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Need bass guitar recommendations (All details inside)

#81
For Strings, I'd recomment DR Fat beams 45-100. They're stainless steel and they may be a bit too bright to start with, but they'll soon settle and they sound amazing on a Stingray: strong but well defined low end, great punchy low mids, and they are great for finger funk or slap sounds equally. They're round cores, so they feel a bit more flexible than similar gauge strings with an hex core.
 
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#82
tunabolt said:
Hi everyone! I have a big interest in bass guitars, but have little to no knowledge about the actual hardware. I want to present everything I have researched so far and am interested in and then perhaps you can give me some suggested models to look into.

My favorite genre for basslines would be funk, especially of the slapping variety. To be honest, I just want to specialize in slapping because I love the sound so much. Fingering style sound is important too, but I would prioritize the slapping sound quality for a bass guitar.

I have only looked at random bass guitar demos on YouTube, but here are my favorites so far ranking my favoritest at the top of the list:

  1. Warwick Thumb
  2. Music Man Stingray
  3. Rickenbacker 4003
  4. Gibson Thunderbird

Here are some of my favorite bass tunes that I would like play:

Dennis Edwards ft. Siedah Garrett - Don't Look Any Further


Eazy-E - Real Muthaphuckkin G's


Secret of Mana - Steel and Snare


Chic - Good Times


Seinfeld Theme + Transitions


The search for a bass guitar is hard for me because of the overwhelming amount of details. I see bass guitar demos, but the showcasing always vary by manufacturing date and thus have different build quality and parts I'm assuming. I wonder if I would be fine just buying the current year model (if available) or just take a shot in the dark and buy a used model from any year in the past.

Budget is $1500ish, but will reluctantly push it up to $2000 if needed. I highly prefer a 4-string. No need to account accessories or additional hardware since I already have a setup ready to go.

Here is my current setup:

  • Universal Audio LA-610 Mk II
  • Audio Interface
  • Reaper & FL Studio (for monitoring and recording)
  • VST collection for effects, tone-shaping, mixing, and mastering
  • Studio Monitors + Subwoofer
  • Studio Monitor Headphones


I have paralysis from analysis so any insight and recommendations is greatly appreciated!


TL;DR Cliff Notes:
  • $1500 budget ($2000 max)
  • 4-string preferred
  • For playing and slapping funky basslines
  • Need recommendations and exposure to similar bass guitars listed
Click to expand...

Looks like you want a jazz bass. Check out the PRS Kestrel. Or, you know...a Jazz Bass
 
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#84
Beej said:
4 pages and no one has yet pointed out that ALL of the videos posted on the first page with the exception of Chic were done with keyboards? :D C'mon TB...yer slackin'... :smug:
Click to expand...
Page 2.

kevindahl said:
Those videos are not slap, you know that right? Forget the the Ricky and Thunderbird. It seems you prefer synth bass not slap bass based on the videos you posted. IMHO, the Precision is one of the best for 70's type funk. The warwick is a little thin sounding so out of those 4 I would concur with others, the Stingray would be the best choice.
Click to expand...
 
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#86
My thoughts on these basses based on my experience:
Warwick Thumb - Great basses, My youngest has one and uses it in a metal band. I have played in on many occasions and is a very versatile bass.
Music Man Stingray - Top 5 bass on most, if not all, bass lists. And for good reason. The sound of a Stingray will cut through the mix of a band with other low frequency instruments; IE: Synths. Great with a pick, fingers or slap.
Rickenbacker 4003(4001) - Another Top 5 bass. Unique sound, fast neck, pain to setup. A good studio bass. Doesn't travel well (IME). Not that you can't slap with a Rick but they are not known for it.
Gibson Thunderbird - Brings on the thunder! Great neck feel, smooth. The dual pickups make it sing. A bit of a mid scoop but eq and/or different pickups depending on model can change that.
Two other basses to consider would be, a P-bass - If mainly recording a P-bass is the easiest bass on earth to record. As mentioned, J-bass - the second most recorded bass in history. And one of the most endorsed basses. The sound, feel, playability (I could go on) are outstanding with a J-Bass.
Of course this is just my 2 cents but if I were to have a bass for just recording I would get a P-bass with a J-bass neck and P/J pickup configuration.
Out of the four choices you listed I would go with the Stingray but I read that you did not like the looks of it so I would go with the Thunderbird.
At the end of the day your list are four really good basses and it would come down to your personal preference. Best of luck to you
 
#87
To the OP:

Stop. Stop. Stop. STOP!! You nailed it when you said "I have paralysis from analysis" - stop the analysis!!!

You've listed out your current equipment but you don't have a bass listed - have you played one yet? Have you gone into a guitar store and actually put your hands on one? Found someone local who plays and asked them to test theirs out? I may have missed it, but reading through the thread it seems like all of your opinions are based on online materials and not from your own experience.

