need to get new bass - advice wanted

[kxt]

im looking for a good bass with following characteristics.

- price should be <$1000 - i dont mind an investment but cant break the bank
- used is ok
- should be 4 strings (good enough for victor wooten, good enough for me.
- i like a clear, fat, smooth tone. i mostly use my neck pickup with no tone added.
- i like a fast action. im not an amazing bassist, so i need the help
- i play mostly rock but need it to handle blues and worship too.

i dont really have a lot of experience with better basses, so im open to any suggestions. thanks!

 

[mister-o]

Question #1: Why do you "need" to buy a new bass? What is it about your current bass(es) that you need to supplement with new gear?

Bracketing that question, my immediate thought would be that for under 1K you could pretty easily find a used MIA Fender that would be a great instrument. If you can find a used 2008 model, all the better (I'm 100% happy with my 2008 Jazz). From your stated tonal preference you probably don't need the bridge pickup on the J, so a P might suit you just fine. Unless you have a strong anti-Fender or pro-something else leaning, that'd be my recommendation.

(I replaced my Jazz pickups with Nordstrand NJ4s, and the neck pickup sounds really warm and fat, so if you really like the neck on the jazz, go for it and think about some new pickups. YMMV. If you want a really thin neck, you might consider a Geddy Lee, which will eat your whole budget new.)

 

[Zoidberg523]

+1 on the used USA Fender. If you like smooth, look at some Jazzes in the local shop. Nothing beats the smooth feel of a worn in MIA Jazz neck.

 

[RickenBoogie]

Yup, a used MIA Fender P sounds like your answer.

 

[Shy Guy]

MIA P. Can't stress it enough, have my 'wick for a while now and still keep going back to the P.

 

[jim777]

You have so many options at that price point...get thee to a guitars store!

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Get an Ebay USA J bass. Or, were I you... I'd actually consider getting a used Geddy Lee J bass. All the folks on this list seem to love them - and my brief experience playing one was nice. I think it's ugly to look at, but who cares about that? It played and sounded nice and I just saw a very clean one just sell on Ebay for $500...

So you can save you some bux to invest in a better amp!

 

[kxt]

thanks for everything so far.

how do you guys feel about newer fenders vs older fenders.

 

[JustJeffJr.]

thanks for everything so far.

how do you guys feel about newer fenders vs older fenders.

New Fenders are good, but I think it definitely says something that they keep trying so hard to make them identical to old Fenders. Plus, old fenders are pre-mojo'd.