I say that to myself every time I shell money for any new equipment. "This is going to make me better" Never does. Practice and playing what you are comfortable with will make you better
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Top 5 Basses around $1500
- Thread starter ~Ethan~
- Start date
It's a phenomenal bass. If I wouldn't lose $1000 selling my ABII-5X I'd downgrade to a Combustion and pocket the difference. Really great tone -- just insane.
There's one up on eBay right now with an upgraded Aguilar preamp... do want.
I would say
Peavey Cirrus
Roscoe anything
Modulus anything
Ibanez soundgear (higher end model)
Or pick up something for a little under your budget and allow for immediate mods.
I have an Ibanez SR706 and am planning on doing US barts and a bart pre. Total Ill have into the bass will be under $1000. Plays great, sounds great.
Peavey Cirrus
Roscoe anything
Modulus anything
Ibanez soundgear (higher end model)
Or pick up something for a little under your budget and allow for immediate mods.
I have an Ibanez SR706 and am planning on doing US barts and a bart pre. Total Ill have into the bass will be under $1000. Plays great, sounds great.
I think Mark King has a Stingray 4 and a Stingray 5 and used them for most of the Forever Now album. btw, I think his tone from the 80s (JDs and Alembics) was good and it fit the time and the music. His tone with the Goodfellow basses in the late 90s was really nice too. His current tone with the Status basses is pretty thin and sterile.
^ -1
If you cant handle a six string you should absolutely get one. How else are you going to ever be able to play one well? tinkering in a music store for 5 minutes isnt a way to tell. besides, who cares if you can handle it... as long as you have fun and enjoy the instrument its all worth it.
We as musicians grow most when trying things that we dont know how to play.
This goes for extended range instruments as well as songs or techniques.
If you cant handle a six string you should absolutely get one. How else are you going to ever be able to play one well? tinkering in a music store for 5 minutes isnt a way to tell. besides, who cares if you can handle it... as long as you have fun and enjoy the instrument its all worth it.
We as musicians grow most when trying things that we dont know how to play.
This goes for extended range instruments as well as songs or techniques.
Right. Which is why I recommend the OP get a Steinway model D immediately. He'll never play a better instrument.
Go with a Groove Tools (Conklin non-U.S. made) 7-string. Great bass, Bartolini electronics, and you've got one more string to play with. You can usually find one in good condition, used or possibly new in your price range.
I agree with this.
I started out on a 4 banger and played it for about a year. Then I had my eyes on a 5'er and bought it. It took me about a week to get used to having an extra string on top of the E string. I kept on hitting the open B when I was aiming for the E and stuff like that, but I stuck with it and am glad I did. It helped me to understand the fretboard as well. So then I decided to get a 6 and it wasn't much of a change at all. The C string didn't get in the way at all and allowed me to simply reach higher notes without having to reach higher up the fretboard. If you're going to learn something I'd say to go all out and tackle it. That's the way that I have found that works the best for me. If I pitter-patter and make excuses as to why I shouldn't try something new chances are I won't ever try it.
However, I also agree that a 6 string will not automatically make you a better bassist. Practice and dedication along with proper training and technique do.
Without a doubt, Lakland. The 55-02, Osborn, Glaub, and Decade Skylines are all fantastic basses for the money.
If you can go just a bit higher, I'd highly recommend you check out Nino Valenti. You can get a TON of bass from Nino for between $1500-2000.
If you can go just a bit higher, I'd highly recommend you check out Nino Valenti. You can get a TON of bass from Nino for between $1500-2000.
Why not have a Carvin built ? My five string plays like a dream . And it was my first leap to a "high end" instrument . The six strings they make are high quality . And for $1,500 you can build pretty much build what ever you want . Brand new . But I am a huge Carvin fan .
I got a good deal on a really gently used Ibanez BTB Prestige series. It lists for about $1500 new.
Ibanex BTB 1305e
I paid less than half price for my used one, and it's like brand new. Not a mark on it.
There are lots of good quality basses out there on the used market, especially in this economy.
Ibanex BTB 1305e
I paid less than half price for my used one, and it's like brand new. Not a mark on it.
