Need to hear the expert's opinion...

[non]

this is exactly the bass you describe. designed just for you.
ibanez: SRMS625EX | SR | ELECTRIC BASSES | PRODUCTS | Ibanez guitars

 

[JRA]

I know there's no such thing a "best bass for ______" but it would be nice to hear, or rather read all your opinions.

you lost me at "must have: matching headstock."

all of your other criteria concerned budget, feel, and sound: all strong/important attributes for an EB....but again, you lost me at "matching headstock."

expert opinion: if you can get everything else on your list, take whatever headstock the ax comes with and call it a prudent decision! good luck!

 

[Nihblokk]

this is exactly the bass you describe. designed just for you.
ibanez: SRMS625EX | SR | ELECTRIC BASSES | PRODUCTS | Ibanez guitars

View attachment 4313034

It's cool but 5 Strings is a no-no. There's the SRMS800 tho

 

[deff]

steve harris of Iron maden plays j basses and look at how amazing he is.. lots of great rockers play j basses.

Steve Harris plays a pbass, not a j.

 

[deff]

I do like it, but you're not wrong. It's gonna be hard to sell that thing

That's an Alex Webster sig bass, you'd have no trouble selling it to some Cannibal Corpse fan. Besides, Alex is great

 

[Nihblokk]

you lost me at "must have: matching headstock."

all of your other criteria concerned budget, feel, and sound: all strong/important attributes for an EB....but again, you lost me at "matching headstock."

expert opinion: if you can get everything else on your list, take whatever headstock the ax comes with and call it a prudent decision! good luck!

Yeah I understand now that this was a very picky priority. I'm willing to let that one slide

 

[Nihblokk]

That's an Alex Webster sig bass, you'd have no trouble selling it to some Cannibal Corpse fan. Besides, Alex is great

Is it? The seller told me it was a Spector NS2-A with some kind of custom paint job

 

[deff]

Is it? The seller told me it was a Spector NS2-A with some kind of custom paint job

It either is one or was painted to look like one. Alex's basses are black with red blood splatter

 

[CaseyVancouver]

My Ibby SR800 - well under a grand, this one's about 4 years old, Bart pups, very powerful and loud, nice slim neck. A lot of great newer choices as well, Prestige and Premium lines, etc. I'll tell you another nice one, is the Ibby SR500, all mahogany body - $650 new, lower used, of course. That's another killer Ibby. Just my two cents.View attachment 4312687

I’m not an expert. I’m just a guy who has gigged bass for 50 years. That Ibanez is very much like mine lol, one of many basses I own. You can’t go far wrong with it. I also have vintage Fenders and others. Again, you can’t go wrong with any of ‘em.

My point is, at $1,000, you can’t go too far wrong. Look at used. Get something that speaks to you. Then forget about gear crap, our opinions, and just play the thing. A lot.

 

[Robot.G]

You should share your Bandcamp page here!

 

[Jack Deth]

Schecter Studio 4 in black. Right at $1k. I own two of the 6 strings just like it. The neck through construction does make a big difference (to me at least). And the neck is slick, I hate high gloss necks because they’re sticky. I had a BC Rich Warlock years ago that was all gloss and had to use billiard chalk on my left hand, and my palms aren’t even sweaty. Cheers…

 

[elpancho]

Get a MM Sterling for your small hands

 

[red_rhino]

Ibanez is always a safe bet when looking for a great bass on a budget, and the necks are usually pretty slim. If you buy used then you can get a LOT for $1000.

This....

Your options will increase greatly if you’re willing to use passive pickups with an active preamp, as very few basses have active pickups. If you’re worried about cutting through, remember that most of the other players in this genre don’t have both active pickups and an active preamps.

...and this.

Thanks for the explanation. It seems I don't really need active pickups. Now I have a lot more options Which can make things harder or easier lol.

I had EMG active jazz pickups in a bass years ago. It didn't make anywhere near as much difference as having an active EQ (i.e. almost none). Active EQ was the sound I was after, but I didn't understand the difference at the time. I guess now I'm an "expert".

As an expert - You don't need active pickups, you don't need active preamp, and you certainly don't need 24 frets,

There are things you can do on 24 frets that you can't do on 20. Likewise, there are things you can with with active electronics that you cannot do with passive. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with 20 fret necks or passive EQ, but I think we should give people some credit for having an idea of what they want.

 

[Nihblokk]

Get a MM Sterling for your small hands

I don't have small hands, but thanks!

 

[Nihblokk]

This....


...and this.


I had EMG active jazz pickups in a bass years ago. It didn't make anywhere near as much difference as having an active EQ (i.e. almost none). Active EQ was the sound I was after, but I didn't understand the difference at the time. I guess now I'm an "expert".


There are things you can do on 24 frets that you can't do on 20. Likewise, there are things you can with with active electronics that you cannot do with passive. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with 20 fret necks or passive EQ, but I think we should give people some credit for having an idea of what they want.

Great feedback bro, I think I'm willing to give the passives a chance.

 

[Nihblokk]

You should share your Bandcamp page here!

Alright, if anyone's interested in the music I make, this is my Bandcamp page:

blackvoidcult.bandcamp.com

 

[4stringkyle]

I vote ibenez along with the rest. I started on an Sr. Nice and slim neck, probably the most slim of any bass I've own. It checks all your boxes. I seen you mentioned shecter and metal, anyone try the schecter c4 apocalypse? Not active like you want though here's a description from Sweetwater;

For metal bassists who rock and rock hard onstage and at home, Schecter offers up the C-4 EX Apocalypse Bass. Made from a solid swamp ash body, this instrument just oozes metal madness. A pair of Schecter Apocalypse pickups delivers killer low end as well as searing midrange. A thin "C" neck with ebony fingerboard and an extra-long 35" scale sit balanced and ready for smoking-fast runs and rhythmic lines that are the foundation of great metal. Metal bassists here at Sweetwater agree this bass delivers the type of punch and power that makes a great metal bass.

Bass : C-4 Apocalypse

 

[Nihblokk]

I vote ibenez along with the rest. I started on an Sr. Nice and slim neck, probably the most slim of any bass I've own. It checks all your boxes. I seen you mentioned shecter and metal, anyone try the schecter c4 apocalypse? Not active like you want though here's a description from Sweetwater;

For metal bassists who rock and rock hard onstage and at home, Schecter offers up the C-4 EX Apocalypse Bass. Made from a solid swamp ash body, this instrument just oozes metal madness. A pair of Schecter Apocalypse pickups delivers killer low end as well as searing midrange. A thin "C" neck with ebony fingerboard and an extra-long 35" scale sit balanced and ready for smoking-fast runs and rhythmic lines that are the foundation of great metal. Metal bassists here at Sweetwater agree this bass delivers the type of punch and power that makes a great metal bass.

Bass : C-4 Apocalypse
View attachment 4313265 View attachment 4313266

Definitely Schecter and Ibanez are in my shortlist.

 

[Lackey]

There are things you can do on 24 frets that you can't do on 20. Likewise, there are things you can with with active electronics that you cannot do with passive. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with 20 fret necks or passive EQ, but I think we should give people some credit for having an idea of what they want.

Wait .. he listed as a Must that he have active pickups, which you disagree with. He also lists 24 frets as a Must, which I disagree with... And he lists an active EQ as a Like rather than a Must. And you're gonna pick my recommendation to criticize?

Sort your logic out, you have none currently.

 

[FFFH242]

Schecter Stiletto Studio