at whatever scale = try a fretless! more fun, less hassle, no fences!
good luck with your choice(s)!
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Time for a second bass, maybe...
- Thread starter mjnyc
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good luck with your choice(s)!
Squier instruments represent much more value for money and are really very close if not equal to Fenders in all other respects, except for the name. But you can turn up to any job with a Fender and be accepted as a Pro. With a Squier, you may at some time experience some misguided instrument snobbery that would be very unlikely if you were carrying in a Fender through the door. It’s silly, but it undoubtedly exists. Me, I’d be happy enough on a Squier in any situation and screw what other people think - I’d rather be judged by my playing than by my choice of instrument.
Or rock out a missile shaped 2 string lefty. If this was a righty I’d be all over it.
I never wanted a p bass tbh so don't go based off what people say you're gonna want or will need later.
Scale length has nothing to do w/ hand size, that has to do w string spacing, neck width, and fretboard radius.
Learn what you don't like about your bass, and shop based off of what you would like to be better. Or just try basses until you find one you're comfortable w/.
Scale length has nothing to do w/ hand size, that has to do w string spacing, neck width, and fretboard radius.
Learn what you don't like about your bass, and shop based off of what you would like to be better. Or just try basses until you find one you're comfortable w/.
Try the necks.
Go to a store and try a P bass, a J Bass, and more.
See how you feel about the shape of the neck and the width of the fretboard.
Also, playing position.
Playing a Mustang is different from playing a 34", in terms of reach of the left hand.
Do you play mostly seated? Standing? Both?
A P or J bass has a different reach for the 1st fret, than a Thunderdird, or a Spector, or Warwick, for example.
You have to check some out.
I played the same bass for 10 years. A Hamer Cruise, which is a J bass with the same fretboard width than a Fender J. But the neck profile is slimmer. It's super slim.
I loved that bass. Still do, I still have it.
But when I bought a Fender J, I noticed that the reach for the 1st fret was easier. Probably a design thing, but the Hamer has 22 frets, and the Fender had 20 frets. Probably that? I don't know. But I sold the Fender, because the Pickups had protruded pole pieces, and those hit my fingers and I hated it.
Then I bought a P bass. That's my preferred tone, as I came to realize. But the neck profile was very flat and I didn't like it. Also, the fretboard was too wide, 42mm.
But I prefer the 42mm to the 38mm of the J bass. I thought I liked slim necks, but turned out, I don't.
Then I bought a Warwick Starbass II. Fantastic bass. Neck almost perfect. 38mm nut. Chunky baseball bat like neck. At first I was very surprised, but it soon became my favorite shape of neck. A chunky neck. Who would have thought? But it was a semi hollow with the strap button on the back of the bass. Forget it playing it standing up. The tone was wonderful, but I couldn't play it standing up, it tilted forward.
Then I bought a perfect short scale. A Serek MW. 41mm, round profile neck. Perfect! After a year or so, I realized that the short scale isn't for me. Sold it.
Then I bought a Yamaha Pulser bass, which is a P bass. 40mm width at the nut, chunky baseball bat neck. Perfect! It's my favorite type of neck! After this one I bought another Yamaha, a BB Peter Hook. Same nut width (40mm), the neck is a little slimmer than the Pulser, but it has a round profile, which I like very much. Not a fan of those flat necks.
So, as you can see, you don't know what you like, until you try several different things.
Go to a store. Or 2 or 3. More than one time. In different days. Take mental notes of what you like or don't.
For me it's:
Shape, looks, color. If I don't like to look at it, I don't buy it.
Neck. 40 to 41mm at the nut. Round, chunky profile.
Then comes the Pickups, tone, and other things.
But those first two are the ones that can make me sell a bass. So, they have priority.
Edit: I bought and sold more basses than the ones I told you about in this post.
The thing is, I liked all of them. And, besides one bass, I always loved the tone they had.
But now I only have the Hamer (first bass) and the two Yamahas. I had better basses, but these are the best for me, right now.
