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My last bass

#83
ken ken said:
Hi fellow bassist, I have been playing bass for over 45 years now. I have always purchased budget basses and have kept them. The most expensive an $800 American Jazz Bass. I am 60 years old and would like to buy what I consider my last bass and play it while enjoying it. I am looking for active 5 string not too heavy, less than 9 lbs. There are so many options out there both boutique and not boutique that’s a little overwhelming, furthermore I have little chances of trying them out before buying as they would have to be shipped since the top expensive brands are not locally available. I am open to any brand suited for gospel , jazz and Latin. Budget is Not an issue. Thanks for your suggestions and help in the quest for my last bass.
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I would be happy with this bass.
P-4 Exotic
 
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#85
Lots of great suggestions listed here - - and here's my commentary.

If I was in your shoes (I'm older than you are), I would put Dingwall at the top of the list. Their build and sonic quality are as good as money can buy.

Every time I see and hear someone playing a Sadowsky, they sound absolutely awesome and Roger builds some great stuff - - I'd check them out.

I have nothing but respect for Fodera and they are beautiful instruments, but they simply don't do it for me. When I touch and feel them, my "on" switch remains off.
 
#86
It's such an individual personal preference. So I'll say a Wal, because that's what I'd do if I were gonna buy one last bass and really treat myself. The reason I say it's so individual is that a lot of folks might say Fodera, and honestly if a condition was I had to keep it forever as a main bass and couldn't sell, I wouldn't take a Fodera for free. They just don't speak to me. Lots of guys would probably feel that way about a Wal.
 
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#87
ken ken said:
Hi fellow bassist, I have been playing bass for over 45 years now. I have always purchased budget basses and have kept them. The most expensive an $800 American Jazz Bass. I am 60 years old and would like to buy what I consider my last bass and play it while enjoying it. I am looking for active 5 string not too heavy, less than 9 lbs. There are so many options out there both boutique and not boutique that’s a little overwhelming, furthermore I have little chances of trying them out before buying as they would have to be shipped since the top expensive brands are not locally available. I am open to any brand suited for gospel , jazz and Latin. Budget is Not an issue. Thanks for your suggestions and help in the quest for my last bass.
Click to expand...
'Last Bass'...
hysterical-laughter.gif
 
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#88
ken ken said:
Hi fellow bassist, I have been playing bass for over 45 years now. I have always purchased budget basses and have kept them. The most expensive an $800 American Jazz Bass. I am 60 years old and would like to buy what I consider my last bass and play it while enjoying it. I am looking for active 5 string not too heavy, less than 9 lbs. There are so many options out there both boutique and not boutique that’s a little overwhelming, furthermore I have little chances of trying them out before buying as they would have to be shipped since the top expensive brands are not locally available. I am open to any brand suited for gospel , jazz and Latin. Budget is Not an issue. Thanks for your suggestions and help in the quest for my last bass.
Click to expand...

Try Ibanez ... they have a lot of 5 string models from entry level to high end.
 
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#89
red_rhino said:
Yeah, this right here. I did the same thing; bought a killer 5-string MTD as a 65th birthday present to myself. Told myself it was likely to be my last bass as well. I've bought more two basses since then. (Trolling the Classifieds lately, too.)

There may indeed be a "last bass", but for some of us, it will only be because we died before we had a chance to buy another one. :laugh:
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I'm sure I don't want to know which of my basses is the last one! :roflmao:
 
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#91
I would figure out what you want/like for particular specs and then narrow it down from there. For example, 34" or 35 scale length? Wide, narrow or in the middle string spacing and neck width? What pickup configuration do you prefer: Jazz (two single coils - or hum cancelling equivalents), PJ, MM, etc... ?

While just about any bass should be able to perform in any genre of music, what I have heard and seen is these are popular in gospel, and I would probably looking these first:
Michael Tobias Design (MTD)
Ken Smith

Plus there are several Jazz Bass models to choose from, including:
Mike Lull
Sadowsky
Alleva-Coppolo
Sandberg
Olinto
F-Bass
and of course Invalid Link Removed, though you're probably less likely to find a light one.

And in the "budget is not an issue" category (depending on the model you might choose):
Fodera
Alembic
Dingwall
Skjold
Elrick
Roscoe

Now, if weight is of upmost importance to you, I'd probably be looking at Sandberg Super Light models. Sadowsky also has a good track record for light basses and Lull basses can be had in the low to mid 8 lbs range. The Ibanez EHB series are made to be light too.

Assuming that you might be playing in church settings if you're playing gospel and having large open areas where acoustics are not in the bass' favour, something like the super long scale of a Dingwall might help keep note definition.

Also, I wouldn't discount production models such as Fender, G&L, Music Man, Lakland, Yamaha and even Ibanez if you can find something that fits what you need.

Since that is a lot of information and brands listed above, I realize that might not be much help. So, if I were to choose a new bass today, I would be looking at a Sandberg California VM5. It has become my main player since I bought it.
 
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#95
Smallmouth_Bass said:
I would figure out what you want/like for particular specs and then narrow it down from there. For example, 34" or 35 scale length? Wide, narrow or in the middle string spacing and neck width? What pickup configuration do you prefer: Jazz (two single coils - or hum cancelling equivalents), PJ, MM, etc... ?

While just about any bass should be able to perform in any genre of music, what I have heard and seen is these are popular in gospel, and I would probably looking these first:
Michael Tobias Design (MTD)
Ken Smith

Plus there are several Jazz Bass models to choose from, including:
Mike Lull
Sadowsky
Alleva-Coppolo
Sandberg
Olinto
F-Bass
and of course Invalid Link Removed, though you're probably less likely to find a light one.

And in the "budget is not an issue" category (depending on the model you might choose):
Fodera
Alembic
Dingwall
Skjold
Elrick
Roscoe

Now, if weight is of upmost importance to you, I'd probably be looking at Sandberg Super Light models. Sadowsky also has a good track record for light basses and Lull basses can be had in the low to mid 8 lbs range. The Ibanez EHB series are made to be light too.

Assuming that you might be playing in church settings if you're playing gospel and having large open areas where acoustics are not in the bass' favour, something like the super long scale of a Dingwall might help keep note definition.

Also, I wouldn't discount production models such as Fender, G&L, Music Man, Lakland, Yamaha and even Ibanez if you can find something that fits what you need.

Since that is a lot of information and brands listed above, I realize that might not be much help. So, if I were to choose a new bass today, I would be looking at a Sandberg California VM5. It has become my main player since I bought it.
Click to expand...

What are you, some sort of Ninja bass salesman? :-)
 
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#97
I’ll be 48 in a couple months and I’ve been planning my “last bass” for over a year….lol


funkmaster p said:
Do a Warmoth custom build. Combine the best features and hardware from your favorite basses into one.
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And my “last bass” will be a Warmoth build because through that avenue, I will get a USA-made body & neck and install hardware and electronics of my choice…and it will be about $1000 cheaper than a name-brand USA instrument (G&L, Fender, EBMM). For me, Budget is probably the BIGGEST issue.

Hopefully, I can make it happen for the 50th anniversary of my life…

But yeah, for a sub-9lb active 5 and no budget constraints, I’d go Fodera or Sadowsky.
 
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#98
Hi bass community, I have learned so much during these past 24 hours and have a lot of information to digest. Thank you for sharing your knowledge, advice and best wishes, a lot of humor too. This is what makes this community so special as well as the TalkBass administrators. I have home work to do, so it will take me a while to make a decision. When that time comes I will share with all of you. Just for clarification, budget is not infinite $7k is a stretch and would need to persuade my wife, but can be close. Thank you and the best to all.
 

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