New bass recommendations for a newer player

[murph7489]

After this bass I am done buying them.

hahahahahahahaha....thanks for that...I haven't had a good laugh in a couple of days..

 

[ComeHomeShane]

@OP,

IMO, spending 2k on a bass when you've only been playing for a year is not wise. My 2 cents... get experience playing with some groups, try out different basses. For example, in the same sentence you mention that you're interested in Fender Ps and EBMM Stingrays. These are two very different basses that work for different styles.

Get something used once you have more experience and a clear idea of what will work for the band that you're playing with.

 

[Rib 13]

If you haven't done so in a long while, change your strings first and see if that fixes your problem.......you may be one of those ppl (like me) in which string type and newness is the most important factor regardless of what bass I'm using

 

[Bassiclees]

Curveball: Epiphone Embassy ($399)
Tone machine: Ray4HH ($349)
Sleeper: Squier PJ with new pickups (DiMarzio maybe) ($400)
$2k is alot and that's a huge cab, MF has a MarkBass 2x8 combo amp on sale at 40% off you might look into.
Check the HotDeals threads.

 

[Stone73]

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.

I think before you venture to buy another bass (I am a supporter of buying basses BELIEVE ME lol) you should spend some time working on time. The reason why is you as a beginner could greatly benefit from really turning knobs and dialing in tone rather than just going out for another bass. mine good tip if you want a thicker sounding tone is play "scoop" eq. All that is is drop the "mid" frequencies out on the amp, and boost both the bass and treble. Thing is about what you already have can give you the tone you want...you just have to deal with all of the knobs to dial it in is all.
The suggestions for basses people have given you are great, but you have to see that most, if not all, of the suggestions are for basses with less knobs which equals less confusion...less fuss and I tend to agree, only if you can afford the luxury of having more than one bass.
On that Ibanez, you

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.

 

[Zooberwerx]

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.

Agreed. Since the OP is comfortable with the SR250, I'd be looking at the higher-tier Premium and Prestige offerings with better woods, neck (KTS), and electronics packages.

Riis

 

[el murdoque]

If I was to spend $2k on the bass I'm planning to be the last one I ever buy,
I'd plan a trip to an area with a high density of music shops that have a good
selection of basses. I'd go there and play basses until I found 'the one'.

For me personally, that has always happened. When I bought my first bass, it was the first instrument I touched in the first shop I visited. It was love at first sight and I knew I wanted that one and nothing else.
There was another, much bigger shop in walking distance, but when we went there, I already had made the purchase (I just tagged along because we shared a ride. I did not want to see more, I wanted home and play my new bass).
Every time I felt I was ready for another bass for whatever reason, I started looking for one and when I ran across it, I knew. On two occasions a bass found me without me knowing I was looking for it.

I'd recommend everyone to do the same. Either you know exactly what you want - then you can go shopping for it or commission a build, or you don't know and need your fingers and ears to tell you which one it is.

 

[theduke1]

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.)
View attachment 4144104
You might enjoy from 3:36 on.

What he said
Anything G&L
USA or Tribute series you can't go wrong
Duke

 

[MordBass]

I recommend a Lakland skyline 44-02

Yup, one of these will leave enough in the budget for a Bart NTMB preamp if you want. Superb playability, punch for days, great versatility... etc.

 

[Black Sabbatical]

After this bass I am done buying them. Thank you in advance.

No, you're not.

 

[CallMeAl]

+1 to getting out and trying basses. IME comfort and ergonomics was the #1 factor in loving an instrument. I started on an SR bass, and found my forever home on a P bass with a Jazz neck. But it took a few tries in between to land there.

Also, try and make a choice on the P vs MM thing. Both would make a fine choice, but you gotta figure out which tone is for you. Listen to YouTube clips, look at what your favorite players play. If you're totally lost still, I think a P bass fits a wider range of styles

good luck

 

[Kukulkan61]

I suggest you go to as many music shops and play as many basses as you can and find the one you want, you can't feel, hear or play any basses anyone recommends on here...

 

[drumvsbass]

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.)

No kidding, in that finish. Yum. Although I personally have never owned one, G&L are the best Fenders that Fender never Fendered.

 

[Geddaric]

For under 2K there`s hundreds of choices. Instead of buying one expensive bass, try 3 around the $600 range. you might be surprised by what you can find and keep a little extra $$$ for yourself.

 

[Eddie LeBlanc]

Playing for a year. I think you need to go to every where you can and try out other basses. I don't think you know what you like yet. I know I sure didn't after playing less than a year.

