What do you recommend....(for a bass "upgrade"?)

[DwaynieAD]

I'm gonna be completely honest with you and say that is the silliest reason I've ever heard not to like a bass, but if you ain't feeling it you ain't feeling it. Get a Mexican fender p bass and enjoy the foundation

 

[mcrawfordmusic]

I'm very happy with my Fender Player Precision. It was one of those basses that I picked up, played three notes and bought it on the spot. Sometimes they just speak to you.

I would try as many different basses as possible, including Fender alternatives like G&L, Sire etc, and hopefully one sticks out. There are more good basses than bad out there these days, but I still feel every bass is different. So it's worth trying a lot.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

As many of you know, I recently purchased a SBMM Ray 34 and after much consideration (and playing), I'm just not feeling it. I can't "connect" with this guitar. It is awesome in almost every way but it's just not for me. For one, I just can't get past the unbalanced look of the maple fretboard against the neptune blue body & headstock. I rarely play it because of this. Purely cosmetic, yes, but it's a mental block for me. Therefore, it will go up for sale.
I am seriously considering a more "passive" route and diving into the world of Fender, so my question is (without revealing my total budget ) what do you guys recommend (Fender only) in a budget of $800 or less?
As many of you know, a matching headstock was always a requirement of mine but I have since moved on from that and am now open to the best product for the money.
What do you guys think?

New Player P, J, or Jaguar

Used P or J that you can find in that price range. Mexican standard, 60s ri, American Standard maybe. Whatever you can find really.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Mental blocks can be overcome, especially in regards to luxury purchases. I bet you could get over it if you tried.

If you have $800 and want a Fender you have tons of options. I'd go with a used Mexican one and save half your money.

For pickups

 

[JonathanSV]

Tort p with flats, sunburst, mim

 

[Bassiclees]

I love my Epiphone Embassy Bass a ton. They are under the radar, growltackular and inexpensive with a great neck and frets that are nicely done out of the box. Gave me a Thunderbird sound without the neck dive.
Sire has been mentioned a bunch and they really are superb. Sweepable mid and rolled edges are awesome.

 

[Gorn]

For pickups

A tremendous waste of money most of the time, in my opinion. People buy new pickups for a bass before they even get it. Before it's set it up and before they adjusted pickup height or tried a new set of strings. This whole idea of new parts necessarily = upgrade has always seemed a little ridiculous to me. Then you're stuck with an "upgraded" bass that you sunk hundreds into and you have to sell it for what the unupgraded bass goes for if you're lucky.

 

[jam.majors]

I know you said fender, but I'm doing to suggest the Yamaha BB734 (or 5).
Passive/active, string through, great necks, great look and within your budget.

 

[Hounddog409]

"What do you guys think?"

I can't wrap my head around not playing a bass that you think is awesome because of the color of the fretboard.....

Why not just get a Stingray in a color that doesn't bother you? You obviously love the bass and they come in other colors and fretboard.

I have this one, which was bought new for your limit of $800.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

A tremendous waste of money most of the time, in my opinion. People buy new pickups for a bass before they even get it. Before it's set it up and before they adjusted pickup height or tried a new set of strings. This whole idea of new parts necessarily = upgrade has always seemed a little ridiculous to me. Then you're stuck with an "upgraded" bass that you sunk hundreds into and you have to sell it for what the unupgraded bass goes for if you're lucky.

You're not stuck with anything. You could always put the old pickups back in for another 15 minutes labor.

 

[Gorn]

You're not stuck with anything. You could always put the old pickups back in for another 15 minutes labor.

Sure you can.

Can you return a $200 set of pickups after you install them?

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

"What do you guys think?"

I can't wrap my head around not playing a bass that you think is awesome because of the color of the fretboard.....

Why not just get a Stingray in a color that doesn't bother you? You obviously love the bass and they come in other colors and fretboard.

I have this one, which was bought new for your limit of $800.

View attachment 4358990

That's not a stingray. It's a Sterling HH.

Stingrays have one pickup, and sound very different.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Sure you can.

Can you return a $200 set of pickups after you install them?

For 150, or save them for another bass.

 

[Gorn]

For 150, or save them for another bass.

And thus begins the cycle of buying and selling at a loss.

 

[Sam Dingle]

Personally I would save up $300 more and find a used fender American p or J for $1100ish. I like P basses personally.

I do have a red fender roadworn P I'm thinking of selling…

 

[Hounddog409]

That's not a stingray. It's a Sterling HH.

Stingrays have one pickup, and sound very different.

Yeah, I know what I have hanging on my wall.

 

[shadven]

Used - 1990's - 2012 MIA Fender P. You'll be happy for life

 

[Hounddog409]

That's not a stingray. It's a Sterling HH.

Stingrays have one pickup, and sound very different.

That's not a stingray. It's a Sterling HH.

Stingrays have one pickup, and sound very different.

Oh, and you most definitely can get a EBBM STINGRAY with 2 pickups.

From EBBM website.

 

[Gorn]

Used - 1990's - 2012 MIA Fender P. You'll be happy for life

Absolutely. What was it called…American standard right? Good, solid, no frills bass. They used to be a dime a dozen for $800 but not anymore.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

And thus begins the cycle of buying and selling at a loss.

Only if it's a loss. It's usually not. Because most people buy the pickups they want, when they buy after market pickups.