What would you buy for $1000 or less?

[oldcrony]

Im in the market for a new bass and I have a little bit of $$ to spend. I play a Fender Delux Jazz Bass right now and I like it. I was looking at mostly Fender basses, but I thought it might be good to try out something different. I play jazz, fingerstyle funk and some slap. I really just want to know what you guys would do if you had 800-1000 to spend on a bass.

Thanks

 

[excane]

A used MM Stingray or American G&L L2000.

 

[HogieWan]

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http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Lakland-Skyline-5501-5String-Bass?sku=517702

 

[MilkyMcMilkMilk]

i'd get a fender jaguar and save about 3 or 4 hundred

 

[PSPookie]

I would pick up one of the myriad of basses selling in the TB classifieds for under $1000.

I have done this several times with great results. Go used and don't look back. You will get about twice as much bass for the same money.

 

[HogieWan]

I would pick up one of the myriad of basses selling in the TB classifieds for under $1000.

+1000 - good point. Used bass = great value. You could get 2 for that money

 

[MNAirHead]

More criteria..

4 or 5 string..
flats or wounds
fretted or fretless

 

[robkphoto]

A used MM Stingray or American G&L L2000.

+1 on the Sting Ray. That's what I did and I am completely happy. Got it for $750

 

[DaveDeVille]

PM sent ...

 

[bassguppy]

Get a Lakland Skyline Joe Osborn or a Darryl Jones.

Lakland does Fender better than Fender.

 

[meatwad]

I believe a used StingRay for under a grand is an incredible value, and robkphoto's sunburst pictured above is a fantastic example. It also sounds like a 'Ray would fit your musical tastes as well.

 

[oldcrony]

More criteria..

4 or 5 string..
flats or wounds
fretted or fretless

4 string
Wounds
Fretted

thanks for all the replys. Ill be checking out the Lakland and the Stingray basses. Hopefully I can find some in town to play.

How does the Stingray tone compare to a traditional P bass?

 

[Gubna]

a used sterling

 

[groove pump]

I would pick up one of the myriad of basses selling in the TB classifieds for under $1000.

I have done this several times with great results. Go used and don't look back. You will get about twice as much bass for the same money.

The last two basses I bought were franken-J's and one has a Warmoth neck and DiMarzio Ultra-J p/u's. It's my keeper and no matter how much I look around, I never find anything that comes close for me except for maybe a Modulus and a Sadowsky that I noodled with. Neither of those were going for $350 though.

 

[p0k]

+1000 i don't think i'll ever buy new again. TB is flooded with basses that have been very well taken care of.

I would pick up one of the myriad of basses selling in the TB classifieds for under $1000.

I have done this several times with great results. Go used and don't look back. You will get about twice as much bass for the same money.

 

[GrindYourMind]

Prestige Ibanez, Used MM or Warwick.

 

[--Dave--]

Personaly id go for the MM Sterling over the Stingray, smaller body and thinner neck =]

 

[RayO5421]

Honestly, if you post a "What bass to buy for $1000," you will get 1000 different answers and then some more. Best advice I can give is to try some basses out in a good music store and see what you like.

The used market opens up a lot of options but you may need to buy the bass w/o playing it. I'd check the used Stingray, Sterling, and G&Ls out. But I really like Fender styled basses for slap stuff also.

The differences between the P and Stingray/Sterling? The MM basses are active so you've got more knobs to dial in your tone. Unless you went for something like a P Deluxe, the P bass only has 2 knobs for volume and treble so all the tone is in your playing style. Also, the MM pickup is closer to the bridge which allows for a "snappy" sound and a nice, tight attack IMO. The P bass pickup is in the middle of the bass and gives out a real woody, warm tone though you can make them pretty bright if you try!

Hope that helps!

 

[Double Agent]

If we're talking about brand new, I would buy the Fender Classic 70's Jazz bass.

But, I do agree with everyone else that says you will get better value buying a used bass. You can get a used American Std. Jazz for under $1000 pretty easily and they are fantastic.

 

[herndonbassist]

+1 on the used from a fellow TB'er...

All 3 of my keepers came in under $1000 (2 Lakland's and a Valenti) so you can definitely find a good value by going in the used market!