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Prs bass?

#33
ajkula66 said:
Only if you *must* buy brand new...their 80s models which I personally find extremely interesting and versatile go for a lot less...

Paul Reed Smith 5 String Bass | ZOO MUSIC FT. WORTH

No affiliation with the seller in any shape or form.
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Funny you should post this. I live on the west side of Fort Worth. In the music community here, there's a running joke that the owner of Zoo Music is just hoarding equipment and doesn't want to sell anything for a reasonable price. There's more to the story with that guy, but maybe I'll leave that for another thread one day.
 
#34
I have an SE Kestrel (made in Korea) and it is a very good take on a Jazz Bass. I got it for a good price used (although I think it was new, old stock). I'd put it up against any MIM/MII/MIK instrument. The neck-through construction is a plus compared to others in the same price range. The pickups are pretty hot too.

It is my 3rd of 3 basses though, as I also have a vintage Carvin fretless that I've had for 30 years, and a vintage Pedulla Buzz. The PRS gets about 25% of my play time given the other 2.
 
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#36
I played one of the "three pickup" (actually a dummy pickup, I think) models back around 25 years ago. I remember it sounding pretty unremarkable with none of the midrange presence I like in a bass. I also remember the neck feeling like the modern (by '80s standards) Ibanez Wizard kind of thing: not much meat to it.

Our conclusion at the time was this is a bass designed by a guitar player who thinks he knows what a bass is, but doesn't have any first hand experience LOL. Like an oversized shred guitar with lots of boomy lows.
 
#37
Based on the responses I see here evidently few, if any have ever played one. I can only speak for the Gary Grainger models. They are incredible basses, both tone-wise and playability-wise. The fives have one of the most comfortable necks ever. The electronics are a little tough to get used to, but once you do you can get some incredible tones out of them. I have 4 basses that are lifelong keepers, and the GG5 is among them along with my Ken Smith BSR 5, my Yamaha Nathan East sig and a Martin Keith Elfin I just picked up. It holds its own against all of them. People here on Talk Bass WAY undervalue them. For that reason, if you buy one you should do so with the intent on keeping it. They are not a good choice to buy and sell. You'll almost certainly lose money.
 
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#38
I almost exclusively play PRS guitars. I really wanted to like their basses, but I don't.

All my experience is with their SE basses. I don't like the necks, particularly the finish that's on them.

I'd like to try a Grainger someday, but no one stocks it and at that price I'm not about to buy one without playing it first.
 
#40
_Some Dude said:
I almost exclusively play PRS guitars. I really wanted to like their basses, but I don't.

All my experience is with their SE basses. I don't like the necks, particularly the finish that's on them.

I'd like to try a Grainger someday, but no one stocks it and at that price I'm not about to buy one without playing it first.
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They're hard to find. I took mine to a PRS event where Paul was signing guitars and even he said, "Whoa, a bass. You don't see a lot of those." I just tried one on a whim at a local store and it received a rare award that only two other pieces of gear have received over the years - my wife saying - "That sounds great. You should buy it."
 
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