Hi folks!
Last year I finally did it, having waited a long time (for no real reason honestly, since I've always wanted to do it as soon as I really got into my musical tastes and started actually understanding something about music in general) I picked up my first bass! It's an Eko VPJ-280v alongside a Rumble 15. For both I payed around €300 at a local store.
It got 'em in the middle of the summer, having saved a little money after my 18th birthday. I first started doing just song covers (Muse, Radiohead especially or whatever I felt doing) and things on my own, but 3 months ago I told myself "Right, time to step up my game. I love this, and I want to get real good at it." so I also started taking lessons.
I had I very, VERY hard time it picking up: I had to chose between a Squier Precision and the 280v. I absolutely adore the way Fenders and subsequently Squiers look, especially for that characteristic headstock. After a long research I chose the Eko because it was said to be a much better instrument than the Squier P, particularly under the construction quality department. Adding to this, they both looked pretty much the same apart from the fact that the Eko is a pj and the headstock design. To clarify tho, the Squier I was offered was a new production one, not something from the 80s or 90s. If that was the case, I would have picked the P up hands down, since Squiers from that era were much, much better.
In the meantime, I got to really know the bass I was dealing with. First of all, I really gotta say the 280v is a great value for the money. Great materials, great tone, holds tune pretty well although I have an hard time playing beyond the 14-15th fret. Don't really know if that's just me that needs a bit more practice in the farthest zone of the fretboard or it actually is the bass that has not-so-great ergonomics. I can't tell if that's the latter since I've only played my own bass, an Ibanez (can't remember what the model is) and a Fender Jazz '78 but at the time I played those instruments I really didn't have any idea of what I was doing, so I don't know.
I've also come to know the weakest sector of the Eko. And that would definitely be the potentiometer area. It has 3 pots, 2 that regulate the volume either from the neck or bridge pickup and one for the tone. Problem is, they're linear tapers, and I don't like them at all. I find them not-so-straighforward to operate for what they're doing. So I think I'll be changing them in the near future for audio pots.
Although I said it has a "great tone", it's not actually what I was after. I really, REALLY LOVE how Fender Precisions sound. That mellow and warm sound is what I'm looking for.
To give you a clearer idea of my conception of "great tone", I'll just leave this video here. It's a comparision between different Fender Ps. Among these, I really like how the 98' Mexican sounds, especially with the tone off. On the other hand, I don't like the '77 USA. That punchy sound is really not for me.
I could also tell you a listen to John Mayer a lot, and I love how Pino (beast) and his Fender sound.
Now, I'm just starting out and I'm not planning on buying any other bass in the near future (at least), for two main reasons: 1) money 2) I like my Eko. What I was really thinking of was kinda of turning my cheap bass into a "frankebass" and maybe getting a bit closer to the tone I want, and also the looks. And here is why I'm asking you guys if what I wanna do would be worth it at all instead of buying a new, more "premium bass", since that would kinda mean changing my bass as a whole.
I'll explain in more detail.
Because that mellow sound is what I'm after, I've never used my jazz pickup.
I've changed my strings 2 weeks ago and messed everything up: I picked up a set of Warwicks Black (stainless roundwounds) and, while they're good strings, I don't like how they sound. I hoped they would "calm down" after a couple of weeks, but that punchy sound didn't fade away completely. I was thinking about taking a set of nickels, maybe D'Addarios... I think those will suit my tastes more. Do you have any other suggestions regarding the strings compartment?
Another thing I was thinking about was changing my P pickup, again, to come a little closer to that Fender-like tone. I was suggested checking out the Fralin 5% overwound p pickup or even the Fender P bass vintage pickups. Again, any other suggestions?
A thing should point out, I know hot to solder and the basics of the electronics of the bass (how everything is wired up) so changing them for me wouldn't be much of a difficulty, I guess. And if I'll encounter any difficulties I would benefit from them a lot, because that's the way I learn how to do things myself, and I love doing things myself.
Now, for the looks. As I said earlier, Fenders are my thing. The body of my Eko is an almost exact replica of the Precision if that wasn't for the fact it has a bridge pickup too but that does not bother me at all (and it also gives me more flexibility if one day I'll decide to use it a bit more lol). I don't mind the headstock either - in general I'm pretty happy about the looks of my bass. But that Fender neck looks that much better to me. Sooo... what if I swap my neck for a Fender-styled one? There are many good options out there (Warmoth/Allparts/StewMac, only problem with them is that I'd have to pay a lot for shipping to Italy ugh). Do you think it would be worth it? I would still save a lot of money and potentially have the looks and tone I'm after. But yet again, I simply don't know. I don't have much experience with customizing basses and if at that point it would be just better buying a new bass even if that's not my interest.
I'll wait to hear from you guys!
EDIT: sorry if this is the wrong section!
