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Poll for fun

1 upper end bass or 2 basses that are half as expensive

  • 1 upper end bass (like a Sadowsky Metro)

    Votes: 75 35.4%

  • 2 that are almost as good (Am. Fender, Musicman, G&L)

    Votes: 137 64.6%
  • Total voters
    212
#22
Man, it comes down to this... "go hard or go home". I.e. get the best bass you can get! You can only play one at once, so you might as well get the meanest most versitile thing you can get your hands and learn its little idiosyncrises (I can't spell, I'm an engineer).
If you don't then one day you'll think, "man I really want a better bass, but the mortgage payment is due, the wife is pregnant... I can't spend money on a new bass!"
You won't regret a good bass purchase!
 
#23
Mark Latimour said:
I'd save at least half of it and put the other half to a nice used bass on the TB classifieds. Buying used basses that other people need to sell and saving at least half of anything you can afford to a good habits to get into for the rest of your life. You might as well start practicing them now! :)
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I think this is great advice. although you could get a new bass such as a '08 Fender with half your money and save the rest...
 
#27
Mmmmmm I was told about the hard core Sadowsky love of this site, anyhow... How about a Fender Custom Shop? I have played a few Metros and I would take the Custom Shop any given day over the Metro.
 
#28
OshKoshJoash said:
Here's just a thought I've been wondering about. My parents are granting me about $2000 for a college graduation present, which will obviously be bass related, but I've been thinking about this...

Would you rather buy 1 upper end bass like a Sadowsky Metro, or 2 other basses, say a Fender American Standard Jazz and a P bass or a used stingray?

100% of my playing is for church worship services, although our takes are a bit more rockish than the recordings sometimes. Thus, I don't need that much versatility.

I'm just curious what you guys would do based on your own circumstance.
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For a college graduation present, get something that will last you a long time, that you can always look back on and say, "This is what my parents gave me for graduating from college." This is a big milestone - get something that will last you a lifetime, and that you will always remember as something to mark this event. That might end up being a Fender American Standard, or it might be a Sadowsky. Find a bass that you really love, and will never sell. Then, in 25 years, give it to your son/daughter as a college graduation present :)
 
#29
OshKoshJoash said:
100% of my playing is for church worship services, although our takes are a bit more rockish than the recordings sometimes. Thus, I don't need that much versatility.
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If you can't get a tone that works with a regular Jazz bass then you're playing a form of music I've never heard ;)

I voted for two basses, it's nice to have options, but all you'll ever need is in a Jazz bass, the rest is just dressing :hiding:
 
#30
Another vote for the single best you can afford. Down the road there'll be plenty of occasions to pick up a used Am Fender for 7oo bucks, but it may be a while before you have 2G burning a hole in yer pocket. Also-play numerous basses before deciding on a Sad. It may be for you....but so may an Elrick, Pedulla, etc, and you'll only know if you play 'em.
 
#33
I would get two. I would have one set up with flats for fat, funky, old-school vibe stuff. The other one you could set up with some snappy round wounds for your rock vibe.

Of course, you could do that with one bass, but changing strings is a pain in the butt. I haven't changed the TI Jazz Flats on my P-Bass in over 3 years.

Peace,
Joe
 
#34
I vote for "get the best bass your money can get"

I second the "Look up the "TB Classifieds" ". You will find great basses at a fraction of the "new" price

As far as Fender Custom Shop thoughts, I'd definitely pass, if it were for me. The ones I've tried from FCS (basses and guitars) did not impress me enough to pay the price (unless you can find one dirt cheap with a tone to kill)
 
#36
OshKoshJoash said:
100% of my playing is for church worship services, although our takes are a bit more rockish than the recordings sometimes. Thus, I don't need that much versatility.
Sounds like you want a G&L L2500 or a MM Stingray. I have several basses, but more often than not when I play P&W at church, the L2500 sounds the best. A jazz will work for anything, but it doesn't have the agressive character of a HB equpped bass. I find the combination of the two usually gets me what I want, and the othe rbasses are there incase I an having a particular mood.

A Sadowsky is like a Jazz bass on steroids and as such will still suffer the sound limitations a Jazz bass posses. Honestly, once you reach the G&L/MM/Fender MIA plateau, quality really doesn't get that much better, and if it does, you're not getting as much for the money. Definately try a Sadowsky, some people like the boost only two band eq and some people hate it. Also, if you want on e bass, don't limit yourself to Sadowsky. They are great, but there are a number of brands in that price rance that are amazing as well.
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#38
Personally I don't think it matters how "good" the bass is (within reason - I'm not talking Squiers here) as much as what do you like to play, what do you need, and what sound do you like. I'm mainly a bassist - have about six different ones - and use an American Jazz as my workhorse, but I also mess around on guitar for my home studio stuff. I'm not a good enough guitarist to spend big bucks on that so I bought a MIM Stratocaster. It plays surprisingly well (the excellent guitarist in my rock band really likes the neck, actually), and I put GFS pickups in it for about $40 which really upgraded the sound. So if you're good and need a top of the line bass it doesn't make sense to look cheaper but if you only need a decent playing instrument why spend big bucks you could use elsewhere?

I suppose I should mention that I've never yet even held a Sadowsky, so maybe I'll hate my Fenders once that happens...
 
#39
Hey, thanks everyone for your input. I love hearing about all your perspectives. For those who mentioned my amp, I'm actually 100% happy with it. I've had my LMII with my two aguilar cabs for quite a while, and rarely do I ever wish I had anything better. Love the tone, and its got more than enough power for what I play. I don't even have pedal gas anymore!

I especially like what some of you said about getting the best money that I can afford, including the comment about it being something I can hold onto for sentimental value. It's also a great point that I can pick up a Am fender a lot easier later on than a 2k sadowsky.

I'm actually in love with the jazz bass on steroids sound. ballsy, growly jazz is the tone in my head, but I figured it would also be nice having a P bass for variety. Honestly though, knowing myself, I know that if I like one more than the other, one of them is going to be sitting there collecting dust.

we'll see, haha
 

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