Suggestions Please (I know this is dangerous...):

[filwitheneff]

This is probably the direction I'll take - but will I still have decent mids?

Admittedly, I'm not entirely sure what your definition of "decent mids" is, but I can't imagine that it would be an issue. The P-Bass is going to have its distinct sound, and mids can be shaped at the amp.

 

[Maxfenderbass]

Another route you could go is semi-hollow/hollow.
I would recommend a Ibanez Artcore with flats (mine sounds quite close to my fully carved german upright when amplified)
others to consider are the Guild Starfire or Ep Jack Cassidy.

 

[CereBassum]

Why not check out the Marusczcyk?

Not my thing - tnx.

 

[CereBassum]

Guild Starfire or Ep Jack Cassidy.

Don't like the feel of semi-hollows... Can't stand the shape of the Starfire or the JC - awkward.

I'm very picky. I mentioned certain basses up there - those are basses that feel good to me.

 

[CereBassum]

Admittedly, I'm not entirely sure what your definition of "decent mids" is, but I can't imagine that it would be an issue. The P-Bass is going to have its distinct sound, and mids can be shaped at the amp.

Yes. I'll probably go this route, but maybe not full blown flats, which I don't care for - I like more traction - pressure wounds or half rounds, something like that. Maybe the EB Cobalt Flats....

 

[CereBassum]

We'll see what else comes in here...

Meanwhile, it looks like Party-PBass is in the lead.

 

[micguy]

AFAIC, whatever the decision is, it should be fretless.

Although you may disagree with this as a choice, nothing makes more "textured mids" than a fretless.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Nicer mids... yeah. I'm afraid it will get too edgy, but I can control that with EQ and the right strings - flats or pressure wounds, etc.

I do tend to like more width in the neck though - I'm very comfortable with the Ray's neck. (going to put that up there...)

RE Jazz

If you have both pickups at about 80% open coupled with a slight roll-off of treble should calm down the edge but, the neck may be an issue. It’s pretty thin at the nut. Sound wise I’m sure it would do just fine.

 

[Wfrance3]

Stupid, everyone knows this already interjection, but (FWIW) if i'm trying to cop an upright tone I play right over the bottom of the fingerboard, roll off the right amount of tone and try to play with the meatiest part of my fingers that I can.

 

[40Hz]

Sounds like a Ric - with tape wounds and the frets removed...

Yeah - that's sort of sound I'd LOVE drool to have. (It would also be nice to play like him...)

Chris and that bass are a marriage made in heaven.

 

[mikewalker]

I was gonna say 4004 but if you don't want to fork over that much $$$$ try looking for a used 3001, 3000 (short-scale) or 2020 / 2030 /2030GF /2050/ 2060 ...

 

[Josh Kneisel]

I have only one bass right now - a Stringray 4 HS, strung up with GHS pressure wounds, which I love dearly and will not change, no way, no how.

But: Been playing a lot of acoustic jazz material lately, and the Ray is just a bit too heavy and thick on the bottom and doesn't have enough of those nice textured mids that you hear from upright players.

So, I'm looking for a Number 2. I'm not trying to sound like an upright but I'd like to get a little closer, as explained - would be nice if it would be a little lighter than the Ray too, which weighs in at 9.1 lbs.

I prefer a 4, and I'm thinking about these:

• A Standard or A Pro PBass.
• A Standard or A Pro JBass.
• Ric 4003 or 4003s.
• MM Cutlass
• MM Caprice

What do fellow TB'ers suggest? I tend to like more width in the neck than 1.5 - I'm very comfortable with the Ray's neck or a P neck. But if a J gives me the sound I want, that's more important.

(Please no, expensive one-off options or cheapos - I tend to like the brands mentioned.)

I would recommend a P strung with Tapes or Flats....that what I generally do when I am not using the upright

 

[Josh Kneisel]

I am anti-fretless.

booo

 

[CereBassum]

Stupid, everyone knows this already interjection

Yeah - everybody know this - .

But a lot of not so stupid players also know that if you do that on a lot basses, like a Stringray HS for example, you'll get a nice deep, round sound but not much at all the in way of mids - you're copping about 1/2 "upright tone"... That's why there is a lot of action on this thread.

Maybe you need to listen carefully to more jazz (or get a better listening system) - your idea of "upright tone" might be a bit off....

 

[ELG60]

Perhaps a P Bass Special with the PJ combo and active electronics like this:

Or alternatively, a Fender Roscoe Beck 5er if you can find one.

 

[CereBassum]

Perhaps a P Bass Special with the PJ combo and active electronics like this:
View attachment 2899489

Nice bass. But I think I'd want to go passive here and let my amp - Roland Combo - do the rest. IMO coming nice and clean off the ax would work better.

 

[Bassbeater]

Flatwounds and setting a compressor to "bloom" might get you there, particularly if you choose a fretless bass.

 

[CereBassum]

booo

 

[fhm555]

If it’s upright sound you want, why not get an upright? You can find a decent used upright around here for about the same as an MIA fender and most of those will already have a pickup on them.

 

[JakobT]

But hasn’t that Ric got a Jazz pickup in the bridge position?