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New bass recommendations for a newer player

MJR Chicago

MJR Chicago

Dec 25, 2020
15
33
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#1
Hello All:

Noob advice. I've been playing bass for almost a year. My first and current bass is an Ibanez SR250 which sounds good and is comfortable to play. I am playing through a Fender Bassman 800 amp head over a Fender Neo 4 x 10 cab. I am looking for something with richer punch, with better tone on the high notes / G. Any recommendations? I have been looking at Fender American Pro II PBasses and MM Stingrays. I'd like to keep it under 2K. After this bass I am done buying them. Thank you in advance.
 
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#5
MJR Chicago said:
Hello All:

Noob advice. I've been playing bass for almost a year. My first and current bass is an Ibanez SR250 which sounds good and is comfortable to play. I am playing through a Fender Bassman 800 amp head over a Fender Neo 4 x 10 cab. I am looking for something with richer punch, with better tone on the high notes / G. Any recommendations? I have been looking at Fender American Pro II PBasses and MM Stingrays. I'd like to keep it under 2K. After this bass I am done buying them. Thank you in advance.
Click to expand...
I can mention quite a few basses, but I'd be doing you a disservice not recommending this one.
G&L L2000.
With this bass, you'll find no need for another.
(Although, I own two and a third is not out of the question.)
c5ef0dd1420cd5bba3116b65a0d70aef-jpg-cf.jpg

You might enjoy from 3:36 on.
 
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#7
Consider an alternative to the typical P and J basses and their clones.

Carvin/Kiesel basses are excellent quality and have a sound all their own with their proprietary pickups and electronics.

Prices run about $1500 - $2000 for a neck through body construction build, depending on options ordered. Their basses are semi-customizable.
 
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#8
MJR Chicago said:
Hello All:

Noob advice. I've been playing bass for almost a year. My first and current bass is an Ibanez SR250 which sounds good and is comfortable to play. I am playing through a Fender Bassman 800 amp head over a Fender Neo 4 x 10 cab. I am looking for something with richer punch, with better tone on the high notes / G. Any recommendations? I have been looking at Fender American Pro II PBasses and MM Stingrays. I'd like to keep it under 2K. After this bass I am done buying them. Thank you in advance.
Click to expand...
Player P, Player J, Ray24. All three for under 2 grand, and all important tones covered.

Can't fight the truth
 
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#9
hbarcat said:
Consider an alternative to the typical P and J basses and their clones.

Carvin/Kiesel basses are excellent quality and have a sound all their own with their proprietary pickups and electronics.

Prices run about $1500 - $2000 for a neck through body construction build, depending on options ordered. Their basses are semi-customizable.
Click to expand...
Not to be that guy but a quick search might say quite the opposite about their build quality and integrity as a company.
 
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#13
I would be sure to feel the bass in your hands to be sure it's as comfortable as your current. I find some basses less comfortable because of their flatter fretboard radius (which doesn't work for my hands). Compare specs online to what you like now, and seek similar profile necks and string spacing. Then hone in on sound. I have multiple Fenders and a Carvin. The flatter Carvin neck is less appealing to me. Bought it without playing it.
 
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#14
Honestly, you're going to get as many opinions on this as there are members on Talkbass. That's not a bad thing, it just means that some folks are very dialed in on their preferences. Which raises the question; what are your preferences?

I'm a big fan of Ibanez basses, although the one I have is only slightly more expensive than yours. It holds up against my other basses (costing much more) very well. If you really like Ibanez, I would consider sticking with that brand and looking at something higher in their product food chain. (There's at least one used here in the TB classifieds that gets my attention every time I browse past it, but I'm not in the market).

Otherwise, if you can, got play all of the basses you mentioned and see what speaks to you most. It's really the best way. :thumbsup:

MJR Chicago said:
After this bass I am done buying them.
Click to expand...
:roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:
 
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#15
MordBass said:
Not to be that guy but a quick search might say quite the opposite about their build quality and integrity as a company.
Click to expand...


I did some extensive searching and didn't see any unusual amount of complaints about build quality or company integrity. Certainly nothing that would scare me away from buying a bass from them.

The only concerning reviews I saw were problems with customer service.

I'm not going so far as to recommend for or against buying a Kiesel bass. I'm only pointing out that they're a viable option in the target price range that isn't the typical P or J shape body that most others are recommending.
 
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#16
hbarcat said:
I did some extensive searching and didn't see any unusual amount of complaints about build quality or company integrity. Certainly nothing that would scare me away from buying a bass from them.

The only concerning reviews I saw were problems with customer service.

I'm not going so far as to recommend for or against buying a Kiesel bass. I'm only pointing out that they're a viable option in the target price range that isn't the typical P or J shape body that most others are recommending.
Click to expand...
Id agree theyre an option for sure, but its the type of thing where people seem to want to be VERY certain that its exactly what they want. Just google "kiesel guitar quality" if you want to find a seemingly disproportionate amount of horror stories. For the price, the list of options is great but might be equally served at Warmoth.
 
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#19
For Better tone on the highs I would look at the Fender Ultra P. Mine sounds sublime on the highs and mids. But if I'm looking for punch... I go to my American Original 60's P. I like the sound of the Music Man Basses but I really don't like their necks (personal preference and they do make a fine bass for sure!). I agree with jd56hawk that the G&L will have some amazing tones and a great range of tones at that. My first bass was an SR190 (still have it actually). Remember that the Pbass line will have a chunkier neck compared to what you are used to (1.5" on the Ibanez compared to 1.62" on a Pbass) so it will feel different. So the age old advise of "go to the store and try some out" if for anything else then just to feel the neck, nut width, and string spacing. Hence why a lot of players like a jazz neck on a Pbass body.
How I settled on a Pbass is I listened so sooo many YouTube videos on different bass tones. All kinds of brands, all kinds of reviews, read countless posts on TB and other sites reviews to get a feel for what was out there... then I went to the store and just played different basses without plugging in, focusing on the feel of the necks until I settled on what I liked. Then I started to plug in and zeroed in on the specific sounds I was looking for, only trying basses with the neck that I liked.

hope this helps
 
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