive/active, quality feel low smooth action.
But the wife being practical points out I should play one to hear it to make sure I like the tone and there aren't any local dealers around.
So my question to assemble TB'ers would be about how a Zon Sonus standard sounds -- it turns out I'm a bigger fan of modern than I am of precision thump with jazz grind leaning more that way, but don't like the sizzle of round strings.
And any models between $600-$1000 I may be unaware of that meet the preferences.
Thanks
