So like the title says, I'm looking for a versatile dual humbucker bass. Looking for something as a kind of in-between bass that can get a sort of t-bird tone, a fat neck tone, and split and get a passable jazz bass tone. Maybe even active/passive to cop a bit of a ray tone. Is there a jack of all trades/master of none sort of bass out there that would suit?
(For the record, I don't expect anything like this to sound exactly like these basses... just looking for tone options without owning a ton of different basses lol)
Little background...
Having owned a Jazz bass for a few months now I'm not finding a ton of use for it. I appreciate the unique single coil tone, but I always prefer my Precision. I don't mind the narrow nut width, but again, prefer the P. I do really like the offset body, but I'm going to move on from this bass.
Really the Precision is my go to, and I would be happy with only that. But I'd like something I could play around with and get other tones out of when I want them. The Precision is king, but it's very limited tone wise (obviously).
Preferably don't want to go custom (resale sucks), and not looking to spend boutique money. Maybe max like 2k. Also I like wider necks (doesnt have to be a beast...the AMProII P neck is perfection).
Appreciate any suggestions!!
Hmmm...
Well, to be honest? I do have several dual humbucker basses, but... there aren't many that
I consider very versatile. To be fair, though; with as many basses as I have (27 at last count), "versatile" was never a major consideration, anyway. So, from what I'd consider the least to the most versatile dual humbucker basses in my herd?
- Hofner 500/2 and my 2 violin basses: While they
are capable of different tones - especially if they wear rounds instead of flats or tapes? Let's be honest, here; that's more of an exercise in contrariness, than anything else. People play these basses mainly because they want to sound like Sir Paul - or, they just need the low sustain, low woody "thump" that they're most famous for...
- '93 Gretsch Broadkaster: a BIG hollow-body from a Gretsch guitar, with a 30" scale neck. Even with TI Jazz Rounds on it, it wants to do the low sustain, woody thump thing. Even though it's ceramic magnet Filtertron pickups are actually
guitar pickups, and Filtertrons are the most single coil-sounding humbuckers ever made...
- '93 Fury Anthem: Fury guitars/basses are all custom made, and the hand-wound humbuckers in my 32" lined fretless Anthem were made for one thing, really; to sound as much like an upright bass as possible - with tapes wound strings. Which, I have to admit, it certainly does. But, versatile it is certainly not... In fact, it sounds like 2 alley cats fighting with any other strings on it...
- '06 Carvin LB-20: An LB-20 could be fairly versatile, but the original owner of mine wanted a lefty Rickenbacker substitute (RIC cancelled lefty production in late 2005 -and said they might never start it up again), so he had it built accordingly. Both it's HB-50 humbuckers can be split into single coils, and with the right strings? Yes, it does sound a lot like a Rick (I know; I have a 4001 and a 4003). So, I suppose you could call it "versatile" - a little bit, anyway...
- '78 Kramer 450B "Lumie". The big aluminum neck makes it a neck diver
par excellence, but aside from that? It's custom-wound Kramer humbuckers (some of them used Mighty Mite 'buckers) do make it fairly versatile for a passive bass - with the right strings. I have old school flats on it; mainly because the pickup's output is insanely high, and it can get really shrill, really quick, with the wrong strings (ask me how I know)...
- '13 Gibson Thunderbird: Modern Gibson humbucker's are nothing like the old "mud machines" they used to wear. Even with the light gauge flats (Dogal R44 "Traditional" flats) mine wears? There's lots of useful tones to be had...
- '88 Tokai TB48 Thunderbird: With Optima 4099RL "Chromes"? Doesn't sound a lot like the Gibson; different woods, and a bolt-on neck. But, it's still pretty versatile...
- '17 G&L Tom Hamilton Signature ASAT Bass: I don't take advantage of it, but even with it's underwound "Hamiltone" pickups and Fender 9050L flats? Yeah, it is a surprisingly versatile bass...
- '20 EBMM 4HH Stingray Special: With a 5-way selector switch and active electronics? Even with the Galli JF4505 Flats mine wears, it is a
very versatile bass... I don't use all the options it offers, but they're there if I want them...
- '24 Schecter Stiletto Studio lined fretless. It came to me with EB Group IV Flats - which suit the thing to a T. But, versatile? With EMG pickups and a 3-band preamp? Bet your Bippy it's versatile...
- '95 Alembic Epic; Mine has the "simple" electronics, and wears TI Jazz Flats. Is it versatile? It's an
Alembic bass. How could it
not be...?
So... bottom line? "Versatile dual humbucker bass" would seem to equal "Active Bass" - if you want a really versatile one. And, for what you say you want? Sounds like a 4/5HH Stingray Special to me...
.