You can't determine what the best bass for you will be without playing a bass. Playing ANY bass will tell you more than watching more videos on YouTube - what you like and dislike about it will help people here give you better recommendations. Neck feel is #1, but how it positions to play, the feel of the strings (good golly - trying to pick strings based on online info alone would be a nightmare!!!), pickup location/size, control layout, any and all of it can and will make a difference in YOUR opinion of the bass. From that we can give good advice, but right now you're drowning in 5 pages of personal opinions, none of which are yours! Testing out 3 to 5 different basses (and no more - trying 20 basses is not going to be productive) and giving your impressions is going to help a lot toward getting a good recommendation. And who knows, you might pick one of them up and realize it is "THE ONE"* and then you're done.

* - for now. If you read the forums here you'll know that your first bass is unlikely to be your last.
 
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#88
Everybody here is suggesting jazz basses, but with the songs that you said you were interested in playing, they all have that growly Warwick tone. I think you were spot on saying you wanted a thumb, however I hear those things are generally heavy with a ton of neck dive. I would look into Warwick or Music Man if I were you.
 
#93
tunabolt said:
Hi everyone! I have a big interest in bass guitars, but have little to no knowledge about the actual hardware. I want to present everything I have researched so far and am interested in and then perhaps you can give me some suggested models to look into.

My favorite genre for basslines would be funk, especially of the slapping variety. To be honest, I just want to specialize in slapping because I love the sound so much. Fingering style sound is important too, but I would prioritize the slapping sound quality for a bass guitar.

I have only looked at random bass guitar demos on YouTube, but here are my favorites so far ranking my favoritest at the top of the list:

  1. Warwick Thumb
  2. Music Man Stingray
  3. Rickenbacker 4003
  4. Gibson Thunderbird

Here are some of my favorite bass tunes that I would like play:

Dennis Edwards ft. Siedah Garrett - Don't Look Any Further


Eazy-E - Real Muthaphuckkin G's


Secret of Mana - Steel and Snare


Chic - Good Times


Seinfeld Theme + Transitions


The search for a bass guitar is hard for me because of the overwhelming amount of details. I see bass guitar demos, but the showcasing always vary by manufacturing date and thus have different build quality and parts I'm assuming. I wonder if I would be fine just buying the current year model (if available) or just take a shot in the dark and buy a used model from any year in the past.

Budget is $1500ish, but will reluctantly push it up to $2000 if needed. I highly prefer a 4-string. No need to account accessories or additional hardware since I already have a setup ready to go.

Here is my current setup:

  • Universal Audio LA-610 Mk II
  • Audio Interface
  • Reaper & FL Studio (for monitoring and recording)
  • VST collection for effects, tone-shaping, mixing, and mastering
  • Studio Monitors + Subwoofer
  • Studio Monitor Headphones


I have paralysis from analysis so any insight and recommendations is greatly appreciated!


TL;DR Cliff Notes:
  • $1500 budget ($2000 max)
  • 4-string preferred
  • For playing and slapping funky basslines
  • Need recommendations and exposure to similar bass guitars listed
Click to expand...





"That I would like to play"?

Does this mean you have yet to learn the songs and play them on your current bass?
 
#95
Minimalist said:
Don't base your purchase on just one video. The most versatile bass is likely a Precision with a J bass pickup at the bridge. With a decent amp and speakers you can get tones useful in many different styles of music. Second choice would be a Jazz Bass. My least favorite is the Thumb Bass. Very limited IMO despite the 2 pickups.
Click to expand...

I would issue caution to base ANY bass decision on any YouTube video. The sound from YouTube goes under significant processing to get to your computer. Even listening on a high quality audio system will never be a true version of the actual bass sound; and as others have mentioned you have to consider mics, DIs, amps, eq, strings, playing style, etc...and also if that slap sound was played on a keyboard;)
 
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#98
For clarification, there are lots of basses with “Jazz” pickups. This refers to the single coil type pickups first developed by Fender back in the early sixties. They have a distinctive sound that a lot of players who are slappers are drawn to.

There is also the P/J configuration, which is a Jazz pickup in the bridge position and a Precision pickup in the neck position. Based on the sound you are looking for, I wouldn’t count the P/J out. Search the interweb for Fender PJ (or any other brand) and you will find lots of choices.

I would also cross the T-bird and Rickenbacker off your list. Nothing wrong with them, but they are not known for their slapping tone.
 
#99
First off, Welcome to TalkBass, there's a lot of knowledge shared here.

I'm surprised that nobody has suggested a Classic Vibe Squier 70's Jazz as a first bass.
These are great basses, and for $350 new you can't go wrong.

I would recommend that you learn to play first before spending $1500 on a bass.
You can get a 70's Jazz for slap, and a CV 60's Precision for that Chic/Gap Band sound,
and still have $800 left in your pocket.

With a Jazz and a P, you'll have the bass spectrum completely covered (for the most part).

057912
 
Last edited:
#100
Thanks for all the input so far, everyone. I wanted to let you all know that I still read every individual post and am still continuing my research based on your advice.

I have come to realize that I was too hasty in judging jazz basses based on that one video I posted. I have watched a few more and managed to find one that I am digging, the G&L Tribute JB-2! It looks like a really great value. I am putting it on my list of basses to try when I visit Guitar Center and Sam Ash... That is, if they even have them in stock/display.
 
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