P Bass, Ray, G&L or other?

[Barry O Connor]

Hi guys I'm about to buy a new bass and am just wondering is there any type I have missed when narrowing down my options? I have a Squier Jaguar medium scale PJ at the moment and am looking to add a full scale bass.
My budget is anywhere from 0 to around €800. I play mostly heavy rock/grungey type music in a three piece band and would almost always have a bit of distortion at minimum (Usually darkglass A/O) with the bass driving the song. I play with a pick and fingers. I have been looking at a Sire P5 for a long time but also am considering a Sterling SUB and Ray24 or used Ray34 if I can find one, a G&L L2000 tribute and SB2. Are there other options in that budget I should be looking at or are there any of the above that I should cross off the list? I don't have access to a music shop that stocks any of this stuff locally so trying first isn't really an option and I'm not that keen on a modern metal type bass that a lot of darkglass users favour.

 

[Bright Midnight]

I would say the Tribute L2K. Lot's of tonal options and plays and sounds very damn good.

 

[Lammchop93]

always G&L. They are fantastic. I would try and find used though, they don't hold resale value as well as the other brands you stated.

 

[spencejm]

+1 on G&L but I don’t own a MM bass. I’ve got a Tribute JB2 and American made L2K and SB1. The L2K would be more versatile for you and I love mine. But that passive MFD P pickup on the SB1 (and SB2) is incredible. Even though it’s passive, you won’t have any problem driving the front end of any amp. Turned down to about 1/2, it’s a really sweet pickup. Turned up all the way it will bite your face off!

Joe

 

[Ricky Rioli]

I've been thinking about what you've been happy with - a medium scale PJ - and what role you play in your band, and it seems to me that the SB-2 would be something you should seek out to try out.

Strung with Swing Bass or Chromes. Mmmm

 

[steveinohio]

Out of the choices listed I would say the G&L are by far and away your best choice.

 

[Barry O Connor]

Thanks guys for your replies that's very helpful. Seems as though G&L is the clear winner amongst recommendations! Just have to decide on the L2000 or SB-2 or are there any other models in my price range I should consider? I've seen the Kiloton mentioned somewhere but it doesn't seem to be readily available in my area.

 

[Malak the Mad]

Forgive me for going against the crowd, but when you said "heavy rock/grungey", my mind ran towards some kind of MusicMan bass. I may be a Jazz and P/J kind of guy, but there's something very cool and distinctively "up front" about that humbucker sound.

Full disclosure...I have yet to own something with a MusicMan configuration, but it is on my to-do list for a couple of parts-bass builds I have in mind.

 

[Bright Midnight]

Thanks guys for your replies that's very helpful. Seems as though G&L is the clear winner amongst recommendations! Just have to decide on the L2000 or SB-2 or are there any other models in my price range I should consider? I've seen the Kiloton mentioned somewhere but it doesn't seem to be readily available in my area.

L2K will give you a whole lot of tonal options, and if you get the K-Mod, you'll have single coil as well. I have the K-Mod on my L2K - it's a versatile beast!

 

[E2942]

G&L, always

Lot's of tonal options and plays and sounds very damn good.

He is, but his wife wasn't.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

StingRay is always the correct answer.

 

[steveinohio]

I love Rays. They are my go to. I currently have five in the stable. The reason that I picked the G&L is that they are closer in quality and sound to their US counterparts. The L2K would probably be my choice. It’s the first G&L I bought. It’s an extremely versatile instrument. Take time to get to know the nuances of the controls.

 

[BioDriver]

Another vote for G&L. IME they can be pretty heavy, though, so finding one that doesn't break your back is gonna be a hunt.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

Fretnation.com lists weights for all their basses. They have one each of the Tribute SB-2s in stock, and both are a tiny bit under 9 lbs

 

[jd56hawk]

Dare to be different!
Reverend Thundergun, one of the best-kept secrets in the bass world.
Check out what Andy Irvine has to say about them...I think he has five or six Thundergun videos on YouTube.

 

[Laurent]

For your style of music a P would be great. They are easy to mod (put some DiMarzio Model P) and easy to resell if you change your mind.

 

[Barry O Connor]

Dare to be different!
Reverend Thundergun, one of the best-kept secrets in the bass world.
Check out what Andy Irvine has to say about them...I think he has five or six Thundergun videos on YouTube.

That looks very cool but it's just a bit more than I want to spend and doesn't seem to be readily available in my part of the world anyway. Will definitely keep an eye out in future tho.

 

[dave64o]

Of the basses you asked about, I'd say the Tribute G&L would be a great choice. I love my L-2500 and my experience says that it would fit your style very well.

That being said, I'm a massive Musicman fan, especially Stingrays, and have two different SR5HH basses that share the #1 spot in my collection. They are by far my favorites and I'm also certain that a Sterling by Musicman bass would fit your style very well. But, despite my preferences, I think the G&L is the pick for your situation. If you want a P-Bass tone with more versatility, go for the SB-2. If you want an even more versatile bass that's equal parts chain saw and sledgehammer, then go for the L-2000.

 

[Barry O Connor]

I'm almost sold on the l2000 tribute with the only apprehension being the nut width compared with my current squier jaguar but I think it should be fine. Has anyone any experience with a Kiloton tribute and how they would compare to the L2000? I've just found one that ships to my area but the L2000 is still the front runner.

 

[jd56hawk]

That looks very cool but it's just a bit more than I want to spend and doesn't seem to be readily available in my part of the world anyway. Will definitely keep an eye out in future tho.

I was lucky I came across one at a local shop, but even here in the USA, it's not something you see hanging up at Guitar Center or Sam Ash.