Upgrading over the summer

[Lightning Rider]

Well, I very recently started putting a band together. I'll be playing bass, of course. Right now I only have a little Ibanez GSR200, and I know for sure it just isn't a gigging bass, so I've decided to do some extra work this summer and save up for a new bass. These are the 3 I've narrowed it down to:

Choice 1: Aria SB-CB
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$1,300
Ebony fingerboard, 34" scale, 24 frets, single double-coil pickup

Choice 2: Jackson CMG Concert Bass
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$800
Rosewood fingerboard, 34" scale, 22 frets, two EMG humbuckers

Choice 3: Fender Geddy Lee Jazz Bass
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$1,000
Maple fingerboard, 34" scale, 20 frets, two J pickups

Which one of these is the best value? Note that I play mostly metal and hard rock.

 

[stephenrheard]

These are 3 very different basses... are you going to get to play them before you buy?

 

[Lightning Rider]

I've played a Squier Jazz and a old 80s' SB Pro. The Jackson's body shape looks pretty similar to my Soundgears'.

 

[Alex Huddleston]

hmmm, do you have a decent amp yet? I personally would get a decent amp before upgrading a bass, especially considering the GSR200 isn't that bad of a bass.

 

[Lightning Rider]

Thanks for the advice. Right now I'm playing through a crapppy little 10 watt Ibanez amp. Any suggestions as far as $800-$1,000 set ups?

I love my GSR200, and it handles and sounds great, but it isn't very durable. The knobs are pretty loose and the tuners feel like their made out of plastic.

 

[Jimmy Bones]

The Jackson is a pretty decent one, I had one for a while, but I didn't care for it much, and the tuning machines were crap.

I'd say to go with a Schecter. Half the cost, twice the awesome. You can get a Stiletto Elite for about $500, and make any sort of sound you want, and they look awesome, and play awesome.

 

[J. Crawford]

Buy a used Geddy for $500, and upgrade it to your liking (if needed).