Shopping for a new bass...

[Mike Louttit]

Evening talkbassers,

I'm looking to upgrade to a better bass for about $2000 Australian.

My current have a Yamaha RBX375 which is giving me a lot of setup issues, and 4 is seeming like the way to go because after playing a few after just playing 5s, they're a lot more comfortable.

The one big idea I've had is an American Standard J, because they seem hard to go wrong with for anything, but I'm looking to find some other options too.

I play everything from jazz to metal, so sound-wise versatility is key, but I realise nothing's going to do everything perfectly.

I'm currently leaning towards passive basses, because my current one is active, and the battery thing is kind of getting annoying, even if it is a change only every few months.

Basically, I want something versatile that plays well and looks decent.

PS, does anyone in Brisbane know of a good place to shop for basses? All the basses in the big stores are badly set up...

 

[Mike Louttit]

Bump. Does anyone know much about the Lakland Skyline 44-60, especially compared to the American Js?

 

[Cofrancesco]

A high end precision bass might do well for you. With the tone knob more on the treble side i find them great for rock, but if you put the tone knob on more of the bass side, it switches to a vintage smooth sound. Mine sounds exactly like the intro bass in this song

 

[Mike Louttit]

Hmmm, a P...

While I've thought about it, I think I'd use a P mainly for rock stuff, plus I prefer thinner necks... I probably should've mentioned that I'm (hopefully) going into a jazz degree next year, so a good jazz tone is pretty important, which I can't really see a P doing that well.

That's not to say I won't one day get a P, it's just that it's not what I'm looking for now.

 

[Marginal Tom]

Does anyone know much about the Lakland Skyline 44-60, especially compared to the American Js?

My next bass will probably be a 44-60 (or, if I buy a used one, a Joe Osborne, which is the same design). I do own a Skyline Hollowbody, and am well-satisfied with it. Simply put, IMHO Lakland has better quality control and setup than Fender.

 

[Marton]

08 or before P bass deluxe ?

 

[Mike Louttit]

Yeah, I've heard that the Skylines are PLEK'd in the factory, so I figured they'd play pretty phenomenally. Only problem is finding one, they seem pretty rare around here, whereas the fenders are plentiful...

Again, a P doesn't really seem like the right bass for me, since I'm going to be playing mainly jazz for the next few years. I'm thinking something based on a J would be better.

Edit: Tom, I see that you have a G&L JB2. Would you recommend, or are the Laklands better?