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New bass advice...please help!

#21
JGbassman said:
The precision will have the tone it sounds like she is looking for, so if her hands can deal with the precision, that's the route I would suggest.
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beaglesandbass said:
The necks are different on the basses, the p neck is thicker than the j. You said she has "adult hands", but that doesn't mean she'll necessarily want the bigger neck. The jazz will also probably weigh a little bit more.
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I'm 95% certain the Precision Deluxe he's talking about has a Jazz-spec'd neck.

@Revpatn; If you can, take your daughter to a local music store to let her get a feel, not to mention an earful, for what a basic Precision and Jazz have to offer. But, like I said before, I suspect that Deluxe will have a Jazz-style neck, so the big difference between it and the Geddy-signature Jazz will be it's front-to-back thickness. Geddy-sigs are known for having some of the thinnest necks in the Fender family.

Other basic differences between them are the sounds…Precisions tend to be "boomy", Jazzes lean towards "growly", especially ones with what's known as "seventies-era pickup spacing" which accentuates that growl even more. The big questions are, "Which sound does she like more?" and "Which feel better in her hands?"

Ultimately, if both instruments are in good working order, either will be a good platform for her introduction to "The Low End".

Oh, and be sure to ask anyone selling a used instrument when the last time it had a decent setup. If it's been a while, you should be ready to give your pick a proper, pro-level setup and maybe a new set of strings. It was the first thing I did when I got my first bass and I'm very glad for it. Being told mine was in excellent condition, outside of some minor adjustments and a few chips in the finish (so-not a big deal!), was a tremendous weight taken off my mind.

The strings the music shop guy suggested also helped too. He set me up with a set of D'Addario Chromes .100-gauge flatwound strings. They sounded great on my bass (a P/J bass, no less :thumbsup:) and were very kind to my beginner's fingers.

Good luck, happy hunting and please keep us informed as to what you eventually find for her first-ever bass! ;)
 
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#22
Malak the Mad said:
I'm 95% certain the Precision Deluxe he's talking about has a Jazz-spec'd neck.
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Ah you're right. Forgot it was the Deluxe. P body, J neck, P/J pups.

Well next question is does the daughter like the aesthetics of both basses? As good as the Jazz sounds, I'm not a fan of the body shape so I don't think I'd ever buy one.
 
#23
beaglesandbass said:
Ah you're right. Forgot it was the Deluxe. P body, J neck, P/J pups.

Well next question is does the daughter like the aesthetics of both basses? As good as the Jazz sounds, I'm not a fan of the body shape so I don't think I'd ever buy one.
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Yay! More Jazzes for me!! :woot: :D

When I was doing research for my first-ever, I was strongly considering a Precision Deluxe. In a way, though, I'm glad I didn't go with it. As it turns out, I prefer passive systems best. To each their own, right? ;)
 
#24
Malak the Mad said:
Yay! More Jazzes for me!! :woot: :D

When I was doing research for my first-ever, I was strongly considering a Precision Deluxe. In a way, though, I'm glad I didn't go with it. As it turns out, I prefer passive systems best. To each their own, right? ;)
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Well I hate to be the bearer of GAS, but for a few years in the early 2000s, Fender made one that was all passive. I had one and I loved it- total tone monster. I regret getting rid of it every day.
 
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#25
beaglesandbass said:
Well I hate to be the bearer of GAS, but for a few years in the early 2000s, Fender made one that was all passive. I had one and I loved it- total tone monster. I regret getting rid of it every day.
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Well, since one dose of GAS deserves another…

Fender Special Edition Deluxe PJ Bass

…apparently, they revived it as a recent Special Edition.
 
#26
#28
Get this and she will be stoked. Great bass at a killer price. Ibanez TMB-100. Widely available for under $200. I love mine. Sounds great playing punk/hc.
downloadfile (1).jpeg


Ibanez TMB-100 Talman Bass - Black
 
#29
Geddy Lee all the way. Here in so cal I started seeing band after band after band (all punk) sporting the geddy Lee. Probably not because they are rush fans, but it looks cool, like an early 70s, and the tone really cuts through.

