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Meteora Style Bass or Similar?

ijustwntit

ijustwntit

Nov 15, 2021
10
8
Tone Heaven, USA
#1
I'm a regular guitar player for the most part, but I've really wanted to get into bass lately and am trying to figure out my options.

I'm a huge fan of the Fender Meteora body shape and have always preferred "offset" style guitar bodies in general (think: Jazzmaster, etc). I picked up a pair of "Meteora" style guitar bodies made by Rosser that turned into 2 of my favorite 6-string guitars. I'd love to get my hand on one of Rosser's Meteora-styled bass bodies to match, but it turns out he no longer makes the larger "bass" version and he has stopped accepting custom orders entirely. :(

Sound-wise, I'm leaning toward a solid pop-punk feel. I'd prefer the guitar to be relatively lightweight, but not too small size-wise, and have a P-bass style pickup onboard so I can add a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounder (ala: Mark Hoppus from Blink 182). I just don't want a regular P-bass :)

I'd be willing to drop $800-ish if going new, but I'd really like to find something solid closer to the $400 range and would certainly consider buying used. I'd even consider building it myself if that's a reasonable solution.

Anyone have experience with Warmoth's "Jazzmaster Bass IV" bodies? The Fender Jaguar basses are also looking pretty appealing. Are there any similar basses I should be looking at? Are the mid-level Fender basses worth the price? What about Squiers?

Any thoughts or suggestions are appreciated!
 
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#3
Ah, yes, the "Meaty Aura". I like it. Don't know of any such bass bodies though. Would love to be wrong.
 
#4
fretno said:
Warmoth makes good stuff but I see Rosser guitars makes that shape. Check in there and see.
Click to expand...

Rosser isn't doing the bass version anymore. The problem with the regular Meteora shape is that it's actually on the small side, even for a regular guitar. Rosser did a slightly oversized version for his bass bodies, but he won't (can't?) make them anymore... Claims he lost the files. :facepalm:

My biggest concern with any offset body is probably neck dive, but I just can't stand any of the "strat"-derived shapes or the plethora of hyper-modern shapes that end up looking dated after a few years.
 
#5
It sounds to me like you’re describing the Squier Classic Vibe Jaguar or the Fender Player Mustang, depending on whether you prefer 30” or 32” scale. The Fender Player Jaguar is also an option, but it’s 34” scale.
 
Last edited:
#6
BTL said:
It sounds to me like you’re describing the Squier Classic Vibe Jaguar or the Fender Player Mustang, depending on whether you prefer 30” or 32” scale. The Fender Player Jaguar is also an option, but it’s 34” scale.
Click to expand...

To be honest, I haven't really thought about scale length. I guess I'd prefer shorter, coming from 25.5 scale guitars. Are the shorter scale lengths often accompanied by smaller bodies? I definitely don't want something "too small" as I'm 6'4" tall and average build (i.e. not skinny). That said, the CV Jaguar bass definitely looks intriguing! Wish it came in some actual colors, though...
 
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#7
I guess the Jaguar is as good as it gets.
It's mainly a question of the nicer pickguard on the Meteora.
Photo-Collage-1638470386470.jpg
 
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#8
Yeah, I definitely love that extra "swoop" that the Meteora has to it...very much a refined Jaguar body shape when comparing the two.

Nonetheless, I agree that the Jag may be the way to go.

Really wish I could find a Rosser body (if anyone has one laying around...please let me know!), but perhaps I can modify the Jaguar down the road to make it look more similar. The pickguard on the Meteora is definitely a big part of that "look".
 
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#20
ijustwntit said:
I'm a regular guitar player for the most part, but I've really wanted to get into bass lately and am trying to figure out my options.

I'm a huge fan of the Fender Meteora body shape and have always preferred "offset" style guitar bodies in general (think: Jazzmaster, etc). I picked up a pair of "Meteora" style guitar bodies made by Rosser that turned into 2 of my favorite 6-string guitars. I'd love to get my hand on one of Rosser's Meteora-styled bass bodies to match, but it turns out he no longer makes the larger "bass" version and he has stopped accepting custom orders entirely. :(

Sound-wise, I'm leaning toward a solid pop-punk feel. I'd prefer the guitar to be relatively lightweight, but not too small size-wise, and have a P-bass style pickup onboard so I can add a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounder (ala: Mark Hoppus from Blink 182). I just don't want a regular P-bass :)

I'd be willing to drop $800-ish if going new, but I'd really like to find something solid closer to the $400 range and would certainly consider buying used. I'd even consider building it myself if that's a reasonable solution.

Anyone have experience with Warmoth's "Jazzmaster Bass IV" bodies? The Fender Jaguar basses are also looking pretty appealing. Are there any similar basses I should be looking at? Are the mid-level Fender basses worth the price? What about Squiers?

Any thoughts or suggestions are appreciated!
Click to expand...
—————————————-
This may not be The Droids that you are looking for, but that shape reminded me of this bass:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Also-I would throw out an Epiphone Thunderbird if you want something kind of shaped like that…

Good luck whatever you end up with…

Thanks! \m/
 
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