Stu Hamm Urge Bass

Played one 4 years ago they are ok if you like the modded Fender vibe. I think that they made a US and a mex version. Sorry thats all I (think I) know.

Anyway you got a bump

 

Are you referring to the discontinued original short-scale Urge or the 34"-scale Urge II? The original didn't do so well in the market; an excellent to mint used one shouldn't fetch more than about $800.

The Urge II runs for about $1250 new. It's very light and small and doesn't have that hefty Fender feel to it. Also, you can't bypass the active preamp. For those reasons, I think a lot of Fender people won't like it. I do, but I think it's way overpriced; IMO, it's an American P-Bass Lyte with a souped up electronics package.

 

I originally wanted this because it had both worlds of pickups but when I actually went to play one, it deffiantly didn't feel like 1250s worth....I'm not much for versatile basses anyways...I only need MY sound and my sound alone.

 

I have a Stu Hamm Urge-II and I really like it. I had tried one of the earlier 32" Urge basses and frankly didn't like it. It wasn't the versatile bass that it promised to be. The MIM version was simply a slightly modified P-Bass Lyte.

However, the Urge II is not of the same ilk. It is a very solid bass. Quality is very good. And sound versatility is excellant. It's as nice as any of the RI's, AmDlx, and some production CS models that I've seen.

I bought a 2001 model, 3-color sunburst. I paid around $1210 for it. I've only had it for about 2.5 months now. But, from what I've experienced with it so far, it's a keeper. But, I don't make that type of decision final, one way or the other, until after a year or so of ownership.

Don't sell this bass short. You should give it a chance if you're looking for a bass that really is versatile. It can get J-Bass sounds. It can get P-Bass sounds. And it can get sounds that neither of them can get.

 

and the neck is like a on a precision right?

 

No. The neck is a little over half-way between a J (1.5") and a current P (1.625"). It's really a nice feel at 1.59", at least I like it and I by far prefer P necks to J necks.

 

Hi:
I have an original 32" scale Stu hamm Urge bassI (MIA) w/ 3 p'ups. It been by main bass since 1993, however recently retired. The newer urgeII are slightly different, and in someways slightly better (upgraded p'ups, electronics, also a 34" scale). Bass player magazine liked the UrgeII and has a review posted online.

I found the old UrgeI to play superfast (cuz its real small) and sounds decent. However it was limited, IME I couldn't dial in a deep sounding bass or get a growly tone. The bass has a modern tone and can do a P-bass vibe okay and a so-so J-bass tone. The basses are fairly lightweight, and more mid-treble sounding and even thou you can boost the bass its not anything close to a good P bass for thump. One of the better ways to describe the tone is you hear the electronics more than the wood. However it makes a good slap tone and w/ all three p'up on a nice broad range tone for fingerstyle. But boy does it play fast. IMO the passive setting was only a failsafe for the battery dying. The passive tone is well... thin sounding.

If you go to harmony-central or BRGA, you can read reviews about the both Urge basses and make your own decision.

I played the UrgeII about 1 yr ago, and thought it was overpriced for what you got, its in the price range of used high end basses.

I've seen the Urge I basses go for about $700-800 on EBAY

Sammy-do you notice any noise in the electronics? The UrgeII I played was noisey when cranked and in the headphones was too noisey to record w/.

Lastly, I do like my UrgeI bass, and it has been a workhorse for 9yrs, but since Ive been playing my Dingwall (tone and playability plus) the Urge is taking a well deserved break
frank
PS heres 2 threads which describe the UrgeI features