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You have a PJ with flats? Seems like anything with rounds would potentially give you a satisfying sense of tone differentiation.
if you’re really wanting to hear and feel the difference from the mustang, as you say, how about a ray with rounds? Last ray34 I had was spectacular and had a nice thin neck, might work with your hands. Affordable too.
if you’re really wanting to hear and feel the difference from the mustang, as you say, how about a ray with rounds? Last ray34 I had was spectacular and had a nice thin neck, might work with your hands. Affordable too.
You definitely need at least 2 basses so you have a backup. I always bring 2 basses to gigs and leave 1 in the car. For the 2nd bass, you also want something that your current bass can't give you, that way you are ready for more situations (when bass 2 is more appropriate I leave bass 1 in the car). So what does your current bass not give you? For me, looks were important because my bass 1 is a colorful non-FSO and when I go to play blues with old-timers they give me dirty looks. So my bass 2 is a more subtle FSO.
I also have the Mustang P/J - it is an amazing bass as you know. I am slowly making the complete transition to short scale as my hands are getting creaky. Mine is fitted with the T.I. Jazz Flats and just sounds incredible. It can sound 95% like my MIA P with LaBellas, as well as brighter. While I have acquired a closet full of basses, that is the one I play out with. I am thinking of getting another and fitting it with rounds, just to have something different when needed. I also have an Ibanez TMB35 short scale 5 string on order to cover all the basses.
I would like to check out the Sire U5 shorty, before I get another P/J, though. I have a Gretsch 2202 (single pickup) that also sounds terrific with LaBella flats, but it does not have the great neck of the P/J. The Squier VM Jaguar Short Scales are incredible P/Js, but harder to find now, only used.
I would like to check out the Sire U5 shorty, before I get another P/J, though. I have a Gretsch 2202 (single pickup) that also sounds terrific with LaBella flats, but it does not have the great neck of the P/J. The Squier VM Jaguar Short Scales are incredible P/Js, but harder to find now, only used.
You can't go wrong with a Fender P-Bass, in fact, I am looking for one also nowadays but I am a lefty so trying one for me is rarely an option. If, as I suspect you are in NYC (hint in your name) Guitar Center in Manhattan has plenty of choices to try out, I was there last week. Sam Ash used to have a huge selection but lately its walls are rather bare. Check out the Squire P-Bass and then the Fender Player Series which is a step up in quality of hardware (at least in theory and price). If you want to go in a different direction with more tonal options and thinner neck profiles, Ibanez is probably the best bang for your buck. Try the P-bass and the Ibanez back to back to get a feel for the difference in the neck. Do not rush try as many as you can since you have the options and availability.
This makes me reconsider maybe another short scale, since I'm so comfortable with it. My main reason for thinking about 34" is not just to prove to myself that I can do it. It's because I wonder if there isn't a real tone advantage to a standard scale, like rounder tone or longer sustain. If the difference isn't major, I might stick with the short scale and get a second one with round wounds. Will try a few of these out in the near future.
Thanks all.
Yes, I'm in NYC and was at the 34th street Guitar Center yesterday. Actually got on the Q train headed to Times Square for the Guitar Center there, but while in the subway Googled the exact location and it seems to have closed (I had gone to that one a bunch of times pre-pandemic). So I discovered the 34th street location and it's a lot brighter and nicer than the Times Square one was.
Thanks for the suggestions of comparisons, will do.
Michael
TOKAI, HONDO, CORT... at elThe idea of going for a classic P-bass for #2 is appealing to me.
I should at least give a serious trial of standard scale.
Others, more exotic, after that.
But will still check out the others.
Any thoughts about Squier vs. Fender?
Michael
Search Tokai P-BASS first, those were exceptional.
"Alverez" MIJ Fenders are fine basses too.
Yamaha "P bass" great bass at a budget price.
I'll nominate the Epi Jack Casady for something completely different. Long scale, but doesn't feel so long to me.
Your options are endless and limited only by your bank account. Try something with double humbuckers like an Epiphone Embassy or Semi hollow like Ibanez AGB200. Have fun and find the one you dig. It's the most fun
Part of the hunt
Part of the hunt
The sound difference between short scale and long scale is that the notes in a long scale contain more of the harmonics while the note from a short scale is mostly the fundamental. Simplified, short scales have more bottom end thump. I tried short scales, but in the end, I sold them all and have stuck with long scales. You should try a few long scales and see what you think.
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