There are all kind of differences in basses. And it's not only about body shape, although that is very important (and why I play USA Spector Neck throughs as my bass of choice). Neck Scale Length (short, med, long), Neck width, Fretboard Radius, Number of Frets are all things to realize.

And you have to look at pickups, active or passive, tone controls, preamps, types Soapbars, P Bass, Jazz, or some combo. Even pickup manufacturers have very different approach to sound of their pickups. Some are designed for more mellow thump with flats and some are designed for a more modern Hi-Fi sound character.

And what type of music do you want to play, and what is your playing technique, a slapper, fingers, pick, or some combination of????

Even strings make a huge difference.

So all I can say, is too little information and knowledge, can usually create a poor decision over time.

Once you have some knowledge of what you'd like, then go look into the used market. There can be some great deals out there awaiting you.

 

[MordBass]

Playing for a year. I think you need to go to every where you can and try out other basses. I don't think you know what you like yet. I know I sure didn't after playing less than a year.

There are all kind of differences in basses. And it's not only about body shape, although that is very important (and why I play USA Spector Neck throughs as my bass of choice). Neck Scale Length (short, med, long), Neck width, Fretboard Radius, Number of Frets are all things to realize.

And you have to look at pickups, active or passive, tone controls, preamps, types Soapbars, P Bass, Jazz, or some combo. Even pickup manufacturers have very different approach to sound of their pickups. Some are designed for more mellow thump with flats and some are designed for a more modern Hi-Fi sound character.

And what type of music do you want to play, and what is your playing technique, a slapper, fingers, pick, or some combination of????

Even strings make a huge difference.

So all I can say, is too little information and knowledge, can usually create a poor decision over time.

Once you have some knowledge of what you'd like, then go look into the used market. There can be some great deals out there awaiting you.

This is great advice. Getting to see something in the flesh is probably the most important thing when making a purchase. This is true for cars, guitars, homes..... everything.
You can watch a million youtube videos and decide that you want something based on specs and what you heard, but then you hold it in your hands and can tell within seconds that it's not right for you.
The main issue with videos is that you really need to know the player in order to know the sound they're getting. I've seen reviews of gear that I have personally owned and the video sounds nowhere near as good as it's capable of. I've also seen the opposite though... A moderate instrument in expert hands with some well thought out compression and EQing in the DAW can give a false impression of what to expect from owning it yourself.

Furthermore, the variety of string types and sizes, as well as neck options, string spacing, action, weight, neck-dive etc can't be accurately told by online reviews.

 

[BigCactus]

Feel is more important than anything else. Coming from an Ibanez neck, I would want to try any bass before buying, especially a P.

bingo bango bongo

 

[Matty Koff]

Personally in a decade of playing bass, I've found some gems for less than grand. I love my Ibanez TMB505..

I'ma recommend you a TMB500 if you're after a 4 string.. In passive mode it has a tone control circuit, in active mode it has a 2 band EQ. The 4 string is only available in green though. (I think she's pretty)


You can hear all the highs you want.. and you get some yummy made by Ibanez Nordstrand Branded pickups in a P/J config that just sound all kind of yummy.

For $499 though? Roasted maple neck.. EQ bypass switch..Nordies..

She puts more expensive instruments to shame.

I feel like I would be hard pressed to find a better bang for my buck than my TMB505. Not that I don't like my Sire or my Fender American Special P.. the Talman is just my favorite out of the three.. also my most recent acquisition.

You keep telling yourself "This will be my last one though." I wish you luck on that.

 

[Michael Raftice]

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.

 

[Michael Raftice]

For 2k you can get a nice bass. I would check out a Fender Jazz or Precision or a MusicMan bass. I avoided Fenders for a long time because everyone has one. I ended up buying one because a friend offered a Mexican Fender Precision bass for $150 and it has become my favorite instrument. I have a Music Man Stingray and it is awesome especially for slapping. An American Fender will hold its value for resale better but a Mexican Fender is pretty much the same bass for a lot less. I asked a friend who's a luthier "what is the difference between a Mexican and American Fender?: He said, "the Mexican Fenders are made better". I don't knew if this is true but can say that I love my Mexican "Blacktop" Precision. You just can't go wrong with a Fender. There is a reason why so many pros pay them.

Lastly, If you have the opportunity to go to a large city that has a shop that only sells basses, that would be best. I recall there was one in Orlando and many major cities will have one. You can play several basses and find the one that fits you.