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What Bass should I buy?

R

Robert Browne

Nov 9, 2020
5
2
#1
I'm in the process of buying my "First" Bass even though i've been playing for more then 10 years. Time for the greatest lending gift to be upgraded.

I predominantly play in a Pentecostal church which always plays a mix of Rock, Contemporary Worship & Gospel. I want to get a 5 String & I like the idea of have dual hum bucker pickups (1 at Bridge & 1 at Neck)

Budget not really an issue but don't have loads of ££££'s

Any pointers in which route I should go down?
I like the look of MusicMan Stingray & P Basses.

Any help would be muchly appreciated.

TIA
 
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#2
Tell us what you've played and liked. What did you like about them, for example I have a preference to having an narrow nut, but neck thickness doesn't really bother me. Some people don't like a gloss finish on the neck some don't care. Weight can also be contentious, do you have any weight requirements? Although looks aren't technically important, nobody really buys a bass they don't like the look of. Do you want something fender esque or more unique?

For dual humbucker 5 string, my mind instantly goes to Ibanez. They usually have decent electronics that will help you adapt to a wider variety of music types.

Having said all that, the reality is that there are lots of basses that will make you very happy. Keep an eye out in your local classifieds and see if something pops up used. Being used when you don't know exactly what you want because you can also resell for about the same price you paid.
 
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#4
HELLonWHEELS said:
Tell us what you've played and liked. What did you like about them, for example I have a preference to having an narrow nut, but neck thickness doesn't really bother me. Some people don't like a gloss finish on the neck some don't care. Weight can also be contentious, do you have any weight requirements? Although looks aren't technically important, nobody really buys a bass they don't like the look of. Do you want something fender esque or more unique?

For dual humbucker 5 string, my mind instantly goes to Ibanez. They usually have decent electronics that will help you adapt to a wider variety of music types.

Having said all that, the reality is that there are lots of basses that will make you very happy. Keep an eye out in your local classifieds and see if something pops up used. Being used when you don't know exactly what you want because you can also resell for about the same price you paid.
Click to expand...

All i've played with is Fenders. I'm also based in the UK so the options of going to look at one at the moment is quite low & best places seem to be in London or just outside. My vibe is I love the funky Gospel sound. No Weight requirements as of yet.
Im very flexible with the electronics side. I don't like the way Fender coils look. But want the sound more then the look, plus i like the way a musicman looks
 
#6
Robert Browne said:
All i've played with is Fenders. I'm also based in the UK so the options of going to look at one at the moment is quite low & best places seem to be in London or just outside. My vibe is I love the funky Gospel sound. No Weight requirements as of yet.
Im very flexible with the electronics side. I don't like the way Fender coils look. But want the sound more then the look, plus i like the way a musicman looks
Click to expand...

I think the easiest way to hit the funky Gospel sound is Fender Jazz with some stainless steel strings.


I would definitely recommend getting a bass with a pickup close to the bridge. Being in the UK, I would opt for something built locally, you have lots of great builders without having to pay a "made in the USA" premium. Companies that come to mind are:

Relatively Budget Friendly
Warwick (Germany)
Spector Euro (Czech Republic)
Sandberg (Germany)
Sadowsky MetroExpress Line (Not sure where they're made but Warwick is doing the European distribution)

Ultra Premium/Bespoke
Wal (UK)
Mayones (Poland)
Ritter (UK)

Those are all pretty expensive new, but you can find some good deals on used warwicks or a spector euro.
 
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#8
Robert Browne said:
I'm in the process of buying my "First" Bass even though i've been playing for more then 10 years. Time for the greatest lending gift to be upgraded.

I predominantly play in a Pentecostal church which always plays a mix of Rock, Contemporary Worship & Gospel. I want to get a 5 String & I like the idea of have dual hum bucker pickups (1 at Bridge & 1 at Neck)

Budget not really an issue but don't have loads of ££££'s

Any pointers in which route I should go down?
I like the look of MusicMan Stingray & P Basses.

Any help would be muchly appreciated.

TIA
Click to expand...
Search no further.
G&L Tribute L2500.

20201109-184947.jpg
 
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#10
Robert Browne said:
All i've played with is Fenders. I'm also based in the UK so the options of going to look at one at the moment is quite low & best places seem to be in London or just outside. My vibe is I love the funky Gospel sound. No Weight requirements as of yet.
Im very flexible with the electronics side. I don't like the way Fender coils look. But want the sound more then the look, plus i like the way a musicman looks
Click to expand...

Whereabouts in the UK? If there was any way you could manage a day trip to the Bass Gallery in London (The Bass Gallery | London) or the bass room at Andertons in Guildford if you’re south of London, you will get great advice from experienced players (the staff know their stuff) and a whole bunch of basses to try. Not feasible at the moment under lockdown I know (and even outside lockdowns you would need to book a session in advance) but by far the best way to explore options and find something that works for you (and both of those shops have secondhand gear as well as new). Could be a lot easier than trying various basses through mail order and organising returns etc.
 
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#15
Robert Browne said:
I'm in the process of buying my "First" Bass even though i've been playing for more then 10 years. Time for the greatest lending gift to be upgraded.

I predominantly play in a Pentecostal church which always plays a mix of Rock, Contemporary Worship & Gospel. I want to get a 5 String & I like the idea of have dual hum bucker pickups (1 at Bridge & 1 at Neck)

Budget not really an issue but don't have loads of ££££'s

Any pointers in which route I should go down?
I like the look of MusicMan Stingray & P Basses.

Any help would be muchly appreciated.

TIA
Click to expand...
Yamaha BB.
 
#16
Been playing Stingrays since 2000 and never going back to a P. They aren't bad. I just like a 'Ray 4H that much better, and I've owned/own a pre EB Stingray 4, an EBMM Stingray 4 2 band EQ, and an EBMM Stingray 4 3 band EQ. You cannot go wrong. All winners.
 
#20
Good suggestions here, particularly the Lakland 55-02 (you might like the 55-01 also) and the G&Ls. From personal experience, I can suggest that an Ibanez ATK might also fit the bill. Most have a single (but highly versatile) triple coil pickup in roughly the MM position, but some also have a J in the neck. Versatile 3-band preamp, string through or not bridge, substantial but not chunky neck. Heavy, though. You’d have to go used at the moment, but they’re not too hard to find.
14E5E628-3359-4356-AEF1-83B99E4A14FB.jpeg

I’ve had the 5-string (ATK-305) for a quarter century. Got the matching 4 (ATK-300) more recently for 250 USD with a hard case. As is typical for Ibanez, budget models have lower numbers, premium models have higher; prices reflect this, but even the priciest ATKs are bargains compared to Stingrays.
 
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