Which Bass should I choose?

[uberman]

Ive been playing for several decades and have owned fenders, music man, gretsch, cort, Ibanez, Tacoma, birdsong, etc and have played in just about every type of band out there-Rock, alt/country, jazz, etc. Five years ago I walked away from music and sold every musical piece I had and used the $ to take the wife and kid to Disneyland. its now 5 years later and about a month ago I pulled my only remaining instrument out-a 70s Ibanez Lawsuit P Bass that I only kept because it was the first and only instrument my father bought me.

OK, so now I am hooking up with another guy as 1/2 of a songwriting/singer duo. We have a retro vibe but I have to sneak out and solo every once in a while. I fell in love with short scales back 5 years ago but have no issues playing long scale either, as that is what I was raised and bred on.

So, I am going to buy a bass-hopefully my only bass. I will use it live and in recording, finger style and pick. Flats. I will be in a retro looking alt country/rock unit and have too choose one of the following:

Fender American Standard P Bass
Fender Modern Player Telecaster Bass
lakland Decade Skyline bass (burgundy) short or long scale.
Lakland Skyline Hollowbody (short or long scale)

Thoughts?

 

[mmbongo]

Gonna be hard to beat either of those Laklands.

 

[Kukulkan61]

just play the Ibanez lawsuit,thats a great bass...

 

[neo 7]

Can't go wrong with a P-Bass, especially if it's your "only" bass.

A vintage Fender Mustang would be cool too IMHO.

 

[Randyt]

Have you looked at FBASS?

 

[reno88]

mexican p-bass. readily available, great value, extremely versatile, and you don't have to treat it like a museum piece.

good hunting!

 

[Itzayana]

Gonna be hard to beat either of those Laklands.

You should probably play them.
When you do I am quite sure that you will find the Laklands to be much better in every regard than the Fenders.
However, if it is more important to you to "have that look" than how the instrument actually plays or sounds you might choose differently.

 

[lbbc]

I have a short scale Aria "Beatle" Bass for sale w/scroll headstock w/new fender vintage flats on it here on TB. Sounds like it would be "right up your alley". Just a suggestion.

 

[smcd]

just play the Ibanez lawsuit,thats a great bass...

+1

That Ibanez is a very good, quality bass. Now if you want *another* bass, then go for one of those Laklands.

 

[LARAIDER]

Go with the bass that started it all, "The P".

 

[DETTO]

Fender Jazz Bass. I dig the fretless version.

 

[C130AVN]

New Fender standard MIA basses aren't worth the cash, I own two 2012 models and they both required fret levelling and had microphonic pickups right from the factory, and had nut relief of about .030" at the first fret, what happened to workmanship? OTOH I have a stock Lakland Skyline 44-64 Vintage P that is a beautiful instrument with a gorgeous neck.