Many punk players seem to use a tone influenced by geddys overdrive tone (on Ric's and jazz, take your pic).

And try this on for size, not intending to name drop, or maybe I am, but in 2005 the punk band I was in recorded an album produced and engineered by Greg Hetson from bad religion, and Steve kravac who has produced/engineered tons of bands, including the album "Cheshire cat" by the pop punk poster boys, blink 182.

I did not bring the geddy Lee, but I did bring my 98 american standard jazz and 2000 american standard p, and Warwick FNA, but that didn't sit in the mix.

They had rented similar basses, american standard P and Jazz, but I got to use my own. There was no request that I use the P, and the jazz got used on more of the songs than the P. Some songs we just liked the angry P bass grind better on, but the jazz growl was THE tone.

The geddy Lee is really a good bass. Personally I think active is overkill for punk, and +1 to the sentiment that fender does not do active very well. The new special edition p special is awesome, but very pricey. The neck is similar to the geddy and has the same block inlays and binding, and the high mass (faux badass II) bridge.

I would say the geddy, or better yet track down a used Japanese one for similar coin that has a "real" badass II, and if you can find one that has the pickups with the bevelled pole pieces, they are top notch.

I should have brought the geddy into those sessions! I was figuring the american ones would be more "pro".

Edit: if you go for a P bass, get a passive one
 
#30
Revpatn said:
I know I'm opening up a can of worms but my daughter is looking to buy a bass and I need some advice. We have the opportunity to buy either a 2015 Fender Active Precision Bass Deluxe or a Geddy Lee. Both are Mexican models and are £500...I don't know which to go for.

They are both 2 hours away (in opposite directions) so I need to choose one to see first. She has 'adult' sized hands and wants to play pop-punk. I know a lot of pop -punk bands use the p bass but the Geddy Lee has so many good reviews. I spoke to the local GC and the guy said the active p bass is able to do what the Geddy Lee can do in terms of sound and more as it has the active system. He said the Geddy Lee has a more Jazz sound so it wouldn't be as easy to create the 'pop-punk' sound. I'd really value some help. She doesn't yet have the experience to be able to make an 'informed' choice so I'm looking for some help.

Both are in good condition but the Geddy Lee has had the varnish on the neck sanded down.
Help!!!
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Have you seen pictures of both basses to confirm the condition? My thinking is that you can't really go wrong either way as long as they're in good shape and haven't been heavily modified because you should be able to re-sell either one for what you paid and try something else.
 
#31
I stumbled upon a MIM GL and was hesitant... But it is amazing. Fit and finish is great and has a wide variety of tones. In my opinion, you see threads here of regular players still struggling to fine the right tone etc. Tone can be so subjective and when you are starting out... it isn't even a thought!

I would also say let her get what looks best to her. It will encourage her to keep practicing etc. The great thing too is that you can always switch pickguards etc to get a different look. You can always have pickups switched out down the line too
 

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#32
I have both. For someone of smaller stature, the Geddy, while fantastic, is a bit larger which shows up mostly while using a strap. My Precison Special is lighter , and even though it uses a battery, it hardly ever needs changing( I always unplug it while not using) If it were me, and I had to choose between the two, I would go with the PRECISION.
Side note, that Ibanez TMB -100 looks pretty cool to though. Stickers on it and it would scream punk to me....
 
#34
Just save yourself all the agony and get the Jazz Bass. Hands down, history has proven, at least to my ears, when it comes right down to it, it's a much more versatile bass. And, it also has a slimmer neck, which I even like far more. And, I'm 6'5" 240lbs., with meat hooks for hands. To me, it's the one to choose, without hesitation. That would be my advice.
 
#38
I've played both and I own an American Geddy Lee. For me how the bass feels is more important than the stock tone, and in particular the feel of the neck (profile, what the finish on the back of it is). You can come close to the tone of another bass by how you set your amp and/or by adding a tone shaping pedal or two. However, if the bass doesn't feel good or is too difficult to play, all the great tone in the world doesn't matter.

