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What is the most versatile bass around

Well, you can use ANY bass for ANY music, really. Most would probably agree that a Jazz is most versatile though.

Bull. A Jazz has two single coil pickups. If you want the "Most Versatile" bass, you would need at least an SH combination or splitting humbuckers to cover both sides. I think Jazz basses are probably one of the least versatile models, actually. I own one and play it as my main bass, but if I needed to play more styles than modern rock, I would buy a Precision. MUCH MORE versatile.
 
C'mon, GE. We all know about your undying love for the P bass, I love mine too, but face it-you cannot get a 'Jaco' burp from a P, nor a 'Marcus' slap tone.

Aka solo'd bridge pickup? :p

I've gotten some convincing Jaco sounds out of a P-bass with a crazy EQ thanks to my Mesa. My only gripe is that the pickup placement makes it so that some harmonics are harder to pickup.

I'd argue that a P-bass would fit into more styles of music than a J with ease, which I think makes it more versatile.
 
I've gotten some convincing Jaco sounds out of a P-bass with a crazy EQ thanks to my Mesa. My only gripe is that the pickup placement makes it so that some harmonics are harder to pickup.
Easier to just use a J then, No? :p
I don't want to hijack this into a debate with you. I love, love, love my P bass. I use it as much as my J, for all kinds of music. They both work fine. But two pickups does equal more sounds, no way around it.
 
I'm really surprised that no one has said the magic word yet.

BONGO.

*edit*

Damnit am I really that slow at typing?

Yes I concur tone is in the hands, but the insanley powerful 4 band pre in a Bongo gives you inordinate amounts of tonal possibilities, and I've yet to hear one sound bad.
 
I am open to all suggestions.

I will try to have a shot of the 44-02 and the L2000 as these seem the popular recomendations.

Now the bongo.....

Ever since i read a post a while back describing it as a toilet seat I cannot look it it the same way.

I guess i must be a little set in my ways at thirty.

Fender looks/fender inspired is my tastes.
 
There are two types of versital bass-

1) A bass with it's own individual character that sits well in different situations. I think of Ken Smith and Warwick for this.

2) A bass with multiple tonal options. Any bass with more than one pick-up, an active/passive switch, and multi-band eq will be very versital.
 
ibanez gsr200. its a cheapy, but i cant find a problem in it. drop in some tesla pickups, you have a perfect bass


^^^For a cheaper bass, I'd definitely back this recommendation.
The GSR200 is about as versatile and worthwhile as you can get for around $200 (and usually lower). DEFINITELY change the pickups though, thats for sure. It doesn't endure as well as I'd like it to (Goes out of tune if you look at it wrong, EQ is starting to frustrate me) but for $200 and less, it covers just about anything you'd like to play and pretty dam well at that. But for the more serious long term investment my vote goes to either the L2000 or the Bongo. (Just about any tone you can imagine you can get out of your bongo)
 

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