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New Bass Recommendations!

A

Adam Brewell

Guest
Aug 31, 2014
11
5
#1
Hello!

I currently own a Fender Precision bass (absolutely amazing), and I'm now looking for a second bass to work alongside the Precision in my hard rock band.

I've looked at loads of basses, but can't see to clamp down to one idea. Some ideas of a second were:

• Jazz (seen a nice marcus miller going fairly cheap)
• Jaguar
• Rick 4003/1
• Maybe just another precision?

Fact of the matter is, I'd like the guidance of some fellow bass players to help me make a decision for a secondary!

I prefer thin necks, and simple controls, other than that I'm pretty open to suggestions, so fire away! (Budget £1500 max, will most likely buy second hand)

Thanks!

Adam
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#3
Who are we to say what works best for you: go out there and try everything that fits in your budget. Could very well be you come home with a Gibson EB-3, or a Musicman Stingray, or something completely else. The basses you list are all very different, and some of them are "hate it or love it" (Rickenbacker has a unique "non-tapered" neck profile and peculiar ergonomics)
 
#5
Should have added really, I've owned quite a few basses, none of which I've gone "Yes, this is me" (obviously that can and may possibly will take years to know what is me, but it's nice to narrow it down a bit);

• Gibson Thunderbird
• MM Stingray
• Traveler TB-4P (similar in dimensions as P)
• Retrovibe Vantage 4
• Ibanez JTKB09
• Squier Jaguar

I know people can't really tell me what's right for me, but I can get a general consensus on what would be a good quality instrument, and then test all of those out to see which would best suit me
 
#6
If you are patient, you can score a great deal on a MIA Jag. I would go that route. P is similar to what you already have but with added benefit of the J pup plus active electronics and switching.

Keep an eye out an places like Guitar Center and Musician's Friend. I have seen them on sale sub $900. Great price for an MIA Fender.
 
#10
I've owned a crapload of basses, and currently own a few over 30.

My suggestion is a Rickenbacker, or a Stingray.

Stingray will give you a sound no other bass will, Rickenbacker will give you the classic Ric sound, plus some thunder I never expected from a Ric. I always thought they were clanky, thin sounding, Chris Squire imitating one trick ponies. I was sooooooooooo - ooooooo very wrong. They're simple on the controls too. Though this vid might be getting a little played out here, it was one of the first times I used mine when I bought it. It gives a pretty clear idea of what the bass can do...

 
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#12
My favorite basses in my price range are Ibanez ATK 305 and ATK 805. I have 5 total between the two of them each one tuned differently. So, that's my suggestion to you. Get another one of your favorites and down tune it.
 
#14
Mdrummey said:
If you're into P basses and just want some extra options I'd look for one that has a P/J configuration.

It's a simple addition and gives you some really useful tones.
Click to expand...

Yep. It converted me to actually liking fenders, The jazz part of it and the long skinny neck is like dating a hot stripper thats tempermental and the P part of it is like dating a kind of chunky girl next door type with low self esteem that cooks good and is ok with you running off with the stripper occasionally.
 
#18
My own rule of GAS is that I don't buy anything new unless it does something that I need that my present gear does not.

Since you already have a P, I would look at some basses that sound different to your P, and then look at the technical difference between them. Pickup configurations are a good indication. For instance, a Jazz, with its two single-coil pickups will get you many tones that your P will not. Same with the Stingray. Another thing to look at might be whether the bass is active or passive. Go for the features that will get you closer to the tone you want.
 

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