In terms of the Fender, call the store and confirm what the neck profile is and whether it has a passive/active switch. Every P Bass Deluxe I have seen in store has a jazz neck, meaning it is almost the same neck profile as the Geddy Lee, not the chunkier neck profile of a precision bass. Some (I won't say all as I don't know that for certain) also have a passive/active switch, meaning you can run the bass in passive mode if you want (like the one on the Fender website Invalid Link Removed).

The MIM Geddy Lee is a great bass. When I was looking at them I played the MIM and USA models back to back, switching back and forth for about an hour. I don't recommend doing that because if you do she'll want the USA model which is a lot more money. For me it was worth the extra money, in particular because the USA model was noticeably lighter.

The Fender P Bass Deluxe is also a great bass. The ones I have played did not feel as heavy as I remember the MIM Geddy Lee. The jazz neck on them is great. I liked the fact that I could get that P bass tone OR add in the more trebly jazz bass tone with it. Tons of options with that bass, but as I already said you can get most basses to sound the way you want through amp EQ and/or tone shaping pedals.

Given they should both have a jazz neck profile, and given the type of music she wants to play, if it were me I would look at the Fender P Bass Deluxe first. Especially if it has the passive/active switch. To add one more potential bass into the mix, see if any stores carry a Godin Shifter Classic 4. It's a made in Canada bass, PJ configuration, jazz profile neck, with a really smooth non-sticky finish on the back of the neck. The price should be similar to both the Fender and Geddy Lee, but made in Canada. The quality of it is very high, you get way more bass for your money with it.
 
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#39
I'm partial, and not really a P-fan (gasp!), therefore I can't comment out loud...

(get the Geddy). Realistically, the neck may be small for her, and the Precision may be a better fit...

Good job, Dad, helping her out, like that... 2 two hour road trips, or not, that's quality time spent with her and I know she'll appreciate it! I think you should do both, letting her spend as much time as she needs with both. Good luck, to both of you!
 
#40
96Brigadier said:
I've played both and I own an American Geddy Lee. For me how the bass feels is more important than the stock tone, and in particular the feel of the neck (profile, what the finish on the back of it is). You can come close to the tone of another bass by how you set your amp and/or by adding a tone shaping pedal or two. However, if the bass doesn't feel good or is too difficult to play, all the great tone in the world doesn't matter.

In terms of the Fender, call the store and confirm what the neck profile is and whether it has a passive/active switch. Every P Bass Deluxe I have seen in store has a jazz neck, meaning it is almost the same neck profile as the Geddy Lee, not the chunkier neck profile of a precision bass. Some (I won't say all as I don't know that for certain) also have a passive/active switch, meaning you can run the bass in passive mode if you want (like the one on the Fender website Invalid Link Removed).

The MIM Geddy Lee is a great bass. When I was looking at them I played the MIM and USA models back to back, switching back and forth for about an hour. I don't recommend doing that because if you do she'll want the USA model which is a lot more money. For me it was worth the extra money, in particular because the USA model was noticeably lighter.

The Fender P Bass Deluxe is also a great bass. The ones I have played did not feel as heavy as I remember the MIM Geddy Lee. The jazz neck on them is great. I liked the fact that I could get that P bass tone OR add in the more trebly jazz bass tone with it. Tons of options with that bass, but as I already said you can get most basses to sound the way you want through amp EQ and/or tone shaping pedals.

Given they should both have a jazz neck profile, and given the type of music she wants to play, if it were me I would look at the Fender P Bass Deluxe first. Especially if it has the passive/active switch. To add one more potential bass into the mix, see if any stores carry a Godin Shifter Classic 4. It's a made in Canada bass, PJ configuration, jazz profile neck, with a really smooth non-sticky finish on the back of the neck. The price should be similar to both the Fender and Geddy Lee, but made in Canada. The quality of it is very high, you get way more bass for your money with it.
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Good post, 96!
 
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