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My next bass?

F

facepalmmaster

Jan 4, 2012
441
3
#1
So I've been playing bass for a good amount of time now, and although i'm not planning on getting it very soon, i'm thinking about what my next bass should be. My birthday is in about two months, and I figure by that time i'll have about 500-600 to spend. My current bass is the Squier VM Jaguar Special, which is pretty nice to me, but if i'm going to get a new bass, I want something better, or at least different.
As for what i'm looking for, i have been getting into funk a lot, and I love slap bass. I do play with a pick occasionally, but i don't like it as much.
What options are there for that price range?
 
#2
For that money I would recommend a Traben. Their electrics are out of this world for the price. Most models have two Traben humbucker pickups which pick up all sorts of wonderful tones including one heck of a slap. They are a bit hard to find due to them not being the biggest dealer but if you can find one, grab it. That being said if you can't find a Traben dealer nearby, I have had great experiences with both Ltd and Ibanez for about 4-500. My Ibanez has gone through about seven years of torture (learning, traveling, outdoor gigs with rain etc...) and is still going strong with no major problem besides age. It's an Ergodyne Series jazz bass.

One last piece of advice: Stay away from Guitar Center, their quality control has really slipped over these last few years. Found one the other month that was completely unplayable and when I told them this they looked at me like I was a loon. Stay local if you can.
 
#7
lukefogel said:
For that money I would recommend a Traben. Their electrics are out of this world for the price. Most models have two Traben humbucker pickups which pick up all sorts of wonderful tones including one heck of a slap. They are a bit hard to find due to them not being the biggest dealer but if you can find one, grab it. That being said if you can't find a Traben dealer nearby, I have had great experiences with both Ltd and Ibanez for about 4-500. My Ibanez has gone through about seven years of torture (learning, traveling, outdoor gigs with rain etc...) and is still going strong with no major problem besides age. It's an Ergodyne Series jazz bass.

One last piece of advice: Stay away from Guitar Center, their quality control has really slipped over these last few years. Found one the other month that was completely unplayable and when I told them this they looked at me like I was a loon. Stay local if you can.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I do like how the soundgear and other ibanez basses look, and i was considering the SR200 for my first bass. I looked up your Ergodyne bass, it's pretty frickin cool looking :D. I know which Ibanez's are in my price range, however I don't know which ones are for the LTD or Traben, do you know?
And about Guitar Center, I would try to stay away, but there aren't many places around me that I can go to. My dad won't drive me too far (maybe for my birthday he would) and I don't know anywhere close. I'll keep looking, but for now, guitar center's my only option.
 
#8
Go to guitarcenter.com

Click the "used" button.

Insert your price range, change to "bass" option.

Lots and lots and lots of great basses at a significantly reduced cost.

In the words of Chapelle's Rick James, "Enjoy yo self."
 
#9
Fender Deluxe Jaguar is in that price range I think...just about (the real Japanese Fenders kick arse, not tried the Squier ones but you don't want to stray TOO far from what you know IMO...)

0259505500_frt_wmd_001.jpg


OTHERWISE - just go to a few shops, search Ebay if you want but TRY SOME OUT IN PERSON...thats the only way to guarantee a good 'un (I only really know Fenders...Stingrays have thick necks, Rickenbackers aren't much nicer...IMO, but if you're used to a thin neck you should stick to it for the time being)
 
#11
Rumblefisher said:
Go to guitarcenter.com

Click the "used" button.

Insert your price range, change to "bass" option.

Lots and lots and lots of great basses at a significantly reduced cost.

In the words of Chapelle's Rick James, "Enjoy yo self."
Click to expand...

I was thinking more along the lines of an in-store purchase, because having to pay for shipping might cause my budget to be lower. However, they do have used basses at the store near me, and I can look through those.
 
#12
addylewis said:
Fender Deluxe Jaguar is in that price range I think...just about (the real Japanese Fenders kick arse, not tried the Squier ones but you don't want to stray TOO far from what you know IMO...)

0259505500_frt_wmd_001.jpg


OTHERWISE - just go to a few shops, search Ebay if you want but TRY SOME OUT IN PERSON...thats the only way to guarantee a good 'un (I only really know Fenders...Stingrays have thick necks, Rickenbackers aren't much nicer...IMO, but if you're used to a thin neck you should stick to it for the time being)
Click to expand...

Do you happen to know if the squier vm jag has a thin neck? It's the only bass I've ever really played, so I wouldn't know. I think it is, though.
 
#13
I'm a seasoned (IE - OLD) professional bass player and I gig at least 3 weekends a month and have been for YEARS. I've owned everything from Ibanez to American Fenders, to American G&Ls to German Warwick to Modulus to Alembic. I've owned all the "status" basses and now I've decided there's more "status" in good bang for the buck instruments. IMO the best bang for the buck quality instruments out there right now are Sterling by Musicman basses and Carvin basses. SBMM basses are so close in sound, look and quality to the American EBMM basses it's silly. One of my main gigging basses right now is a SBMM Ray34 that i bought used but like new for $399 from the Guitar Center and I JUST ordered a used SBMM Ray35 from the GC for $499. IMO these are AMAZING basses for the money, almost like buying an American Musicman but at a fraction of the price. Also you can get a Carvin bass used for low money, perhaps a little more than the used SBMM basses. Those are amazing instruments for the money too, where else can you order a CUSTOM AMERICAN made instrument for not much over a grand? Used they are cheap, I don't know why but it makes them a great used value. So i highlt recommend both brands, as a matter of fact when my recently ordered SBMM Ray35 comes in I'll own two of them and two Carvins. So i put my money where my OPINION is.
 
#14
88persuader said:
I'm a seasoned (IE - OLD) professional bass player and I gig at least 3 weekends a month and have been for YEARS. I've owned everything from Ibanez to American Fenders, to American G&Ls to German Warwick to Modulus to Alembic. I've owned all the "status" basses and now I've decided there's more "status" in good bang for the buck instruments. IMO the best bang for the buck quality instruments out there right now are Sterling by Musicman basses and Carvin basses. SBMM basses are so close in sound, look and quality to the American EBMM basses it's silly. One of my main gigging basses right now is a SBMM Ray34 that i bought used but like new for $399 from the Guitar Center and I JUST ordered a used SBMM Ray35 from the GC for $499. IMO these are AMAZING basses for the money, almost like buying an American Musicman but at a fraction of the price. Also you can get a Carvin bass used for low money, perhaps a little more than the used SBMM basses. Those are amazing instruments for the money too, where else can you order a CUSTOM AMERICAN made instrument for not much over a grand? Used they are cheap, I don't know why but it makes them a great used value. So i highlt recommend both brands, as a matter of fact when my recently ordered SBMM Ray35 comes in I'll own two of them and two Carvins. So i put my money where my OPINION is.
Click to expand...

I'm on board with your words... Right on...Music Man all the way... Carvin, great deal all day... And made in the good old U.S.A.
 
#16
I LOVE my Carvin basses but for funk I think the SBMM Rays are the better choice. They are not as refined as the Carvin basses BUT thay have that huge Stingray sound that no other bass can do like a Stingray. .............. That's why I own both Carvin's and SBMM basses. My Carvin's are smooth and refined and my SBMM basses simply kick butt!
 
#17
I would second the Ray34 mention. I own one myself, and they are fantastic basses that can be had for roughly 500 bucks. However, I'd also suggest looking into used G&L L2000 Tributes. I picked up one of those on the classifieds here, and it replaced my Ray as my main player. Lots of tones in the L2k, and definitely in your price range. Between the two, there's no bad choice. However, I find the Tribute to be more versatile.

Good luck!
 

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