After seeing some images I do quite like the look of the Samick LB11, especially with a flat black pickguard, but I'm in the minority of preferring matching body/headstocks. In all honesty I've never really been a fan of the Precision bass look, maybe because I grew to hate my old knackered bass that copied it. After donating the old bass I was warming up to the possibility of a Precision or Jass bass, but I realised I still want an Ibanez more.
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Practice bass....
- Thread starter TheBlueFalcon
- Start date
Ibbys are great basses, I've wanted the lowly SR 300 for years but they never show up locally under $300 used, I can only imagine what their high grade basses must be like. problem for me is I get squishy on the tone issues cos I'm a P / mudbucker guy and fear high end gear gets away from the old school sounds. you've got a wide range of choices mentioned just in sound alone, it may be hard to find a bass that cops all those in one. looks wise I prefer a Jazz over the P but my all black Silvertone with the matching headstock has won me over visually on top of it's other attributes which helped the looks aspects a lot. I unashamedly buy for looks and some of those Ibbys are nasty nice, I can't blame you.
Ain't gonna lie, I'm a StingRay guy through and through.
HOWEVER...
Ibanex makes an amazing bass. I've played a few of them periodically over the years and am always impressed with their work--the fit and finish are top notch, even on the lower end Soundgear basses; tone is impressive, especially when running an active circuit; and the looks are pretty impressive, especially if a P or J Bass styles aren't your thing.
I haven't liked them enough to pay the price of admission, but if a StingRay isn't a viable contender in the hunt for a new bass, Ibanez would be my first recommendation, even before Fender or Squier.
Get that Ibanez already, you know you want it!
I do like the design of Stingray basses except for the 3:1 machine heads, I think I have some kind of OCD which makes me prefer symmetry!! Also, I could only afford a Ray34, which I'm sure is a really nice bass for the money, but I'd really be wanting a Stingray Classic, which is way out of my price range.
I guess they are way cheaper in the USA, as well as much better prices in the used market.
Since you are in the UK, check out Sandberg Classic TM (German) or Chowny (UK)
MM style pickup, 2+2 headstock, and they are hard to find in the US.
They are a little different than Ibanez, but worth a look.
MM style pickup, 2+2 headstock, and they are hard to find in the US.
They are a little different than Ibanez, but worth a look.
I would suggest to go with an industry standard instrument. A Fender Jazz or Precision bass. Buy an American made one and it will last you and your kids a lifetime. If you have friends that are seasoned bassist's or guitarist's go in search of a pre-owned one and take them along to check it out to make sure there isn't any substantial damage. The Precision in my profile pic is a 71' precision I picked up in a pawn shop in Pocatello Idaho many years ago. $150. And of course that was a steal. But the deals are there to be had. Also consider that you are buying an electric bass and you will need an amplifier and whatever bass you buy will only sound as good as the amp you're playing through. A quality 12" or 15" combo amp will get you through many rehearsals and most smaller gigs. My combo is a Roland DB 500. I rehearse and play small gigs with that amp. A Fender Rumble is a great starter amp. Also SWR makes a great combo amp that wont break the bank. Good luck with your adventure.
Find a bass that feels good and play the crap out of it. Cosmetics and price tag are YOUR business...not ours. Enjoy.
Each time someone recommends "an Amertican made Fender", it is also someone who misunderstood the question. That correlation is interesting.
Don't overthink this mate. There just isn't the same sort of junk about there was when I was a kid - (except that some of it is still about but with vintage labels on!) Even the cheapest Squiers, Ibanez and the like are way better instruments than I started with. I'd get a secondhand instrument from a company that has a name to lose, and bring a mate with me to look at it who can check its got a straight neck and a decent action.
"After a few issues with getting a "new" bass, it's also given me time to think and I've slowly moved my focus from an entry level model to something a bit more substantial. I haven't yet pulled the trigger, but I'm extremely tempted."
Seems to me the original question included "moving my focus from an entry level bass to something a bit more substantial..." If you think buying a Korean or Chinese bass is more substantial then recommend it to the guy and don't mock my opinion.
I think practice and perform with the same instrument. Get to know it and be comfortable with it. Save up for something you'll be happy with for a few years.
Hi!
If I were you I'd get something like Squier, Sire or one of the cheaper Ibanez guitars for now to get you going. They're excellent guitars and will serve you really well. The only thing to decide now is if you want to go the four or five string route.
Later on you'll have a better idea of the guitar that suits you. That'll save a lot of expensive mistakes potentially.
I came into some money when I was starting and spent well over $4000 on a build to order Overwater Custom J. It's beautiful and is my main bass, but I'd def have specified narrower string spacings if I were buying it now.
Get your bass set up professionally so it's the best it can be to play. It'll be fine or what you need.
Get one killer bass and play the heck out of it. Worst case scenario: instead of paying $200ish now for a practice bass, you will spend the same amount of money giving this bass a 50,000 mile checkup in a few years.
No need for a practice bass unless the practice space is in another building, across town, in a dangerous neighborhood, where one would not want to transport a bass.
No need for a practice bass unless the practice space is in another building, across town, in a dangerous neighborhood, where one would not want to transport a bass.
Get the best bass you can afford and use it for practice and gigging. A Sire bass punches way above its price tag.
Try $300.00. Actually play one I paid $260 for one that is pretty cool. Finish is not as nice as a $2000 bass, but it is not 10x worse than the $2k bass.
Yeah, we just want to see pictures and hear about how much you love it.
Sorry dude, you still missed the point the OP was making.
He (and most of us here) dont care where it was made. He is GASsing for the Ibanez SR. It's been covered he doesnt want a Pbass.
Hard to imagine that there are people out there who want something other than a Pbass... (Sarcasm)
Yes, 30 years ago a $100-$200 bass was close to worthless.
Now you can spend $300 and actually get something decent. I have a bass player friend who plays full time. He plays a fodera. Went to his show a few weeks ago, he was playing a Sterling ray 4.
I think I mentioned that I'm not really a fan of Precision basses. I've seen enough comments from people saying they've spent a lot of money on Fender basses and haven't been happy with them. Weight is also something I've seen a lot of discussion about, that is one of the reasons I was put off the Squier Contemporary Active Jazz.
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