There are lots of good quality basses out there on the used market, especially in this economy.
6ers brand new in that price range are going to be limited to
EBMM Bongo 6
Spector Legend 6
Peavey Cirrus
etc,.
most higher end 6 string basses start over 2000 dollars new
thats a big investment
I would start used for the best deal
going from 4 to 6 is a pretty big jump
so make sure thats what you want to do before investing that much dough
EBMM Bongo 6
Spector Legend 6
Peavey Cirrus
etc,.
most higher end 6 string basses start over 2000 dollars new
thats a big investment
I would start used for the best deal
going from 4 to 6 is a pretty big jump
so make sure thats what you want to do before investing that much dough
I am sure there are plenty of basses out there you can get with your budget. I recently bought a Fender Jaguar Bass from Sam Ash for $550 on a whim and I've been very impressed especially for the price I paid. You might want to check the inventory at bassemporium.com out of Austin, TX. I've never known them to sell a "bad" bass and they are willing to spend the time talking to you about the pros and cons of all their gear. My advice would be set $1500 as your limit and just go out and play a bunch of basses until one just feels right. Good Luck!
I had a six string. I had a seven string Conklin Groove Tools. The appeal of the "idea" of those extra strings is enormous in theory. You gotta figure chicks are gonna dig it. Guys like Bill Dickens and Vic Wooten make us want to be bass heroes in the guitar hero mold... if not the total center of attention (as Dickens is, as his band is entirely in service of his virtuosity), then at least a peer among other virtuosos (see the Flecktones).
But in reality, most bands are looking for a bassist who is a steady, solid member of the rhythm section. As I like to say, no singer wants to stand in front of Victor Wooten. Unless you're playing in a musical setting where your cohorts are really excited about providing you with the opportunity for lots of solos, you will probably find the high string(s) more of an annoyance than anything else. Remember that when you go up to the high C string you are now treading in your guitarist's territory. Does s/he feel good about stepping aside and allowing you to wander around there? When you are laying down the groove in your more typical role as bassist, you'll likely spend very little time up in that range.
The only reason I mention this is that six-strings are still something of an exotic beast, and command appropriate prices for their status. On the other hand, five strings are nearly as common as fours. That's not to say that with any given model of bass the five won't be more expensive than the four... it will be. But that low B is, for me, very useful when I'm setting up a groove as part of the rhythm section... to the point that I can no longer do without it. But I don't know what I'd do with a high C string. I get maybe one solo a night, and that's usually pretty brief. So the rest of the night I'd be working around it, wishing it wasn't there and wondering why I payed a fortune for an okay six-string when the same money on a five-string would likely have procured a much better bass.
Just my $.02... cuz you know there are lots of KILLER 5's to be had for $1500 (I just bought an as-new used Stingray 5 unlined piezo fretless with all the upgrades for that amount, and it is utterly amazing).
But in reality, most bands are looking for a bassist who is a steady, solid member of the rhythm section. As I like to say, no singer wants to stand in front of Victor Wooten. Unless you're playing in a musical setting where your cohorts are really excited about providing you with the opportunity for lots of solos, you will probably find the high string(s) more of an annoyance than anything else. Remember that when you go up to the high C string you are now treading in your guitarist's territory. Does s/he feel good about stepping aside and allowing you to wander around there? When you are laying down the groove in your more typical role as bassist, you'll likely spend very little time up in that range.
The only reason I mention this is that six-strings are still something of an exotic beast, and command appropriate prices for their status. On the other hand, five strings are nearly as common as fours. That's not to say that with any given model of bass the five won't be more expensive than the four... it will be. But that low B is, for me, very useful when I'm setting up a groove as part of the rhythm section... to the point that I can no longer do without it. But I don't know what I'd do with a high C string. I get maybe one solo a night, and that's usually pretty brief. So the rest of the night I'd be working around it, wishing it wasn't there and wondering why I payed a fortune for an okay six-string when the same money on a five-string would likely have procured a much better bass.
Just my $.02... cuz you know there are lots of KILLER 5's to be had for $1500 (I just bought an as-new used Stingray 5 unlined piezo fretless with all the upgrades for that amount, and it is utterly amazing).
