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What bass should i purchase for $800
- Thread starter Scott madonia
- Start date
I have a Sterling by MM ray34ca and I can say not to worry about the build quality or feel of it. It is one of my favourite basses and one of the best playing basses i have owned. I have also played several others and all of them felt great to me. they can also be had used for less than 800.
The fender deluxe active Jazz was my first upgraded bass(from my squier bronco) my parents bought me when I was 13. I was too young to remember it. Sorry i can't comment on that one, since I took out the Active preamp and put a fretless neck on it. But it is now my standard passive jazz when i need it.
But the two basses you have listed are completely different. The ray34 is going to have that signature single humbucker stingray tone. While the Jazz is going to well...sound like a Jazz bass with an active EQ on board depending on how you set it. So i suggest you play around until you find a sound that you love and a bass that feels great to you.
Also active doesn't mean better so don't limit yourself to only active if you find another bass you love.
The fender deluxe active Jazz was my first upgraded bass(from my squier bronco) my parents bought me when I was 13. I was too young to remember it. Sorry i can't comment on that one, since I took out the Active preamp and put a fretless neck on it. But it is now my standard passive jazz when i need it.
But the two basses you have listed are completely different. The ray34 is going to have that signature single humbucker stingray tone. While the Jazz is going to well...sound like a Jazz bass with an active EQ on board depending on how you set it. So i suggest you play around until you find a sound that you love and a bass that feels great to you.
Also active doesn't mean better so don't limit yourself to only active if you find another bass you love.
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No experience w/the Ray, but had an active deluxe jazz. Fit and finish, and playability was VERY good, but could never quite get the sound I wanted (good, just not GREAT). I'd look at a passive J as well. FWIW, my best sounding bass is homemade, w/a Carvin 3 band active pre and jazz pups (the older ones). Anything from old school warm and mellow to in your face bark. I also love the tone in passive mode. If I ever get another active bass, it would almost HAVE TO have a passive mode/switch. Good luck...hope you find your dream bass! Let us know!
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
The EBMM Sterling is a great option, you can also get a used EBMM Stingray for not much more than $800. What ever you do, buy used and buy a first rate name. Meaning, if you buy a used MM Stingray in $900 condition, you will be able to turn that same bass on here fairly quickly for $900. If you buy a new import with a second rate name, you will take a 50% hit immediately. If you buy new American, the hit will be a little less, but still big. I haven't bought a new bass in over 20 years and I have been able to own and play many more basses because of that and I never felt as if I suffered one bit by buying used.
The Ray34CA is the way to go. Good luck!
Buy used! $800 will get you a killer instrument. A USA Peavey Millennium can be had for $350 to $650. 35 inch scale. Active electronics, 3 band EQ with sweepable mid.carbon graphite reinforced neck. Excellent fit and finish. Maple top and birdseye fretboard on some models. I've bought two that were basically never played for less than the cost of a new Lakland Skyline. You may have to wait a couple months for a decent one to show up, but they are worth it.
USED!!!
Get thee a Fender Jazz bass / P-bass /EBMM Sterling used - it will hold its value, too, for when you get bored and sell it for "something better".
Get thee a Fender Jazz bass / P-bass /EBMM Sterling used - it will hold its value, too, for when you get bored and sell it for "something better".
As others have said. USED!@!@!@@!
You can find a MM Stingray in cosmetically rough, but 100% playable condition for that price if you do some CL and forum digging. If you are lucky you could pick up something like a Spector Euro for ~850-90
That price range honestly gives you a lot of options used. New, not so much.....
You can find a MM Stingray in cosmetically rough, but 100% playable condition for that price if you do some CL and forum digging. If you are lucky you could pick up something like a Spector Euro for ~850-90
That price range honestly gives you a lot of options used. New, not so much.....
Ibanez SR700. Always think everyone should try at least one Ibanez in their career. I've used them since 1980. $749 plus shipping and gig bag or case...
This would work very well in a jazz band.
This would work very well in a jazz band.
Smooth_bass88
vaxx!
- Oct 31, 2006
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Take the resale value out of the picture, and Carvin instruments are great bangs for their buck (made in USA to boot)
Exactly, so buy good condition used, the big hit has already been taken.
From your choices, the Ray34. But that Lakland sure sounds nice too! I really need to try one...
I love my deluxe active jazz. I've got the 5 string version and it does everything. The noiseless pickups and preamp are a great value and ill vouch for their noiselessness! Rock solid bass with a lot of tone for the money. Great for funk and jazz just what your looking for and a lot more versatile than the sterling ray
