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What bass to buy?

#21
Dude, I wasn't a fan of batteries either, but trust me, once I got the preamp.... I NEVER looked back. Now, I won't buy a bass without one. The reason people say they deplete batteries too quickly is (1) they use ACTIVE pickups with the preamp (active pickups use batteries as well, so twice the consumption) and (2) they leave the bass plugged in. Pretty much every preamp turns on when it's plugged in and off when it's not. Plus, changing batteries in new basses is easy. I got my preamp like 5 months ago and I play for HOURS everyday, still runs on the same battery. I have another bass the uses one too and the preamps are just indispensable.

BTW, you won't need to refret your bass. I bend ALL THE TIME and mine are still good. And if you use flatwound strings, then fret wear will be almost nonexistent.
 
#22
Just a few points - reggae is more about playing style and amplification than the bass itself. Play softly up near the neck and out of a nice big enclosure and you should be sweet with that deep sound. I was looking into the best bass for reggae a while back and it seemed "p bass with flats" was the standard answer while those seemingly in the know - usually talking about barrett - were saying go jazz. Here's the thing - if you are playing punk gigs i'm imagining you are not using huge amounts of top quality gear amp wise,or even in large venues. I've found on smaller dodgier rigs and in smaller spaces i prefer the tone i can get out of a p-bass rather than the jazz.

Plus then of course you want to be able to switch to something a bit less dull that cuts through more for your hardcore.

I picked up a duff mckagan style p/j made in japan for well under a grand, strung it with flats, and it's perfect for what you are talking about if you ask me - quite versatile with the selector switch, and you can knock out a bit of the growl of the precision pickup with a touch of jazz for a really nice reggae tone. but you've then got the options for whatever hardcore sound you are after too.
 
#23
I'd say P bass, mainly because they sound awesome in pretty much any context as they cut through nicely, I play all sorts of music and pretty much always play the P bass over my bass with dual humbuckers as it just cuts through so much better and I don't find myself getting lost in the mix. I use a 2 by 15" cab and kick out a hell of a lot of lows when needed.
 
#26
ksandvik said:
I think I'm conservative :-) but I do think every bass player should have a P-Bass of some kind -- it's like the little black dress... If nothing else get an SX for just over $100.
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I played a deluxe-P and really didn't like it except for the nice balance. And I played both my Ibbies through the same amp and I love the amp however.... anyways.... *proudly displays 'IBBY 4EVR!' badge* :D

But I know what you mean.... I'd rather get a J bass though
 
#27
Just a few points - reggae is more about playing style and amplification than the bass itself. Play softly up near the neck and out of a nice big enclosure and you should be sweet with that deep sound.
Click to expand...

I do have my way of getting the tones I want out of my cheap basses. Keep in mind I know nothing about real bass technique and only know what I've picked up and figured out by myself. Being a guitarist, playing with a pick is easy, so I can always switch to that if I want to really cut through in a mix. I'm decent at playing with my fingers, though, and I prefer the tone I get that way most of the time. For reggae I like to palm mute the bridge a bit and then use my thumb and index finger to pluck the strings. Maybe I am breaking some cardinal rules of bass playing, but it's worked for me thus far, and I haven't had to resort to half rounds or flatwounds to get the tones I like for reggae. I figure that a better bass with better pickups will make the tone that much better.
 
#28
NCdan said:
I do have my way of getting the tones I want out of my cheap basses. Keep in mind I know nothing about real bass technique and only know what I've picked up and figured out by myself. Being a guitarist, playing with a pick is easy, so I can always switch to that if I want to really cut through in a mix. I'm decent at playing with my fingers, though, and I prefer the tone I get that way most of the time. For reggae I like to palm mute the bridge a bit and then use my thumb and index finger to pluck the strings. Maybe I am breaking some cardinal rules of bass playing, but it's worked for me thus far, and I haven't had to resort to half rounds or flatwounds to get the tones I like for reggae. I figure that a better bass with better pickups will make the tone that much better.
Click to expand...

No rules in my book - it's all about getting the sound you want, whatever way works for you. I'm the same - no training or watching instructional videos or anything... i played bass in a reggae band for about 2 years without even knowing the words "bridge" or "neck" or what the controls really did.... but i DID know the settings that got the sound i wanted (this little knob here this way, the other one that way).

Up at the neck will give you a deeper fuller sound though regardless of the bass :P
 
#29
Something to consider.

If you don't have a good sound system, what's the point? Many people overlook this, and in most cases, it's more important than the guitar.

You could go out and get a Squier Classic Vibe Precision Bass- many people say they are as good as the Made In Mexico (MIM) Fender P's....some argue that they are better- into the MIA league. Great bang for your buck....look around for the Classic Vibe (CV) threads here. They are only around $350. If you want a jazz, same story. They run at the same price. Strings matter too. Generally, if you want your bass to stand out during performances, get roundwounds. If you want it to blend in the mix (more full sound), then get flats.

After that, you could lay cash down on a 2X12 or 4X12 cab and a good head. Try looking at Ashdown and Avatar for some cheap, but good gear.
 

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