Hey all. So I've been playing bass since I was 15 years old, going through a variety of low end starter basses, Ibanez GIO, Squier Standard, and a VM Fretless Jazz, and I'm finally taking a look into mid range basses as an upgrade.While I love my fretless I find myself in need of a fretted bass for other applications, certain songs, and sounds and styles and such.
My current bass is a Squier VM Fretless Jazz w/ Dimarzio Model J pickups and a Gotoh 201 bridge which goes into a Markbass LM Tube 800 and a SWR 4x12 Stack.
I like dual pickups, active/passive tonal controls, 22 frets or more, versatile electronics (no one trick ponies), well placed in a variety of bands. I would prefer a four string as it is what I am comfortable on and only really use, no fretless as I already have one.
I play alot of indie rock (helpful isn't it?), King Crimson/Mars Volta kind of Prog, jazz, some funk/hip hop inspired bass lines. Most important for me is a bass with a lot of deep bottom end, very little hiss/hum, and very, very clear tone.
1) Carvin SB4000
Pros: Classic Jazz bass layout of controls, active eq with passive bypass, customizable, Ebony fingerboard, unique design. All in all a solid bass with many options for uniqueness.
Cons: 20 frets (not a huge deal, but I typically like 22 or 24)
2) Used Fender Roscoe Beck IV
Pros: 2 humbucking splittable pickups, sophisticated layout of controls, incredibly versatile, Drop D tuner (not really a big deal, but neat), 22 frets.
Cons: Expensive ($800 more than the Carvin), Used is more of a waiting game which I will play if well worth it.
3) G&L L2000 USA
Pros: Active/Passive electronics, 2 humbucking pickups wired for series or parallel operation with optional high end boost.
Cons: Kind of ugly tobacco sunburst but there are other options available. Otherwise very little.
4) Fender American Deluxe P Bass
Pros: P/J config with active 3 band eq, 22 frets, comfortable to play.
Cons: Pickup pan pot/master volume, less versatile than G&L or RB Sig.
Open to other suggestions, so long as they meet most of my criteria though I am flexible in my thinking. Budget is $1500 USD or less. I live in Boise, ID and there is not much of a used market for basses.
Thanks for all of your help!
My current bass is a Squier VM Fretless Jazz w/ Dimarzio Model J pickups and a Gotoh 201 bridge which goes into a Markbass LM Tube 800 and a SWR 4x12 Stack.
I like dual pickups, active/passive tonal controls, 22 frets or more, versatile electronics (no one trick ponies), well placed in a variety of bands. I would prefer a four string as it is what I am comfortable on and only really use, no fretless as I already have one.
I play alot of indie rock (helpful isn't it?), King Crimson/Mars Volta kind of Prog, jazz, some funk/hip hop inspired bass lines. Most important for me is a bass with a lot of deep bottom end, very little hiss/hum, and very, very clear tone.
1) Carvin SB4000
Pros: Classic Jazz bass layout of controls, active eq with passive bypass, customizable, Ebony fingerboard, unique design. All in all a solid bass with many options for uniqueness.
Cons: 20 frets (not a huge deal, but I typically like 22 or 24)
2) Used Fender Roscoe Beck IV
Pros: 2 humbucking splittable pickups, sophisticated layout of controls, incredibly versatile, Drop D tuner (not really a big deal, but neat), 22 frets.
Cons: Expensive ($800 more than the Carvin), Used is more of a waiting game which I will play if well worth it.
3) G&L L2000 USA
Pros: Active/Passive electronics, 2 humbucking pickups wired for series or parallel operation with optional high end boost.
Cons: Kind of ugly tobacco sunburst but there are other options available. Otherwise very little.
4) Fender American Deluxe P Bass
Pros: P/J config with active 3 band eq, 22 frets, comfortable to play.
Cons: Pickup pan pot/master volume, less versatile than G&L or RB Sig.
Open to other suggestions, so long as they meet most of my criteria though I am flexible in my thinking. Budget is $1500 USD or less. I live in Boise, ID and there is not much of a used market for basses.
Thanks for all of your help!
).
