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Top 5 Basses around $1500
- Thread starter ~Ethan~
- Start date
I'm with you on this one. Both very reasonably priced and even a better bargain when purchased on the used market. Here's a plan: buy a used Carvin, Peavey, whatever 6-banger, pocket the savings, and spend a couple years honing your chops. If you find the sixer to your liking, you can always upgrade to a nicer (dare I say boutique?) bass when your stash 'o cash allows.
Riis
While I do love my p-bass, I'm looking for something new. Not the same thing. It's a bit of a love/hate relationship. I don't like it because it's a p-bass, but because it's served me well so far. But I do feel very limited with it.
I think I'm going with Carvin. As much as I love the peavey with the redwood top, carvin fits my budget better.
And after seeing this -
in the carvin site gallery, I think I'm going to go with blueburst quilted maple.
I wish they had a builder like peavey because I'm not sure if I want a maple or ebony fretboard. Purely for cosmetic reasons, not tone. I know, I know, but I don't really care too much about any tone I'd get from either wood. I probably should but honestly I can't really tell the difference. There are so many variables to say what would be the best combination.
I want it to look the way I like as much as I want it to sound/play.
A buddy of mine has a Conklin 6 and absolutely loves it. I played it too but I suck so bad at playing anything but 4s so my input would be dumb. He friggin loves it though... Something to think about, at least.
Conklin's production/import line only had 4, 5, and 7 strings. A Conklin 6 would be custom and probably well above the OP's general price list used. I've seen some go for relatively low prices when sold during bad times, but generally a pretty expensive instrument. I'd agree that they're great as I've had a Conklin 6 for several years now.
I was pretty impressed with the MTD Kingston Z basses. You should be able to get a new sixer for around 1500. Definately used.
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From what I hear they are a really good "platform" so to speak. Meaning they're a solid foundation to get and make mods on. I've seen a couple on here with Audere and Aguilar preamps installed, different pickups, etc. So when you get comfortable with it, and feel like you want a change of tone, you can swap out some of the electronics and be reasonably sure you'll get some interesting mixes. They're also nice straight out of the gate though, and have a little wider string spacing than your average 5s and 6s (which I like). If I get a fiver, there's a good chance it'll be a Kingston Z.
I would also add that you could possibly find a used Warwick Corvette Standard 6 (definitely under or around 1500) or even possibly a used Thumb BO 6 (iffy for 1500, but not unheard of). Both are fine basses, but serve different niches.
Beyond that, I don't have much experience with over 4 strings. I played a 6 string Spector a while back, and it was way to massive for me. Felt like playing the end of a canoe paddle. Also played an Ibanez SR506 at Guitar Center. Those are pretty good sounding basses (and well under 1500), but they always seem to have bad, ugly finger wear on the used ones, which makes me think the finish must be really chincy.
I would question the need for a 6 stringer, though, as others have. Do you really need that high C? What kind of music do you play? Is a sixer going to fit well in that niche? I know more strings seems like a cool idea, but the only thing a sixer offers over a fiver is a higher string, which I personally only see a use for in jazz bands, or other genres where the bass is given a lot of sonic room to work in.
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From what I hear they are a really good "platform" so to speak. Meaning they're a solid foundation to get and make mods on. I've seen a couple on here with Audere and Aguilar preamps installed, different pickups, etc. So when you get comfortable with it, and feel like you want a change of tone, you can swap out some of the electronics and be reasonably sure you'll get some interesting mixes. They're also nice straight out of the gate though, and have a little wider string spacing than your average 5s and 6s (which I like). If I get a fiver, there's a good chance it'll be a Kingston Z.
I would also add that you could possibly find a used Warwick Corvette Standard 6 (definitely under or around 1500) or even possibly a used Thumb BO 6 (iffy for 1500, but not unheard of). Both are fine basses, but serve different niches.
Beyond that, I don't have much experience with over 4 strings. I played a 6 string Spector a while back, and it was way to massive for me. Felt like playing the end of a canoe paddle. Also played an Ibanez SR506 at Guitar Center. Those are pretty good sounding basses (and well under 1500), but they always seem to have bad, ugly finger wear on the used ones, which makes me think the finish must be really chincy.
I would question the need for a 6 stringer, though, as others have. Do you really need that high C? What kind of music do you play? Is a sixer going to fit well in that niche? I know more strings seems like a cool idea, but the only thing a sixer offers over a fiver is a higher string, which I personally only see a use for in jazz bands, or other genres where the bass is given a lot of sonic room to work in.
Ditto..
I traded a TL-6 (still better than many of the suggestions above) for a GT-7
I own Cirrus' etc.. TLs.. Modlulus..
Do not overrule a 7 string if jumping up.. I find the 7th string makes the upper register much much much more useful
I'd gig a GT7 for months without a backup... for the money it's way underrated..
I'm a fanboy of used under the radar basses and an expanding savings account.
Tim
Pardon my comment on warwicks here.
I have nothing bad to say about the tone or anything like that, I know there are a ton of people that love them. But for most of the models the top horn, well, I find it a bit... disturbing. I'm not trying to hate on them, as not to incur the wrath of the warwick community.
Just saying, unless it's a certain model, I can't play one.
As for why I need a sixer, well I am a jazz fan, and like I said before, my guitarist's new song would fit that higher register well. Also I'm a fan of Primus and Dream Theater.
Does anyone happen to have a pic of a blueburst quilted maple body with a maple FB? doesn't have to be a sixer, I just need a pic to see what it looks like. My imagination only works so well.
I have nothing bad to say about the tone or anything like that, I know there are a ton of people that love them. But for most of the models the top horn, well, I find it a bit... disturbing. I'm not trying to hate on them, as not to incur the wrath of the warwick community.
Just saying, unless it's a certain model, I can't play one.
As for why I need a sixer, well I am a jazz fan, and like I said before, my guitarist's new song would fit that higher register well. Also I'm a fan of Primus and Dream Theater.
Does anyone happen to have a pic of a blueburst quilted maple body with a maple FB? doesn't have to be a sixer, I just need a pic to see what it looks like. My imagination only works so well.
Pardon my comment on warwicks here.
I have nothing bad to say about the tone or anything like that, I know there are a ton of people that love them. But for most of the models the top horn, well, I find it a bit... disturbing. I'm not trying to hate on them, as not to incur the wrath of the warwick community.
Meh, I'm probably on a few dartboards. You get used to it. When I think about something ergonomic and something I'd want to play for hours on end, they simply don't come to mind. There's nothing maliciously wrong with them, but there's a lot of room for improvement in the comfort department.
I'll post this in here so I don't have to make abother thread.
Can any of the photoshop guys do me a favor? I'd like to see a carvin 6er with blueburst quilted maple full top, matching headstock, and a maple fretboard, no inlays, with 1 mm pickup (bridge) and 1 jazz pickup (neck). Thanks!
Can any of the photoshop guys do me a favor? I'd like to see a carvin 6er with blueburst quilted maple full top, matching headstock, and a maple fretboard, no inlays, with 1 mm pickup (bridge) and 1 jazz pickup (neck). Thanks!