Last year I finally did it, having waited a long time (for no real reason honestly, since I've always wanted to do it as soon as I really got into my musical tastes and started actually understanding something about music in general) I picked up my first bass! It's an Eko VPJ-280v alongside a Rumble 15. For both I payed around €300 at a local store.
It got 'em in the middle of the summer, having saved a little money after my 18th birthday. I first started doing just song covers (Muse, Radiohead especially or whatever I felt doing) and things on my own, but 3 months ago I told myself "Right, time to step up my game. I love this, and I want to get real good at it." so I also started taking lessons.
I had I very, VERY hard time it picking up: I had to chose between a Squier Precision and the 280v. I absolutely adore the way Fenders and subsequently Squiers look, especially for that characteristic headstock. After a long research I chose the Eko because it was said to be a much better instrument than the Squier P, particularly under the construction quality department. Adding to this, they both looked pretty much the same apart from the fact that the Eko is a pj and the headstock design. To clarify tho, the Squier I was offered was a new production one, not something from the 80s or 90s. If that was the case, I would have picked the P up hands down, since Squiers from that era were much, much better.
In the meantime, I got to really know the bass I was dealing with. First of all, I really gotta say the 280v is a great value for the money. Great materials, great tone, holds tune pretty well although I have an hard time playing beyond the 14-15th fret. Don't really know if that's just me that needs a bit more practice in the farthest zone of the fretboard or it actually is the bass that has not-so-great ergonomics. I can't tell if that's the latter since I've only played my own bass, an Ibanez (can't remember what the model is) and a Fender Jazz '78 but at the time I played those instruments I really didn't have any idea of what I was doing, so I don't know.
I've also come to know the weakest sector of the Eko. And that would definitely be the potentiometer area. It has 3 pots, 2 that regulate the volume either from the neck or bridge pickup and one for the tone. Problem is, they're linear tapers, and I don't like them at all. I find them not-so-straighforward to operate for what they're doing. So I think I'll be changing them in the near future for audio pots.
Although I said it has a "great tone", it's not actually what I was after. I really, REALLY LOVE how Fender Precisions sound. That mellow and warm sound is what I'm looking for.
To give you a clearer idea of my conception of "great tone", I'll just leave this video here. It's a comparision between different Fender Ps. Among these, I really like how the 98' Mexican sounds, especially with the tone off. On the other hand, I don't like the '77 USA. That punchy sound is really not for me.
I could also tell you a listen to John Mayer a lot, and I love how Pino (beast) and his Fender sound.
Now, I'm just starting out and I'm not planning on buying any other bass in the near future (at least), for two main reasons: 1) money 2) I like my Eko. What I was really thinking of was kinda of turning my cheap bass into a "frankebass" and maybe getting a bit closer to the tone I want, and also the looks. And here is why I'm asking you guys if what I wanna do would be worth it at all instead of buying a new, more "premium bass", since that would kinda mean changing my bass as a whole.
I'll explain in more detail.
Because that mellow sound is what I'm after, I've never used my jazz pickup.
I've changed my strings 2 weeks ago and messed everything up: I picked up a set of Warwicks Black (stainless roundwounds) and, while they're good strings, I don't like how they sound. I hoped they would "calm down" after a couple of weeks, but that punchy sound didn't fade away completely. I was thinking about taking a set of nickels, maybe D'Addarios... I think those will suit my tastes more. Do you have any other suggestions regarding the strings compartment?
Another thing I was thinking about was changing my P pickup, again, to come a little closer to that Fender-like tone. I was suggested checking out the Fralin 5% overwound p pickup or even the Fender P bass vintage pickups. Again, any other suggestions?
A thing should point out, I know hot to solder and the basics of the electronics of the bass (how everything is wired up) so changing them for me wouldn't be much of a difficulty, I guess. And if I'll encounter any difficulties I would benefit from them a lot, because that's the way I learn how to do things myself, and I love doing things myself.
Now, for the looks. As I said earlier, Fenders are my thing. The body of my Eko is an almost exact replica of the Precision if that wasn't for the fact it has a bridge pickup too but that does not bother me at all (and it also gives me more flexibility if one day I'll decide to use it a bit more lol). I don't mind the headstock either - in general I'm pretty happy about the looks of my bass. But that Fender neck looks that much better to me. Sooo... what if I swap my neck for a Fender-styled one? There are many good options out there (Warmoth/Allparts/StewMac, only problem with them is that I'd have to pay a lot for shipping to Italy ugh). Do you think it would be worth it? I would still save a lot of money and potentially have the looks and tone I'm after. But yet again, I simply don't know. I don't have much experience with customizing basses and if at that point it would be just better buying a new bass even if that's not my interest.
I'll wait to hear from you guys!
EDIT: sorry if this is the wrong section!
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