• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

New Bass Help

P

pandreliv

Jun 2, 2011
16
0
#1
I have been playing bass for roughly 1 1/2 to 2 years now, and play a standard Fender Jazz Bass. I wanted to invest in a new bass for playing rock/alternative in the $250-350 range. Some of the basses I was looking at were the Street Flea Bass, the Schecter Raiden Special 4, the Peavey Millenium, or a CV/VM Squier. Please tell me which you think would be best for rock music or tell me if you have a suggestion for a bass I do not have listed here.

Thanks,

Pete
 
#5
The Ibanez is interesting looking, but for some reason I just do not like Ibanezes. I've played a couple and never really fell in love with them. The Jaguar is beautiful but I don't really want another jazz bass, I want something more for rock. The Peavey is a possibility though...
 
#7
It only has 2 tone knobs though, which seems too simple. But if you say it can do the wide range of sounds, i'm in. That's what I liked about the Schecter, it could do both single coil and humbucker style. So with the 2 tone control knobs on the Jag can I completely turn on or off one pickup? Because that would be friggin' sweet.
 
#10
P-basses are definately rock machines.

Look at Schecter stiletto's though! I have used mine in every musical situation I'm involved in! So, jazz, Christian rock/gospel, metal, punk, rock, playing out of the hymnal at church, blues and once for an orchestral piece. Get compliments everywhere I take it.

I'm GAS-ing pretty hard for a P though.
 
#11
A P bass covers anything' IMO. Using steel rounds, I can get a bad @$$ rock tone, and I play progressive music with it.

I do have a J bass that is pulled out for the really heavy tracks, or funky slappy stuff, but I like the feel and look of a P (unless it's a black/maple Jazz) much more. But the P does get much more use.

Mind you, this is entirely subjective.
 
#12
pandreliv said:
the Street Flea Bass, the Schecter Raiden Special 4, the Peavey Millenium, or a CV/VM Squier.
Click to expand...

All legit. I've heard mixed things about the Flea but the rest are winners. Half the fun is choosing for yourself, though so go play 'em yourself. :) Have a good time.

pandreliv said:
Please tell me which you think would be best for rock music or tell me if you have a suggestion for a bass I do not have listed here.
Click to expand...

I gotta be honest: I can't live without a P or P-style bass. But again, that's just me. They sound SO good and rock SO hard.

pandreliv said:
It only has 2 tone knobs though, which seems too simple.
Click to expand...

More advice: Learn now that more complicated does not equal better and that anyone who uses the phrase "one trick pony" in a sentence is a grade-A moron.

The best bass in the world is a P. It has one pickup and one volume knob and one tone knob. If you want something bright and chimey, you roll the tone knob up. Or you play with a pick. Or you shift your picking hand slightly and play near the bridge. Or you fiddle with the knobs on your amp. If you want something dark and warm, you roll the tone knob down. You switch to finger style and a softer attack. You boost your lows and your low-mids and tame the sizzling highs on your amp's EQ. You play in the middle of the scale length, where the action is soft and spongy. Voila. It's like a whole new bass!

Please, I beg of you.... become a better player than you are a gear nut. If it means logging off TB and playing, then go do it. But understand that there's only a very rare couple of things you can't do with even the most simple bass and you probably don't need to do them. Work on technique instead.
 
#15
etechstan said:
What is wrong with the Jazz Bass? It's a much better bass than the ones you mentioned. And don't tell me its wrong for the style of music you want to play. Put your money towards a nice amp.
Click to expand...

There's truth in this. I won't say that the Jazz is objectively "better" than the basses he mentioned but it's one of those basses that can do so much, I'm almost tempted to suggest just trying to get more use out of it. And, yes, a great amp is invaluable... it will be a big game changer.

BUT, since you did start this thread with the intention of getting bass advice, I will just reiterate my first point: Your best bet is to go try them out and decide which you like best and why.
 
#16
@77Stingray: What is a MIM and SD Quarter Pounders?
@StilettoPrefer: aren't stilettos like 5-6 hundred?

As for the P Bass idea, what is the best one to get for my pricerange? do they make vm/cv p's? I love the vintage style and that's another reason I was considering the jag.

Yeah i didn't like the ibanezes i played but loved the schecter raiden
 
#17
pandreliv said:
@77Stingray: What is a MIM and SD Quarter Pounders?
@StilettoPrefer: aren't stilettos like 5-6 hundred?

As for the P Bass idea, what is the best one to get for my pricerange? do they make vm/cv p's? I love the vintage style and that's another reason I was considering the jag.

Yeah i didn't like the ibanezes i played but loved the schecter raiden
Click to expand...

My stiletto was $330. I got the basic model, stiletto extreme-4 (no EMG's, no high mass bridge) otherwise it's the exact same as the more expensive models except the finish is trans colors haha.

EDIT: I got it on sale and a discount coupon, so it could be around 400-ish.
 
#19
"MIM" means Made In Mexico. "MIA" means Made In America. Fenders are made in one of the two (their Asian-produced models are branded as Squier)

Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounders are pickups produced by Seymour Duncan. They are popular aftermarket pickups that are sometimes incorporated into a bass stock. They are loud and aggressive but have a modern "scooped" tone.

Yes, there are Classic Vibe and Vintage Modified series P-basses from Squier. They are quite good.

Invalid Link Removed

Invalid Link Removed
 
#20
MIM= made in Mexico.
SD= Seymour Duncan quarter pound pickups (a replacement pickup).

And yes, Squier does make both VM and CV versions of the P-bass. They are all very good, and would be my choice over a MIM Fender.

And I agree with the P-bass suggestion, it will very much compliment your Jazz. You should keep it too. Either that, or the better amp.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back